2019-12-09 00:42:45
It wouldn’t be winter in Snow’s Perfect StateTM without finding yourself laughing in the cool air on one of the following joyrides, highlighting some of the best things to do in winter. These pairings will get you access to the same activity in different landscapes within an easy travel distance and along some scenic highways. SNOWMOBILING NORTHWEST: 140 MILES Steamboat Springs’ snowmobiling is characterized by incredibly expansive, rideable terrain. East of town, Rabbit Ears Pass makes a great place to start. To the northwest, good snow in deep winter means sledders can really open it up as miles of virtually treeless terrain rolls toward the city of Craig and beyond. Even farther west, Meeker is the gateway to nearly 180 miles of groomed and ungroomed trails that challenge even the best riders headed to Trappers Lake, the Flat Tops and Ripple Creek Pass along rolling hills and open meadows. RESORT TO RESORT: 120 MILES Travel between these two destinations can be done entirely on your snowmobile. The well-groomed Sunlight to Powderhorn trail is a virtually endless playground for snowmobilers of all abilities. There are multiple access points starting at Sunlight Mountain Resort in Glenwood Springs and reaching all the way to Powderhorn Mountain Resort near Grand Junction. SOUTH CENTRAL: 71 MILES South Fork is home to 255 miles of groomed trails woven between ridges, sprawling meadows and steep climbs. Westward, the area between Creede and Lake City encompasses more than 200 miles of groomed snowmobiling trails in the Gunnison and Rio Grande national forests. Elevations range between 8,500 and 13,000 feet, and off-trail options offer access to wide-open ridges, rolling hills and steep ascents. WANT MORE? COLORADO.COM/SNOWMOBILING SNOWSHOEING FRONT RANGE: 47 MILES Just steps from Eldora Mountain Resort’s downhill ski area near Nederland, 40 kilometers of groomed trails wind through quiet, shady forests and wide-open meadows. To the north, most of Rocky Mountain National Park’s 571 kilometers of trails can be explored on snowshoe, opening up dozens of options for length and difficulty for your trek. COZY COOKHOUSES: 129 MILES Aspen and Leadville are both home to a particular snowshoeing delight: backcountry cookhouses. At the Pine Creek Cookhouse near the ghost town of Ashcroft and Tennessee Pass Cookhouse, visitors earn their fine-dining lunch or dinner by snowshoeing to the lodge for a warm meal. Don’t eat too much — you have to get yourself back to the trailhead afterward! FOOTHILLS: 32 MILES Two spots not far west of Denver make it easy for city explorers to stretch their horizons a bit when the snow falls. Golden Gate Canyon State Park in Golden has 12 trails that intersect often, allowing you to create a personalized itinerary as you travel through aspen forests and open meadows. A short drive south, Evergreen’s Elk Meadow Park provides easy access to trails for all abilities and the opportunity to spot its namesake wildlife. WANT MORE? COLORADO.COM/SNOWSHOEING ICE FISHING NORTH: 63 MILES Lake John near Walden is a 565-acre state wildlife area in a stretch called North Park, a high-elevation basin between the Continental Divide and Park mountain range where hunters and fishers seek a quiet paradise anytime of year. There’s a similar scene south near Kremmling at Wolford Mountain Reservoir, which is also popular with RVers year-round. Both spots hold ice-fishing contests each January/February. CENTRAL: 26 MILES In another “park” — this time South Park — you’ll find Antero Reservoir south of Fairplay near the headwaters of the South Platte River, rich with many fish. Eastward near Lake George, the Gold Medal waters of Eleven Mile State Park boast plenty of kokanee, trout and pike all winter long. WANT MORE (INCLUDING IMPORTANT SAFETY TIPS)? COLORADO.COM/ICEFISHING
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