Winter in Colorado provides you entry to numerous pure snow-covered landscapes, offering tons of winter actions. From iconic small ski cities that make having fun with snow sports activities accessible to Denver, a big metropolis with scrumptious meals, cultural occasions, and historic websites, Colorado has one thing for everybody. Here are the highest winter actions in Colorado to get pleasure from throughout your journey.
Best Things to Do in Colorado in Winter
Visiting Colorado in winter transports you to a real winter wonderland. The Rockies rework into a shocking snowy playground, superb for world-class snowboarding and snowboarding at well-known resorts like Aspen and Vail. Beyond the slopes, charming mountain cities sparkle with festive lights and a comfortable ambiance the place you possibly can sip scorching cocoa and get into the vacation spirit. Colorado provides an ideal mix of journey and serenity, from exhilarating snowshoe hikes to stress-free in scorching springs. So seize your ski gear and head out to the good open air as a result of these are the most effective issues to do in Colorado in winter.
1. Go Skiing or Snowboarding
Colorado is taken into account by many to be the most effective ski and snowboarding vacation spot within the USA. There are over 25 ski resorts within the state unfold throughout the Rocky Mountains which have slopes for learners, consultants, and everybody in between.
Because of Colorado’s excessive altitude, the snow is plentiful. It could be skied from October via April and is thought for being each dry and fluffy, making it good for snowboarding.
Where to go Skiing and Snowboarding in Colorado
Ski cities are scattered round Colorado, providing you with loads of choices to select from.
Vail has one of many largest resorts and a number of the greatest and most numerous terrain in Colorado. For comfort to Denver, Breckenridge Ski Resort is the best choice for snowboarding in Colorado. You can be there in lower than two hours from the airport (until you might be in site visitors with the locals on the weekends). Steamboat Springs Ski Resort is much less crowded than different ski cities and is nice for households. It is inexpensive than extra well-known cities like Aspen or Vail. Howelsen Hill Ski Area is North America’s oldest working ski space. It is the most affordable choice and is ideal for new skiers. The Steamboat Resort gives 1,200 hectares of skiable terrain for all expertise ranges.
Winter Park Resort
Winter Park is certainly essentially the most all spherical ski expertise in Colorado. Often rated as the highest ski resort in North America, Winter Park Resort is the longest regularly working ski resort in Colorado and went via an enormous transformation when it was owned by Intrawest (The similar firm that reworked Mont Tremblant and Whistler into the dynamite ski resorts in Canada.
Renowned for its expansive ski terrain, Winter Park provides slopes that cater to all ability ranges, from learners to consultants. The resort’s alpine setting is ideal for households with alternatives to discover snow-covered trails on snowshoes or get pleasure from family-friendly actions like tubing.
Things to do at Winter Park Resort
Winter Park Resort is so widespread for the entire household due to the sheer quantity of winter actions on supply. From sundown snowshoes to downhill snowboarding on a ski bike, if provides distinctive experiences. It has guided evening snowboarding on its Ski & Ride by Headlamp tour, and even sleigh rides. Winter Park Resort is Colorado’s most full resort in case you are wanting for a resort much like Whistler with a improbable village.
With cozy lodging and a vigorous après-ski scene, Winter Park Resort isn’t just a spot to go to; it’s an expertise to expertise winter in Colorado to the fullest.
2. Cross Country Skiing
If you wish to go snowboarding however in a extra relaxed method than downhill snowboarding, give cross-country or Nordic snowboarding a attempt. You can discover solitude away from the crowds the place you possibly can higher get pleasure from nature and get the well being advantages with a low-joint affect exercise. Since you don’t want to purchase a raise ticket at one of many ski resorts, it’s also a extra inexpensive choice for snowboarding. Instead, yow will discover a spot with a every day path cross.
Where to go cross-country snowboarding
3. Snow Tubing
There is a lot you are able to do to benefit from the snow past snowboarding. Snow tubing is an exercise anybody can get pleasure from, and there are various snow tubing hills all through Colorado. Many hills present conveyor belts that can take you proper again up the hill to come back again down once more, taking away a lot of the effort required.
Where to go Snow tubing
You can discover snow-tubing hills all through Colorado.
The Coca Cola Tubing Hill at Winter Park and the Frisco Adventure Park are each pretty handy to Denver. We went snow tubing whereas staying at an all-inclusive ranch, the place they pulled us up the hill utilizing a snowmobile, so we tubed down again and again.
4. Copper Mountain Snow Maze
Located within the East Village close to the bottom of the Super Bee chairlift, The Copper Snow Maze is the world’s highest alpine snow maze that’s made solely out of snow. It can be returning quickly on the mountain and has doubled in measurement with 8,000 sq. ft for friends to get misplaced within the mountains.
What’s nice about this winter exercise on Copper Mountain is that the Copper Snow Maze is free for anybody over the age of three. Just signal a waiver earlier than visiting on the Copper web site.
5. Sleigh Rides
Going on a horse-drawn sleigh journey makes for an ideal household exercise, or can be an ideal addition to a romantic getaway. You can discover sleigh rides that embrace scorching chocolate, cookies, and a few that can take you on to full meals.
Where to go for Sleigh Rides in Colorado
You can discover sleigh rides all through Colorado supplied at many resorts and journey facilities. There is nothing fairly as romantic as a sleigh journey via a winter wonderland. whereas sipping scorching cocoa as you watch the surroundings unfold.
6. Snowmobiling
For vacationers wanting for one thing with a little bit extra velocity and energy, snowmobiling is the most effective exercise for you. If you drive via the mountains after recent snow you will notice vans with snowmobile trailers lining the highway.
Where to go Snowmobiling in Colorado
Being new to the world and certain new to snowmobiling we advocate going with a guided snowmobile tour.
Breckenridge Snowmobiling gives snowmobiling excursions and unguided snowmobile leases in Breckenridge, Keystone, Vail, Beaver Creek, Frisco, Silverthorne, Dillon, and Copper Mountain, Colorado. T-Lazy-7 Ranch and Saddleback Ranch supply snowmobiling excursions all through the winter.
7. Hot Springs
Colorado has a number of areas with scorching springs that make for a good way to chill out and heat up throughout your journey. A soak can be welcomed by your sore muscular tissues after a day of snowboarding. Some scorching springs are very true to nature whereas others are man-made swimming pools fed by pure scorching springs. No matter what you resolve you’ll love taking a dip within the springs to heat up.
Best Hot Springs in Colorado
8. Horseback Riding
Horseback driving is a year-round exercise in Colorado however is usually restricted to path rides or indoor classes. Many of the ranches supply path rides that finish with scorching chocolate. You by no means know if you’ll have a sunny day with views for miles or have snowflakes coming down as you make your method via a guided path.
Where to go Horseback Riding in Colorado
Saddleback Ranch Several visitor ranches like Vista Verde Ranch embrace winter path rides and classes throughout the winter.
9. Relax in Your Cabin
Take benefit of the superb cabins in Colorado in winter. With cozy fireplaces, non-public scorching tubs, and facilities that make you are feeling at residence whereas nonetheless being secluded in nature. There are tons of choices obtainable on VRBO or with trip rental companies, however ensure you e book early as the most effective ones can e book as much as a 12 months upfront.
Looking for a spot to remain in Colorado? Check out these Cozy Cabin Rentals for your subsequent Winter Getaway!
You may discover cabins on the dude ranches all through Colorado. We have been to Vista Verde Ranch a number of occasions and have been singing their reward ever since. You keep in a cabin however get luxurious meals and 5-star service. They handle the everyday winter chores like shoveling your snow for you and stocking your wood-burning range with firewood. If it’s in your price range, that is one of the best ways to have a magical winter getaway in Colorado.
10. Spend Time within the Mile High City
Take a break from the mountains to see what Denver has to supply. The meals scene in Denver is consistently evolving with new microbreweries opening up and loads of variety of different choices. We have seen a number of stylish meals courts opening up within the space which supplies you the chance to attempt a number of eating places in a single spot.
We loved going to a Denver Nuggets skilled basketball sport. The Bronco’s soccer season goes into early winter and Colorado Avalanche performs hockey via the winter.
Since Colorado was one of many first states to legalize marijuana within the USA, take a hashish tour to go to a develop facility, dispensaries, and eating places.
Winter Activities in Denver
11. Extreme Winter Adventures in Colorado
Dan did a improbable job showcasing the most effective winter actions in Colorado that they did. But Dave and I wish to take issues up a notch and share a couple of winter adventures for adrenaline junkies and for these you’re looking for a little bit of a weekend exercise or a brand new winter sport to attempt.
12. Backcountry Skiing
We have talked about downhill and cross nation snowboarding, however for actual thrill seekers, backcountry snowboarding isn’t for everybody, however if you wish to get away from the resorts and have the talents, Colorado provides a number of the greatest backcountry snowboarding alternatives within the United States. If you don’t have expertise, you possibly can be part of a backcountry ski tour which is the most secure choice. Go with an knowledgeable information who will scout avalanche hazard and the most effective situations upfront.
Even when you by no means skied within the backcountry, you possibly can ski the most effective bowls in Colorado with a information. Never go into the backcountry with out expertise or a information. Places like Vail and Steamboat Springs supply guided excursions.
Where to Go Back Country Skiing
Aspen Expeditions Worldwide (Aspen): Offers guided backcountry snowboarding within the Aspen and Snowmass areas, catering to numerous ability ranges.
Colorado Adventure Guides (Summit County): Provides guided excursions in areas like Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, and Keystone, appropriate for totally different expertise ranges.
San Juan Mountain Guides (Ouray and Telluride): Specializes in guided backcountry excursions within the San Juan Mountains, identified for their difficult terrain.
Irwin Guides (Crested Butte): Offers customized backcountry snowboarding experiences within the Elk Mountains, together with the well-known Crested Butte space.
Paragon Guides (Vail and Beaver Creek): Known for their hut-to-hut snowboarding journeys and backcountry excursions within the Vail Valley and surrounding areas.
Rocky Mountain Alpine Guides (Rocky Mountain National Park): Provides guided backcountry snowboarding within the gorgeous terrain of Rocky Mountain National Park. Estes Park has quite a few backcountry snowboarding routes, significantly round Bear Lake and Longs Peak
Don’t fear when you don’t have the price range for heliskiing, die-hard backcountry snowboarders go mountain climbing as much as the highest of the bowls. It makes the reward a lot extra price it!
13. Fat Biking
Mountain bikes rework to fats bikes take over in winter and is among the greatest winter actions in Colorado. Plenty of locations supply fats biking leases the place you possibly can hit the paths and plow via snow. The better part? When you fall within the fluffy snow, it doesn’t harm!
Make certain to test the native path situations and climate forecasts. Some trails could require particular permits or have restrictions throughout sure occasions of the 12 months.
Where to go Fat Biking in Colorado
Crested Butte: Often considered one of many birthplaces of mountain biking, Crested Butte provides quite a few trails good for fats biking in winter.
Aspen/Snowmass: provides glorious fats biking trails, with leases and guided excursions available. T
Durango: This space provides a wide range of trails which might be well-suited to winter fats biking. The Horse Gulch and Telegraph Trail Systems are native favorites, providing routes for all ability ranges.
Steamboat Springs: The space round Steamboat Springs is famend for its ‘Champagne Powder’ snow, which makes for glorious fats biking situations. The Yampa River Core Trail and Emerald Mountain are widespread spots.
Breckenridge: Breckenridge additionally boasts nice fats biking trails, with stunning winter landscapes. Boreas Pass is a really useful path for a scenic and pleasing journey.
14. Dog Sledding
Dog sledding is a enjoyable solution to get into the backcountry in winter. We love canine sledding nearly as a lot because the sled canines like to run on the path. These canines had been made for winter. It is essential to e book dogsledding excursions with a good firm. Read extra: Is Dog Sledding Cruel? The Misconceptions of Dogsledding
Breckenridge: Known for its ski slopes, Breckenridge additionally provides memorable canine sledding experiences via stunning snowy forests and meadows. Companies like Good Times Adventures present guided excursions.
Winter Park: Dog Sled Rides of Winter Park and different native outfitters supply excursions via the scenic Fraser Valley, offering a mixture of exhilarating rides and alternatives to study mushing.
15. Ice Climbing
Colorado, provides distinctive mountaineering experiences, typically greatest loved with the experience of a information. If you haven’t tried it earlier than, Ice climbing could be plenty of enjoyable. But like lots of the adventures we recommend right here, don’t go alone when you don’t have expertise. There are loads of locations in Colorado that supply mountaineering programs and excursions.
Where to Go Ice Climbing in Colorado
Ouray Ice Park: Located within the “Switzerland of America,” Ouray Ice Park boasts over 200 man-made ice and combined climbs, and quite a few guiding providers function right here, catering to all ability ranges.
Lake City: This space provides a wide range of pure ice formations appropriate for climbing. It’s much less crowded than extra well-known spots, offering a extra serene expertise. Several information providers in Lake City supply customized climbing adventures.
Vail Valley: Guided excursions can take you to hidden ice falls and frozen waterfalls within the surrounding areas, appropriate for each learners and skilled climbers.
Telluride: The space provides a variety of routes, and native information providers present knowledgeable instruction and tools.
East Vail Chutes: This space is a little more difficult and is greatest suited for climbers with some expertise. Local guides can present a protected and exhilarating climbing expertise.
16. Snowshoe in Colorado
Snowshoeing is probably not thought of excessive, however it’s positively an excessive exercise. We have carried out a ton of snowshoeing and it’s an glorious solution to keep in form. Snowshoeing could be very troublesome when breaking path however it’s a lot simpler than mountain climbing in winter. When mountain climbing into the backcountry it would be best to strap on a pair of snowshoes to chop via the deep snow as a substitute of falling in.
Where to Go Snowshoeing in Colorado
Rocky Mountain National Park: With its gorgeous mountain landscapes, the park provides a variety of trails good for snowshoeing, akin to Bear Lake, Nymph Lake, and Emerald Lake trails.
Aspen and Snowmass: The space round these iconic ski cities gives quite a few trails with breathtaking views, appropriate for snowshoeing fanatics of all ranges.
Breckenridge: Besides being a ski haven, the world round Breckenridge has nice snowshoeing trails like Boreas Pass, which provide scenic vistas and a peaceable ambiance.
Vail: The Vail Valley has a number of trails which might be superb for snowshoeing, offering a serene solution to discover the winter fantastic thing about Colorado’s mountains.
Steamboat Springs: The space round Steamboat Springs is thought for its ‘Champagne Powder’ snow, good for a snowshoeing journey. The Uranium Mine Road and Fish Creek Falls path are widespread selections.
Telluride: The San Juan Mountains surrounding Telluride supply a number of the most dramatic landscapes for snowshoeing, with trails that cater to all ability ranges.
Crested Butte: Often known as the Nordic ski capital of Colorado, Crested Butte additionally provides distinctive snowshoeing alternatives with miles of scenic trails.
San Juan Mountains: This area, significantly close to Ouray and Silverton, provides a number of the most picturesque snowshoeing within the state, with trails winding via serene, snow-covered forests and alongside frozen waterfalls.
Winter Packing Tips
When planning a winter journey, you’ll be spending plenty of time open air in chilly climate. Make certain to pack in layers together with breathable base layers made out of Mereno Wool, a heat insulating layer made and a water-resistant windproof outer layer.
You can learn our full articles about winter packing right here: 5 Winter Layering Tips to Dress for Extreme Cold Weather
These are all the most effective winter actions to do in Colorado. The Centennial state is an superb winter journey vacation spot. So what are you ready for? Get exterior and benefit from the snow and go to Colorado this winter.