Any decent kick'n'glide in NW Colorado?

Baaahb · Joined: 07 Jan 2005 Posts: 15772 Location: Ponderosa

I must have had a brain fart last fall cause I got this idea that it would be fun to ski into a 10th Mtn Hut and booked a few nights starting March 20, at the namesake hut (near Tennessee Pass). So now I got figure out this trip.

I figure we’ll travel on autopilot through Nevada in the dead of night and then start our trip in Salt Lake, take 40 on the way in to Leadville and 80 on the way out. My hobby is checking out Nordic ski areas – in particular areas groomed by clubs, and national forest trailheads promoted for ski touring. Any suggestions on places to check out off of 40 or 80 are appreciated.

Also, if any tipsters might put me and the wife up for a night en route, we will be glad to return the favor. So far, we have had great luck staying with tipsters…only the greatest of people. It would be particular fun meeting some folks I have talked to online for years. We don’t really have an itinerary (that’s what I need to work on), but it might look something like this, starting March 16:
Salt Lake/Vernal/Steamboat/the ghettos of Vail/hut/hut/hut/ Grand Junction/?

Cheers,

Bob
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Mr. T · Joined: 18 Aug 2006 Posts: 2099 Location: Bellingham

I remember there was really well regarded xc skiing at or near Hahn's Peak to the NW of Steamboat.

And, Latigo Ranch between Vail and Steamboat was one of the real xc gems in the West.

Now get yer butt googlin...

... and have phun!

skipowpow · Joined: 18 Jan 2006 Posts: 1047 Location: 5280

You will probably already be checking out the trails around Tennessee Pass. I like that system. I would add a stop on Rabbit Ears pass for some exploring. It isn't really groomed, but there is a large trail system. Just remember that the west side is for human powered traffic only and the east is for motors (generally).

Devil’s Thumb Ranch (near Tabernash \ Winter Park) might be a bit out of your way, but it could be worth your while.

Sorry, I don’t have any place to stay for you. Sounds like a fun road trip.

Atomic Jet stick · Joined: 21 Dec 2004 Posts: 132

You should be able to find some very good nordic skiing on the Grand Mesa outside of Junction.

Pinnah · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 3551 Location: Bahston

Who let the meadow skippers in here? Wink

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Dave "Pinnah" Mann
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FreeheelDave · Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2012 7:52 pm Post subject:

The Tennessee Pass Nordic Center has miles of groomed trails for both classic and skating. It's right at the base of Ski Cooper.

Their fish flats trails are right across the highway ftom the 10th Mountain Hut trail head.

Also, the Tennessee Pass Cookhouse offers an expensive, but great dining experience.

http://www.tennesseepass.com/nordic-center/
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Arlow · Joined: 09 Dec 2004 Posts: 109 Location: Boulder, CO

Snow Mountain Ranch

http://www.ymcarockies.org/smrnordic.html

Matt J · Joined: 09 Dec 2009 Posts: 2640

the Leadville area has three FREE Nordic trail systems

the golf course (skied that one this morning), Turquoise lake, and 7th Street

Duffstuff · Joined: 04 May 2005 Posts: 1091 Location: Denver

The Steamboat and Rabbit Ears Pass areas have some excellent meadowskipping. Great terrain for 3 pin/leather, XCD, karhu guide etc. type equipment. You can also find good tour for turns options, but with longer approaches.

The groomed Catamount Nordic Center is also excellent.

VTnCO · Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2012 9:16 pm Post subject:

There is some decent skiing up near Steamboat Lake/Hahns Peak north of Steamboat. There is a 90k race there on the 17th so things should be in good shape. Never skied Latigo but have heard it is nice. You can also ski at Howelson Hill in Steamboat, which is the City's xc training area where a lot of the nordic combined training goes on.

Rabbit Ears has a bunch of free xc stuff that they groom sometimes if I recall, and enough use that it will be tracked by others at a min.

Snow Mountain Ranch near Winter Park is great and in really good shape at the moment. Devils Thumb Ranch nearby has nice trails and fancy expensive facilities, but poor snow conditions this year and poor grooming the last few years- Snow Mtn is much better and lower key. Both places offer about a 100k of trails each.

Leadville has some great free xc skiing and is in good shape as I was up there a week ago for the weekend. The Mineral Belt Trail is free and great if there is minimal wind. There is also the Colorado Mtn College trails that connect to the Mineral Belt - also free and good fun layout in the woods. Never skied at Tenn Pass Nordic, but I don't think there are a ton of trails there.