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Central
Colorado
Ski & Snowboard Areas
If
you are looking for champagne powder and stunning vistas the Central
Colorado Rockies is the place to ski. With an average annual snowfall
of over 300 inches, skiers, snowboarders, cross country skiers,
telemarkers, and others will find a true winter playground in Central
Colorado.
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Monarch
Ski and Snowboard Area
The Monarch Ski and Snowboard Area is 18 miles west of Salida, Colorado
via U.S. Hwy 50. Monarch's season normally begins in mid-November and
ends mid-April. Monarch's base elevation is 10,790 feet. The summit
reaches an elevation of 11,961 feet, offering a vertical drop of 1,170
feet. The mountain receives an average annual snowfall of over 350
inches. Monarch has 670 skiable acres, 5 lifts, and 54 trails. 21
percent of the trails are devoted to beginners, 37 percent to
intermediate, and 42 percent to advanced. Monarch's longest run is two
miles. Its 6,000 skiers per hour uphill capacity is accomplished using
one fixed quad lift, and four double chair lifts. Monarch's Ricochet
Terrain Park offers rail slides, big airs, jumps and bumps. Monarch
grooms about three kilometers of trail on Old Monarch Pass. They also
carve two single-track Nordic loops, one beginner, one more advanced,
through the trees near the ski lodge. The Sidewinder Saloon and a
cafeteria offer food services. Other services include skiing and
snowboarding lessons, equipment rentals, and child care (ages 3-6 years
old). Snowcat skiing and snowboarding tours are available from Monarch
Snowcat Tours. Lodging is available at the Monarch Mountain Lodge, for
reservations call 1-(800) 332-2668. Other dining and lodging
establishments are located in nearby Buena Vista and Salida. Call
1-(888) 996-7669 for complete information on skiing and snowboarding at
Monarch.
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Ski
Cooper
Ski Cooper is located 10 miles north of Leadville, Colorado via U.S.
Hwy 24. The Ski Cooper skiing and snowboarding season normally begins
November 24 and ends April 2. Cooper's base elevation is 10,500 feet.
The summit reaches an elevation of 11,700 feet, offering a vertical
drop of 1,200 feet. The mountain receives an average annual snowfall of
250 inches. Ski Cooper has 365 skiable acres, 4 lifts, and 26
trails. 30 percent of the trails are devoted to beginners, 40 percent
to intermediate, and 30 percent  to expert. Ski
Cooper's longest run is 1.4-miles. Its 3,300 skiers per hour uphill
capacity is accomplished using one triple, one double chair lift, and
two surface lifts. Nordic skiing is available at the Piney Creek Nordic
Center which has 24 kilometers of groomed track and skating trails. The
snowboard terrain park is accessible from the top of Trail's End.
Stumps, bumps, and air abound. Services include skiing and snowboarding
lessons, equipment rentals, and child care (ages 2-7 years old).
Snowcat skiing and snowboarding tours are available from Chicago Ridge
Snowcat Tours. Meals and lodging are available in nearby Leadville,
Colorado. Call (719) 486-3684 for complete information on skiing and
snowboarding at Ski Cooper.
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Wolf Creek
Wolf Creek is located 75 miles west of Alamosa, Colorado via U.S. Hwy
160. The Wolf Creek skiing and snowboarding season normally begins
early-November and ends early-April. Wolf Creek's base elevation is
10,300 feet. The summit reaches an elevation 11,904, offering a
vertical drop of 1,604 feet. The mountain receives an average annual
snowfall of 465 inches. Wolf Creek has 1,600 skiable acres, 5 lifts,
one rolling conveyor, and 50 trails. 20 percent of the trails are
devoted to beginners, 35 percent to intermediate, 25 percent to
advanced skiers, and 20 percent to experts. Wolf Creek's longest run is
2-miles. Its 8,100 skiers per hour uphill capacity is accomplished
using one quad chairlift, two triple chairlifts, two double chairlifts,
and one rolling conveyor. Nordic skiing is available on a groomed 6
mile loop track. Services include skiing and snowboarding lessons and
equipment rentals. Child care services are available at off site
facilities. Lodging on the east side is available in the towns of
Alamosa, Creede, Del Norte, and South Fork. Lodging on the west side is
available in the town of Pagosa Springs. Wolf Creek offers three food
service facilities and one full service bar. Call (970) 264-5639 for
complete information on skiing and snowboarding at Wolf Creek.
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