Winter only makes the Rockies more beautiful.
With moderate snowfall most of the winter, Colorado’s cold season is glorious! Try hiking, snowshoeing, ice climbing, sledding, snowboarding, or backcountry skiing. Here are some of our favorite things to do and links to help you plan your winter adventure:
Rocky Mountain National Park
415 square miles of alpine and subalpine trails weave through the park. Strap on some boots and go for a hike, or take your bike for a spin! There’s also climbing, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, sledding, backcountry skiing, and snowboarding.
Estes Park Mountain Shop
Gear up for indoor or outdoor adventure. Since 1986, Estes Park Mountain Shop has stocked equipment and apparel for all levels of experience. Providing rentals, guided trips, and instruction for all adventures, the customer service is top-notch, the staff is friendly, the prices are amazing, and 18,000 square feet of retail space, including a bargain basement, gets you ready for whatever nature throws at you.
Estes Valley Community Center
Gorgeous architecture on the outside, and an indoor running track, weight room, fitness room, multi-court gymnasium, lap pool, leisure pool, waterslide, lazy river, and drop-in childcare on the inside. Estes Valley Community Center is your one-stop recreation facility.
Snowy Peaks Winery
Award-winning hand-crafted wines from Colorado-grown grapes including Merlot, Syrah, Viognier, and Riesling. $6 for a five-wine sample is a good place to start! There are also gourmet foods made by Colorado artisans, handmade cheeses and chocolates, homemade jams and jellies, small-batch sodas and ciders, and wine-related gifts.
Sombrero Ranches
The Rockies on horseback! Since 1958, Sombrero Ranches has grown Colorado’s western heritage for all levels of riders in every season. Ride a trail in the high country and look for elk, deer, and coyote. The steak dinner rides are a favorite!