Colorado’s Trails Welcome Snow-Filled Winter Adventures and Events
DENVER (October 29, 2015) Outdoor enthusiasts celebrate winter in Colorado because with the falling snow comes a new selection of activities to be enjoyed on the state’s diverse trails. From winter hiking and cross-country skiing to snowshoeing and fat biking there are adventures, guided tours and special events to be experienced on trails across Colorado. Below is a sampling of ways to explore Colorado’s trails in the wintertime. For more, visit http://www.colorado.com/
Winter Trails:
Estes Park. Trail Ridge Road isn’t solely reserved as a scenic byway for drivers. In fact, the road is closed to cars in the winter and allows snowshoers and cross-country skiers to enjoy the winter splendor of the highest continuously paved road in the United States and trails in the surrounding forest. Outside Estes Park, snowshoers can traverse trails near Lily Mountain. In Rocky Mountain National Park, Bear Lake trailhead gives winter enthusiasts the option of taking a half-mile trek through the trees to Nymph Lake where they can choose to turn back or continue another half mile to Dream Lake for even more scenic views. This is also a popular backcountry skiing and snowboarding area
Frisco. Opening for the winter season in mid-November, the Frisco Nordic Center is a destination for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Featuring a myriad of trails ranging in difficulty, the Nordic Center offers daily trail passes and rentals. Families are encouraged to bring the little ones as child pull sleds are made available for rental. Children literally follow in their parent’s footsteps while getting a front-row seat to the mountain scenery.
Glenwood Springs. Sunlight Mountain Resort’s Babbish Gulch is host to many of winter’s top outdoor activities that are fun for the whole family, including pets. Snowshoers and cross-country skiers share a network of over 18 miles of trails that are marked for beginners, intermediate and advanced adventurers. Glenwood’s trails are also an increasingly popular destination for fat biking fans. Riders can even bike up the slopes at Sunlight Mountain Resort after the lifts close or before they open.
Granby. The YMCA of the Rockies’ Snow Mountain Ranch’s Nordic Center has tapped into many of winter’s top snowy activities including cross country skiing, ice skating, sledding/tubing, snowshoeing and sleigh rides. This year will be the first time fat bikes will traverse across six miles of groomed trails that are reserved exclusively for the two-wheeled wonders. The Nordic Center will also host a series of fat bike races where competitors ride either six or 12 miles of short track.
Leadville. A new winter trails map has recently been released to showcase the best winter trails in Leadville and Twin Lakes. More than 50 miles of free, groomed trails welcome fat biking, winter hiking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Trails can also be explored at the nearby Tennessee Pass Nordic Center where cross-country skiers can ski to dinner at the Cookhouse and stay in new ski-in sleep yurts.
Steamboat Springs. Steamboat stays active from dawn to dusk with winter trails opening early in the morning and guided tours occurring after sunset. A guided moonlit snowshoe tour on Mt. Werner takes guests on a one mile trip around the nature trail where visitors learn all about the forest, ski area and surrounding community. The Haymaker Nordic Center offers five miles of cross-country ski trails that will open in late-December and stay active until the end of March.
Telluride. For an educational and recreational activity, the San Juan Outdoor School offers a variety of snowshoe tours. With the guidance of expert instructors and naturalists, guests gain an appreciation for the natural and cultural history of the San Juan mountain range. Telluride’s Bootdoctors & Paragon Outdoors rent fat tire bikes and offer both custom tours and a Telluride Brewing Company tour that takes riders across the scenic Valley Floor trail.
Trinidad. At Trinidad Lake State Park, snowshoers and cross-country skiers are encouraged to bring their binoculars for wildlife viewing as they travel near Trinidad Lake that borders the historic Santa Fe Trail and the scenic Highway of Legends. When Trinidad’s 800-acres of water freezes over, ice fishers and ice skaters can spend the day on the lake. There are also winter campsites available.
2016 Winter Trail Events and Races:
Colorado Ski Mountaineering Cup, January-April (Rocky Mountains). Sanctioned by the United States Ski Mountaineering Association, the Colorado Ski Mountaineering Cup (COSMIC) promotes a series of competitive ski mountaineering events across Colorado. First time racers have the opportunity to learn on 2,500 feet recreation courses. Race courses range from 4,000 to 8,000 feet.
Ullr Fest, January 13 - 16(Breckenridge). Celebrating its 53rd year, Ullr Fest will feature its first biking activity. Fat bikers will race multiple laps on a three-mile figure eight loop. Participants can register the day of and the winner of each category is gifted with a custom Ullr helmet and medal. The prize chest is abundant so various other prizes will be raffled off to participants.
Fat Bike World Championships, January 27 - 31 (Crested Butte). The first ever annual Fat Bike World Championships are taking place in late January. This inaugural event will also feature a fat bike conference along with three days full of races, rides, and fun for all ages. Registration is currently open and passes can be bought for individual categories or for all four races. Venues include a backcountry course, a course in the town and a course on Crested Butte Mountain Resort.
Aspen Nordic Festival, February 14 (Aspen). Since 1985, cross-country skiers have raced up tough climbs and down thrilling descents in hopes of winning the Owl Creek Chase. 13 miles take racers through scenic views from Snowmass Village to Aspen where winners are awarded monetary prizes.
Beaver Creek Running Series: Snowshoe Edition, Winter 2016 (Beaver Creek). Surrounded by stunning mountain ranges, Beaver Creek’s snowshoe adventure series invites guests of all ages to participate in competitive 5K and 10K events as well as a kids' 1K races throughout the winter. After the races, the plaza hosts a party featuring a variety of giveaways as well as post-race meals for all participants.
ABOUT COLORADO
Colorado is a four-season destination offering unparalleled adventure and recreational pursuits, a thriving arts scene, a rich cultural heritage, flavorful cuisine, and 25 renowned ski areas and resorts. The state's breathtaking scenic landscape boasts natural hot springs, the headwaters of seven major rivers, many peaceful lakes and reservoirs, 12 national parks and monuments and 58 mountain peaks that top 14,000 feet.
For more information or a copy of the 2015 Colorado Official State Vacation Guide, visit www.COLORADO.com or call 1-800-COLORADO. Follow Colorado on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Google+, Foursquare, Flickr,Tumblr and YouTube.
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