SNOWSHOEING IS THE PERFECT WINTER FAMILY ACTIVITY
 |
A showshoe adventure in Colorado - Photo courtesy of Colorado Ski Country USA
|
It starts as a yearning. The need to escape the hustle and bustle of the ski resorts and crowded highways. The desire to become an adventurer and make your own mark on a pristine trail through woods. The longing to feel the crisp, cold, mountain air deep in your lungs as you watch the sunshine glint through the flocked evergreens. Exploring Colorado's great outdoors on snowshoes is an activity that quickly can turn from a novelty, into a hobby, into a passion. And with more than 70 percent of our community covered by public lands and trails, Clear Creek County is the perfect place to begin your Colorado adventure.
Snowshoeing experienced a resurgence in the early 1990s. Before that it was an activity that had been relegated to memory, kept alive by old leather-and-wood decorator pieces hanging above fireplaces in rustic cabins. In an earlier day hardly anyone used snowshoes for fun - they were a cumbersome necessity used to move around when snow piled deep. Not anymore.
When you're getting a group of friends or family together for a day of fun in the snow, snowshoeing is the perfect activity. If you can walk, you can snowshoe. Many of Clear Creek County's best summer hiking and mountain biking trails are transformed magically into a snowshoeing wonderland during the winter months.
Indisputably, the major factor in this revival is the shoe itself. Modern technology has transformed the cumbersome old beartrap into a marvel of efficiency, one that is durable, lightweight, loose-heeled, easy to strap, with bindings that stay tight. These new shoes made from aluminum or metal composites and space-age fabrics aren't as classic as the traditional models, but they perform just as well or better. Most models feature a metal claw beneath the foot to grip hard snow or ice and can be purchased for $100 to $300. Locally, you can rent snowshoes at Maison de Ski, 303-567-2044; Empire Sports, 303-567-2996; and Breeze Ski Rental, 303-567-2670.
Clothing isn't much of a problem either. Dry, comfortable hiking boots (preferably water proof) work fine for recreational jaunts. Just about any warm clothing will suffice. The trick is to match apparel to the conditions, which means layering - pulling off and putting on as weather and degree of activity dictate. You'll also want to bring along a backpack to hold extra clothes, plenty of liquid and high-energy food. Don't forget your sunscreen and sunglasses.
The listings below will tell you where trailheads within the county are located; the length of the trail is listed in parentheses. For additional information on the trails, you may want to purchase a specific map for the area that you are going to explore. These maps can be obtained at the Clear Creek Ranger District Office, located at Exit 240 on I-70. As with every snow-related activity outside ski area boundaries, be acutely aware of avalanche danger and approaching storms. To obtain the most up-to-date information, call 303-275-5360 or 303-567-2901 before you go.
Guided Tours:
Red Feather Snowshoes, Winter Park Resort: Tours include snowshoes, poles, a one-time lift pass on Gemini Express and a knowledgeable tour guide leading the way. Tours are offered daily, November through April. Call 800-729-7907 or visit www.skiwinterpark.com for reservations and information.
Beginner Trails:
Echo Lake: Located 14 miles south of Idaho Springs on CO 103. (No mileage, just get out and explore.)
Bakerville-Loveland Trail: Located off of I-70 at Bakerville, Exit 221. (5 miles)
South Chicago Creek: Located approximately 9 miles south of Idaho Springs on CO 103. (2 miles)
Moderate Trails:
Resthouse Meadows: Located at Echo Lake Campground near the restrooms on the east side of CO 103. (5 miles)
Silver Dollar Lake: Located 9 miles south of Georgetown on Guanella Pass Road. (3 miles)
Fall River Reservoir: Located at the bottom of the second switchback on Fall River Road. (3 miles)
Waldorf: Located 2.5 miles south of Georgetown on the right side of Guanella Pass Road. (5.5 miles)
More Difficult:
Herman Gulch: Located on the north side of I-70 at exit 218 (2.7 miles)
Jones Pass: Located next to the Henderson Mine off CO 40. Turn right, just before the guardhouse. (5 miles)
Devil's Canyon: Located on the east side of CO 103, 14 miles past Ponder Point Picnic Area. (3 miles)
Most Difficult:
Butler Gulch: Located at the Jones Pass Trailhead. Travel up Jones Pass trail 14 miles and turn right. (2 miles)
Stevens Gulch: Located at Exit 221 off I-70. The road heads south out of the parking lot. (5 miles)
Grizzly Gulch: It splits off Stevens Gulch approximately 1 mile from the parking lot. Take the right fork. (4 miles)
Updated 12/23/04
