Winter Park, Colorado is a winter resort heaven. Spend ing Winter here in our part of the Colorado Rocky Mountains there are endless things to do outdoors. We are home to Winter Park Ski Resort, Devils Thumb Nordic Center, with more than enough back-country skiing for even the pros and we are the proclaimed snowmobile capitol of the USA. What to do here in Grand County is not a decision of what to do here in the winter but a decision of what not to do. If you are coming to visit for a week you will be able to fill every day with new and exciting activities. If you come for a month you may get to do a couple of activities a couple times. And if you come live for a year you may experience all of our winter activities here in Winterpark, CO.
So lets start with our most recognized and popular outdoor winter activity. That is downhill alpine skiing at Winterpark Resort. Winter Park/Mary Jane Resort is the closest destination ski resort to Denver International Airport and is Colorado’s longest continually operating ski resort. Winterpark/Mary Jane receives the most snowfall of all Colorado destination resorts and is known for its best in North America moguls and is always recognized as one of the most family oriented ski resorts to visit. Winter Park/Mary Jane is also known for its disabled ski programs that are run through the National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD).
Cross country skiing is also a very popular activity here in Grand County and there is no better location to take to the trails than Devils Thumb Ranch. With more than 100km of groomed trails nestled in the pristine and private Ranch Creek Valley at the base of the Continental Divide, Devil’s Thumb Ranch is the premiere Nordic center for Colorado cross country skiing, whether for skate or classic Nordic. Novices can start the day with a private or group lesson from one of their friendly instructors. More seasoned Nordic enthusiasts will find the advanced technique clinics helpful. And of course, a wide variety of quality cross country ski equipment is available for purchase or rental, including infant sleds and skijoring rigs. Devil’s Thumb Ranch is open seven days a week, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Snowmobiling is also a more than a pastime in this part of Grand County. Grand Lake, known as the Snowmobile Capital of Colorado because of the abundance of excellent snowmobile riding and the ability to ride into town for lunch, dinner and lodging. Leave your car behind, all you will need is your snowmobile for days of freedom and enjoyment.
And lastly lets not forget about all the back-country skiing that is just out the door of your lodging here in Winter Park. There is a new back-country cat skiing operation called Powder Addiction that is headquartered in the Winter Park base village to take all that yearn for some untouched ungroomed tracks out to get their kicks.
Outdoor winter activities is what Winter Park is about. Something for everyone and more than enough for all.
Winter Park has lots of options for lodging and there are all levels of quality and location. Do you want to stay at the base of Winter Park Resort or would you like to be four miles down rad in the town of Winterpark? You can go out further and stay in the town of Fraser or even go out to Tabernash, home of Pole Creek golf course. From here SolVista Basin ski resort is as close as Winterpark Resort. General location will have a lot to do with the amount of money you are going to spend on you accommodations. The farther out from Winter Park Ski Resort, especially in winter, the less costly your lodging will be. In the summer it is access to rivers and National Forest that drives the prices up.
How many people are in your party and what do you expect in terms of sleeping arrangements? Does Everyone in your party need a bedroom or is a pullout couch or Murphy bed satisfactory. What do you need in terms of kitchen? Again, here in Winter Park we have all sorts of layouts so it is important to know what you are wanting in terms of sleeping and eating setup.
What are you going to be doing on your trip her to Grand County, Colorado? If you are alpine skiing you will want to be close to Winterpark Resort or if you are cross-country skiing you will want to be closer to Tabernash and the cross country trails of Devil’s Thumb Ranch. If there are kids in your party and you are skiing the most convenient way to ski for them is to be at the base of the resort so they can pop inside for lunch and to get warm. If there are non-skiers in your group you may want to consider the town of Winter Park, which Google is now calling Hideaway Park, for an easy walk to the local eateries and shops.
If you are skiers coming to Winterpark, the number one draw for vacationers to this part of Colorado, what is important to you? Ski in and out? Walking distance to local restaurants and retail stores? Amount of space in the home, condos or town-homes for relaxing on your vacation with friends and family? The most convenient lodging is in Zephyr Mountain Lodge. These units are not huge though so if you want something bigger Base Camp on Jane Creek would be a good option. Fraser Crossing and Founder’s Pointe are also very convenient and were built in 2008. The new Winter Park Village Lofts are the most convenient and upscale of all the lodging at the base.
so in Short there are many options for you vacation rentals here i Grand County so make sure you know what you need to make the best decision for your Winter Park Colorado vacation.
Winter Park, Colorado ski vacations to Colorado’s favorite ski resort Winter Park/Mary Jane ski area is a ski trip that can satisfy the whole family. Some make their ski trip an annual trek and for others it is a once in a while outing. Well, make your family happy and make WP/MJ your annual destination for your Colorado ski trip. There are many things that can make your ski vacation a great time for your family so don’t miss out and lets make your vacation as relaxing and as exciting as possible.
Your first consideration is when to come to this part of the Colorado Rocky Mountains? What is the best month for skiing here you ask. That would be March and early April. The snow is plentiful and the temperatures are starting to warm. There is nothing better than a blue sky day with a bunch of fresh powder on the hills to get your heart pumping.
Your next thought should where do we want to stay on our trip to the Rockies. Do you stay at the resort with some ski in and out lodging or do we stay in Old Towne and take the shuttle up one stop. Maybe two miles down the road in the Town of Winter Park or even farther down the road in Fraser is the ticket. Options for all with price ranges that run the whole gamut. General rules of thumb are the farther from the resort the cheaper the lodging. Farther from the resort also more complications getting to ski area. The benefits of staying in town is there are many restaurants. The benefits of at the resort is ski in and out and the new WP Village with its four new restaurants and other shops that are in the brand new Village.
On to our next task. That is lift tickets. You don’t want to pay the walk up window rate of $92.00 for a one day lift ticket. Plan a little ahead and save lots of cash. Winter Park Lodging Company sells Gold C books that will let you pay around $50.00 a day for a lift ticket. That is the best deal going unless you plan way ahead and stay long enough to warrant the purchase of a season ski pass.
We can’t forget the skis! The ski Broker and Winter Park Base Rentals are the places to rent your skis! WP Base Rentals is the most convenient with the newest of skis with service that will deliver your skis to your door the night before you outing. The Ski Broker has four locations and can accommodate you no matter where your group has reserved lodging.
There are your basics of how to get the most of your Winter Park/Mary Jane ski vacation. Do remember that Grand County is very cold and at high altitude. Bring warm, warm ski clothes and make sure to drink lots of water. Alcohols effects are enhanced by the altitude so make sure to drink only in moderation.