Build Your Colorado Winter Bucket-List
Get out on the snow and ice and try something new this winter.
By Lisa Blake
The flakes are starting to fly and winter sports enthusiasts are getting giddy about the upcoming Colorado ski and snowboard season. In between powder days, be sure to take a break from the chairlifts and set your sights on these epic winter adventures.
Feel the wind on your cheeks as trained furry professionals whisk you over the hills on a dog sledding excursion. Outfitters in Breckenridge, Steamboat Springs, Bond, Fraser, Oak Creek, Durango and Leadville offer exhilarating mushing trips through the Rocky Mountains. Take turns running the dogs and riding in the sled on this one-of-a-kind Colorado adventure.
Get vertical ice climbing in Ouray, Redstone and Vail this winter. One of the premier climbing venues in the world, the man-made Ouray Ice Park rests along a one-mile stretch of the Uncompahgre Gorge and features 200 manmade ice and mixed climbs, 14 distinct climbing areas and three miles of vertical terrain. You don’t have to be an avid rock climber to swing an axe at this winter sport. Call on area outfitters for instruction and guided trips.
Colorado snowmobile tours range from groomed-terrain beginner tours to big-mountain backcountry adventures skirting the Continental Divide. Round up your crew for a guided group tour in Winter Park, Leadville, Crested Butte and beyond. Never driven a snowmobile? That’s alright. The pros will show you the ropes.
Get your fill of crisp winter air and gorgeous mountain backdrops on a low-impact Nordic or cross-country skiing outing. Choose from designated backcountry skinny-ski trails or pristine groomed paths at one of Colorado’s many Nordic centers (where equipment rentals and lessons are also available). Tip: The Aspen/Snowmass Nordic trail system is one of the country’s largest free-access areas.
Try one of the fastest growing winter sports in Colorado and jump on a fat bike tour or solo ride. These bikes come equipped with beefy wide tires, thick tread and enlarged frames built to float over snow, making it fairly easy to pick up the sport. Rental shops statewide have extended their fleets to accommodate snowy months and some even offer moonlight guided rides, access to snow-cat-groomed trails and brewery-hopping winter bike tours.
For more Colorado winter activity ideas, the lowdown on the state’s 25 ski resorts and Colorado discount travel packages, visit coloradoinfo.com/colorado-winter.
