Southern Colorado snow forecast

Skiing in Southern Colorado

Southern Colorado brings together three high, relatively remote resorts in the south and west of the state, well away from the Denver crowds of the I-70 corridor. All three sit high, with lifts mostly between about 2,650 m and 3,750 m, so the snow tends to stay cold.

In the Gunnison Valley section, Crested Butte rises from about 2,860 m to 3,707 m above the old mining town of the same name. Most of its terrain faces north or west, it averages around 300 inches (7.6 m) of snow a year, and while more than half the runs are intermediate, its steep upper terrain has a reputation among strong skiers.

In the San Juans section, Telluride sits between the historic town of Telluride and Mountain Village, linked by a free public gondola. It has more than 2,000 acres and a vertical of over 1,300 m including hike-to terrain, with a large share of advanced and expert runs in bowls such as Prospect, Black Iron and Revelation, but also long, easy cruisers such as Galloping Goose. Wolf Creek, on Wolf Creek Pass near Pagosa Springs, is a smaller, no-frills area with no slopeside village, but it averages around 430 inches (about 11 m) a year, the most of any resort in Colorado.

The usual Colorado season runs from around late November to mid-April. Access is mainly by road over mountain passes or via small regional airports, so winter storms can affect travel as well as the skiing.