2021-12-03 11:19:47
BACKCOUNTRY SAFETY BE SURE TO RESEARCH YOUR DESTINATION (AND HAVE A PLAN B), PREPARE FOR WINTER TRAVEL, CHECK THE AVALANCHE FORECAST, CARRY PROPER EQUIPMENT AND GET TRAINING OR GO WITH A GUIDE. It wouldn’t be winter in Snow’s Perfect StateTM without finding yourself laughing in the cool air on one of the following joyrides. These pairings will get you access to the same activity in different landscapes within easy travel distance and along some very 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. Good snow in deep winter means sledders can really open it up as miles of virtually treeless terrain roll toward the city of Craig. Meeker is the gateway to nearly 180 miles of trails that challenge even the best riders headed to Trappers Lake, the Flat Tops and Ripple Creek Pass. 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. The area between Creede and Lake City encompasses more than 200 miles of groomed snowmobiling trails in the Gunnison and Rio Grande national forests at elevations ranging between 8,500 and 13,000 feet Want More? COLORADO.COM/SNOWMOBILING Snowshoeing San Luis Valley: 110 Miles Make Saguache your hub and fan out to Upper Crossing Guard Station along an old stagecoach route; North Crestone Creek Campground near Crestone, where a gentle, shady slope keeps snow fresh for days; finish at Brewery Creek Guard Station west of Villa Grove, to see remnants of a silver-mining town. Cozy Cookhouses: 129 Miles Aspen and Leadville are both home to a particular 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. Foothills: 32 Miles Two spots near Denver make it easy for city explorers to get out. Golden Gate Canyon State Park in Golden has 12 trails that travel through aspen forests and open meadows. Evergreen’s Elk Meadow Park provides easy access to trails and the opportunity to spot its namesake wildlife. Want More? COLORADO.COM/SNOWSHOEING Ice Fishing North: 120 Miles Lake John State Wildlife Area near Walden sits in North Park, a high-elevation basin where hunters and fishers seek a quiet paradise all 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. South of Walden in Oak Creek, Stagecoach State Park’s rainbow trout and northern pike are always biting. Central: 63 Miles In another “park” — this time South Park — you’ll find Antero Reservoir south of Fairplay, 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. Upstream on Tarryall Reservoir, rainbows and cutbows await. Want More? (including important safety tips)? COLORADO.COM/ICEFISHING
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