Winter in Colorado provides you entry to numerous pure snow-covered landscapes, offering tons of winter actions. From iconic small ski cities that make having fun with snow sports activities accessible to Denver, a big metropolis with scrumptious meals, cultural occasions, and historic websites, Colorado has one thing for everybody. Listed below are the highest winter actions in Colorado to get pleasure from throughout your journey.
Greatest Issues to Do in Colorado in Winter
Visiting Colorado in winter transports you to a real winter wonderland. The Rockies remodel into a shocking snowy playground, perfect for world-class snowboarding and snowboarding at well-known resorts like Aspen and Vail. Past the slopes, charming mountain cities sparkle with festive lights and a comfortable ambiance the place you may sip scorching cocoa and get into the vacation spirit. Colorado gives an ideal mix of journey and serenity, from exhilarating snowshoe hikes to stress-free in scorching springs. So seize your ski gear and head out to the good outside as a result of these are the very best issues to do in Colorado in winter.
1. Go Snowboarding or Snowboarding
Colorado is taken into account by many to be the very best ski and snowboarding vacation spot within the USA. There are over 25 ski resorts within the state unfold throughout the Rocky Mountains which have slopes for newcomers, specialists, and everybody in between.
Due to Colorado’s excessive altitude, the snow is plentiful. It may be skied from October via April and is understood for being each dry and fluffy, making it good for snowboarding.
The place to go Snowboarding and Snowboarding in Colorado
Ski cities are scattered round Colorado, providing you with loads of choices to select from.
- Vail has one of many largest resorts and a number of the greatest and most numerous terrain in Colorado.
- For comfort to Denver, Breckenridge Ski Resort is the best choice for snowboarding in Colorado. You can be there in lower than two hours from the airport (except you’re in site visitors with the locals on the weekends).
- Steamboat Springs Ski Resort is much less crowded than different ski cities and is nice for households. It’s cheaper than extra well-known cities like Aspen or Vail.
- Howelsen Hill Ski Space is North America’s oldest working ski space. It’s the most cost-effective possibility and is ideal for brand spanking new skiers.
- The Steamboat Resort gives 1,200 hectares of skiable terrain for all expertise ranges.
Winter Park Resort
Winter Park is unquestionably probably the most all spherical ski expertise in Colorado. Usually rated as the highest ski resort in North America, Winter Park Resort is the longest frequently working ski resort in Colorado and went via an enormous transformation when it was owned by Intrawest (The identical firm that remodeled Mont Tremblant and Whistler into the dynamite ski resorts in Canada.
Famend for its expansive ski terrain, Winter Park gives slopes that cater to all talent ranges, from newcomers to specialists. The resort’s alpine setting is ideal for households with alternatives to discover snow-covered trails on snowshoes or get pleasure from family-friendly actions like tubing.
Issues to do at Winter Park Resort
Winter Park Resort is so well-liked for the entire household due to the sheer quantity of winter actions on supply. From sundown snowshoes to downhill snowboarding on a ski bike, if gives distinctive experiences. It has guided night time snowboarding on its Ski & Journey by Headlamp tour, and even sleigh rides. Winter Park Resort is Colorado’s most full resort if you’re in search of a resort much like Whistler with a improbable village.
With cozy lodging and a vigorous après-ski scene, Winter Park Resort is not only a spot to go to; it’s an expertise to expertise winter in Colorado to the fullest.
2. Cross Nation Snowboarding
If you wish to go snowboarding however in a extra relaxed approach than downhill snowboarding, give cross-country or Nordic snowboarding a attempt. You will discover solitude away from the crowds the place you may higher get pleasure from nature and get the well being advantages with a low-joint impression exercise. Since you don’t want to purchase a carry ticket at one of many ski resorts, it’s also a extra reasonably priced possibility for snowboarding. As a substitute, you will discover a spot with a day by day path cross.
The place to go cross-country snowboarding
3. Snow Tubing
There may be a lot you are able to do to benefit from the snow past snowboarding. Snow tubing is an exercise anybody can get pleasure from, and there are numerous snow tubing hills all through Colorado. Many hills present conveyor belts that may take you proper again up the hill to return again down once more, taking away a lot of the effort required.
The place to go Snow tubing
You will discover snow-tubing hills all through Colorado.
The Coca Cola Tubing Hill at Winter Park and the Frisco Journey Park are each pretty handy to Denver. We went snow tubing whereas staying at an all-inclusive ranch, the place they pulled us up the hill utilizing a snowmobile, so we tubed down again and again.
4. Copper Mountain Snow Maze
Positioned within the East Village close to the bottom of the Tremendous Bee chairlift, The Copper Snow Maze is the world’s highest alpine snow maze that’s made completely out of snow. It will likely be returning quickly on the mountain and has doubled in dimension with 8,000 sq. ft for friends to get misplaced within the mountains.
What’s nice about this winter exercise on Copper Mountain is that the Copper Snow Maze is free for anybody over the age of three. Simply signal a waiver earlier than visiting on the Copper web site.
5. Sleigh Rides
Occurring a horse-drawn sleigh experience makes for an ideal household exercise, or can be an ideal addition to a romantic getaway. You will discover sleigh rides that embody scorching chocolate, cookies, and a few that may take you on to full meals.
The place to go for Sleigh Rides in Colorado
You will discover sleigh rides all through Colorado provided at many resorts and journey facilities. There may be nothing fairly as romantic as a sleigh experience via a winter wonderland. whereas sipping scorching cocoa as you watch the surroundings unfold.
6. Snowmobiling
For vacationers in search of one thing with slightly extra pace and energy, snowmobiling is the very best exercise for you. Should you drive via the mountains after recent snow you will note vans with snowmobile trailers lining the street.
The place to go Snowmobiling in Colorado
Being new to the realm and sure new to snowmobiling we suggest going with a guided snowmobile tour.
- Breckenridge Snowmobiling gives snowmobiling excursions and unguided snowmobile leases in Breckenridge, Keystone, Vail, Beaver Creek, Frisco, Silverthorne, Dillon, and Copper Mountain, Colorado.
- T-Lazy-7 Ranch and Saddleback Ranch supply snowmobiling excursions all through the winter.
7. Sizzling Springs
Colorado has a number of areas with scorching springs that make for an effective way to chill out and heat up throughout your journey. A soak will likely be welcomed by your sore muscle tissue after a day of snowboarding. Some scorching springs are very true to nature whereas others are man-made swimming pools fed by pure scorching springs. It doesn’t matter what you resolve you’ll love taking a dip within the springs to heat up.
Greatest Sizzling Springs in Colorado
8. Horseback Using
Horseback using is a year-round exercise in Colorado however is usually restricted to path rides or indoor classes. Lots of the ranches supply path rides that finish with scorching chocolate. You by no means know if you’ll have a sunny day with views for miles or have snowflakes coming down as you make your approach via a guided path.
The place to go Horseback Using in Colorado
- Saddleback Ranch
- A number of visitor ranches like Vista Verde Ranch embody winter path rides and classes through the winter.
9. Chill out in Your Cabin
Benefit from the wonderful cabins in Colorado in winter. With cozy fireplaces, personal scorching tubs, and facilities that make you’re feeling at residence whereas nonetheless being secluded in nature. There are tons of choices accessible on VRBO or with trip rental companies, however ensure you e-book early as the very best ones can e-book as much as a yr upfront.
In search of a spot to remain in Colorado? Try these Cozy Cabin Leases on your subsequent Winter Getaway!
You can even discover cabins on the dude ranches all through Colorado. We’ve been to Vista Verde Ranch a number of instances and have been singing their reward ever since. You keep in a cabin however get luxurious meals and 5-star service. They maintain the everyday winter chores like shoveling your snow for you and stocking your wood-burning range with firewood. Whether it is in your finances, that is one of the simplest ways to have a magical winter getaway in Colorado.
10. Spend Time within the Mile Excessive Metropolis
Take a break from the mountains to see what Denver has to supply. The meals scene in Denver is consistently evolving with new microbreweries opening up and loads of variety of different choices. We’ve seen a number of fashionable meals courts opening up within the space which provides you the chance to attempt a number of eating places in a single spot.
We loved going to a Denver Nuggets skilled basketball sport. The Bronco’s soccer season goes into early winter and Colorado Avalanche performs hockey via the winter.
Since Colorado was one of many first states to legalize marijuana within the USA, take a hashish tour to go to a develop facility, dispensaries, and eating places.
Winter Actions in Denver
11. Excessive Winter Adventures in Colorado
Dan did a improbable job showcasing the very best winter actions in Colorado that they did. However Dave and I need to take issues up a notch and share just a few winter adventures for adrenaline junkies and for these you’re in search of a little bit of a weekend exercise or a brand new winter sport to attempt.
12. Backcountry Snowboarding
We’ve talked about downhill and cross nation snowboarding, however for actual thrill seekers, backcountry snowboarding isn’t for everybody, however if you wish to get away from the resorts and have the abilities, Colorado gives a number of the greatest backcountry snowboarding alternatives in the US. Should you don’t have expertise, you may be part of a backcountry ski tour which is the most secure possibility. Go together with an professional information who will scout avalanche hazard and the very best situations upfront.
Even if you happen to by no means skied within the backcountry, you may ski the very best bowls in Colorado with a information. By no means go into the backcountry with out expertise or a information. Locations like Vail and Steamboat Springs supply guided excursions.
The place to Go Again Nation Snowboarding
Aspen Expeditions Worldwide (Aspen): Presents guided backcountry snowboarding within the Aspen and Snowmass areas, catering to numerous talent ranges.
Colorado Journey Guides (Summit County): Supplies guided excursions in areas like Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, and Keystone, appropriate for various expertise ranges.
San Juan Mountain Guides (Ouray and Telluride): Focuses on guided backcountry excursions within the San Juan Mountains, identified for his or her difficult terrain.
Irwin Guides (Crested Butte): Presents customized backcountry snowboarding experiences within the Elk Mountains, together with the well-known Crested Butte space.
Paragon Guides (Vail and Beaver Creek): Recognized for his or her hut-to-hut snowboarding journeys and backcountry excursions within the Vail Valley and surrounding areas.
Rocky Mountain Alpine Guides (Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park): Supplies guided backcountry snowboarding within the beautiful terrain of Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park. Estes Park has quite a few backcountry snowboarding routes, significantly round Bear Lake and Longs Peak
Don’t fear if you happen to don’t have the finances for heliskiing, die-hard backcountry snowboarders go mountain climbing as much as the highest of the bowls. It makes the reward a lot extra value it!
13. Fats Biking
Mountain bikes remodel to fats bikes take over in winter and is without doubt one of the greatest winter actions in Colorado. Loads of locations supply fats biking leases the place you may hit the paths and plow via snow. The most effective half? Whenever you fall within the fluffy snow, it doesn’t harm!
Be sure that to examine the native path situations and climate forecasts. Some trails could require particular permits or have restrictions throughout sure instances of the yr.
The place to go Fats Biking in Colorado
Crested Butte: Usually thought to be one of many birthplaces of mountain biking, Crested Butte gives quite a few trails good for fats biking in winter.
Aspen/Snowmass: gives wonderful fats biking trails, with leases and guided excursions available. T
Durango: This space gives quite a lot of trails which are well-suited to winter fats biking. The Horse Gulch and Telegraph Path Methods are native favorites, providing routes for all talent ranges.
Steamboat Springs: The world round Steamboat Springs is famend for its ‘Champagne Powder’ snow, which makes for wonderful fats biking situations. The Yampa River Core Path and Emerald Mountain are well-liked spots.
Breckenridge: Breckenridge additionally boasts nice fats biking trails, with stunning winter landscapes. Boreas Move is a really helpful path for a scenic and gratifying experience.
14. Canine Sledding
Canine sledding is a enjoyable approach to get into the backcountry in winter. We love canine sledding virtually as a lot because the sled canines like to run on the path. These canines had been made for winter. It is vitally essential to e-book dogsledding excursions with a good firm. Learn extra: Is Canine Sledding Merciless? The Misconceptions of Dogsledding
Breckenridge: Recognized for its ski slopes, Breckenridge additionally gives memorable canine sledding experiences via stunning snowy forests and meadows. Firms like Good Occasions Adventures present guided excursions.
Winter Park: Canine Sled Rides of Winter Park and different native outfitters supply excursions via the scenic Fraser Valley, offering a mixture of exhilarating rides and alternatives to find out about mushing.
15. Ice Climbing
Colorado, gives distinctive mountain climbing experiences, usually greatest loved with the experience of a information. Should you haven’t tried it earlier than, Mountain climbing might be lots of enjoyable. However like most of the adventures we advise right here, don’t go alone if you happen to don’t have expertise. There are many locations in Colorado that supply mountain climbing programs and excursions.
The place to Go Ice Climbing in Colorado
Ouray Ice Park: Positioned within the “Switzerland of America,” Ouray Ice Park boasts over 200 man-made ice and combined climbs, and quite a few guiding companies function right here, catering to all talent ranges.
Lake Metropolis: This space gives quite a lot of pure ice formations appropriate for climbing. It’s much less crowded than extra well-known spots, offering a extra serene expertise. A number of information companies in Lake Metropolis supply personalised climbing adventures.
Vail Valley: Guided excursions can take you to hidden ice falls and frozen waterfalls within the surrounding areas, appropriate for each newcomers and skilled climbers.
Telluride: The world gives a spread of routes, and native information companies present professional instruction and tools.
East Vail Chutes: This space is a little more difficult and is greatest fitted to climbers with some expertise. Native guides can present a secure and exhilarating climbing expertise.
16. Snowshoe in Colorado
Snowshoeing will not be thought of excessive, however it’s positively an excessive exercise. We’ve achieved a ton of snowshoeing and it is a wonderful approach to keep in form. Snowshoeing might be very tough when breaking path however it’s a lot simpler than mountain climbing in winter. When mountain climbing into the backcountry you’ll want to strap on a pair of snowshoes to chop via the deep snow as an alternative of falling in.
The place to Go Snowshoeing in Colorado
Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park: With its beautiful mountain landscapes, the park gives a spread of trails good for snowshoeing, reminiscent of Bear Lake, Nymph Lake, and Emerald Lake trails.
Aspen and Snowmass: The world round these iconic ski cities gives quite a few trails with breathtaking views, appropriate for snowshoeing fans of all ranges.
Breckenridge: Moreover being a ski haven, the realm round Breckenridge has nice snowshoeing trails like Boreas Move, which provide scenic vistas and a peaceable ambiance.
Vail: The Vail Valley has a number of trails that are perfect for snowshoeing, offering a serene approach to discover the winter fantastic thing about Colorado’s mountains.
Steamboat Springs: The world round Steamboat Springs is understood for its ‘Champagne Powder’ snow, good for a snowshoeing journey. The Uranium Mine Highway and Fish Creek Falls path are well-liked decisions.
Telluride: The San Juan Mountains surrounding Telluride supply a number of the most dramatic landscapes for snowshoeing, with trails that cater to all talent ranges.
Crested Butte: Sometimes called the Nordic ski capital of Colorado, Crested Butte additionally gives distinctive snowshoeing alternatives with miles of scenic trails.
San Juan Mountains: This area, significantly close to Ouray and Silverton, gives a number of the most picturesque snowshoeing within the state, with trails winding via serene, snow-covered forests and alongside frozen waterfalls.
Winter Packing Ideas
When planning a winter journey, you’ll be spending lots of time outside in chilly climate. Be sure that to pack in layers together with breathable base layers made out of Mereno Wool, a heat insulating layer made and a water-proof windproof outer layer.
You may learn our full articles about winter packing right here: 5 Winter Layering Tricks to Costume for Excessive Chilly Climate
These are all the very best winter actions to do in Colorado. The Centennial state is an incredible winter journey vacation spot. So what are you ready for? Get outdoors and benefit from the snow and go to Colorado this winter.