COME TO LIFE | Snow's Perfect State ™ SNOWMASS MOUNTAIN Winter Coasters Whiz down hundreds of vertical, powdery feet, riding switchbacks and loops along the way. Where to Go: Steamboat • Purgatory Resort in Durango • Snowmass • Copper Mountain • Breckenridge • Vail THE KITCHEN IN BOULDER Urban Experiences Holiday concerts, performances and markets, lighting events, brew fests, ice rinks, restaurant weeks and shopping destinations make winter in the city merry and bright. BRECKENRIDGE Where to Go: Find yourself in the charming and diverse neighborhoods of Denver ( COLORADO.com/DenverNeighborhoods ) and the downtown areas of Grand Junction, Boulder, Fort Collins, Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Aurora, Lakewood, Loveland, Greeley and Longmont. See page 64 for other ideas. Dog Sledding Barking dogs eagerly speed you along the trail, and within moments of launching your dog-sledding expedition, you’ll experience a rush unlike any other. Bonus: All are within easy reach of the other activities described in this section. Plan: COLORADO.com/UrbanExperiences Where to Go: Vail • Durango • Breckenridge • Winter Park • Steamboat Springs • Oak Creek • Leadville • Snowmass • Pagosa Springs Plan: COLORADO.com/DogSledding Ice Fishing The main season is December to late February, when the ice is typically sure. Pop into a tackle shop for advice on places to go, bait to use and safety tips. Where to Go: Taylor Park Reservoir in Crested Butte • Wolford Mountain Reservoir in Kremmling • Chambers Lake in Walden • Eleven Mile Reservoir in Lake George • Trinidad Lake State Park • Crawford Reservoir • Lake Granby • Twin Lakes Reservoirs • Evergreen Lake Plan: COLORADO.com/IceFishing NEAR OURAY GUNNISON RIVER Wildlife Watching Moose, deer, marten, ermine, jays, woodpeckers and owls move to lower elevations when snow arrives. Several winter festivals safely celebrate many of these creatures. CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: THE KITCHEN; ASPEN SNOWMASS; BETH SCHNEIDER; KENNAN HARVEY; JIM DAVID. Where to Go: All State and National Parks (page 33) and all Colorado Birding Trails Winter Festivals: Lake Pueblo Eagle Days (Feb.) • Barr Lake Bald Eagle Festival in Brighton (Feb.) • Colorado Springs Bighorn Sheep Day (Feb.) • Lamar’s High Plains Snow Goose Festival (Feb.) • Monte Vista Crane Festival (March) • Walden Greater Sage Grouse Tours (April) • Georgetown Bighorn Sheep Festival (Nov.) Plan: COLORADO.com/WildlifeTripIdeas 14 1-800-COLORADO
Colorado Official State Vacation Guide 2022: Page 14
