Winter Park Resort Ski Runs on Google Maps

Posted on January 28, 2013 by Chris

Winter Park/Mary Jane on Google Maps

Google Inc has been spending some time in the Winter Park, Co area with their quirky little car and its antennae. The results are that all the Winter Park and Mary Jane ski runs are now on Google maps. Take a look above at those wonderful ski runs captured on Google maps.

Here is the link to check out the page for yourself: Winter Park Resort.

This is now a great way to plan your ski day and get away from the crowds on one of our busier weekend up here in WP. Check out our five favorite runs at Winter Park/Mary Jane and you can find some of the locals favorites and hit the best trails at WP/MJ using Google Maps.

If you are wanting avoid all crowds you can also try out all the snowshoe and cross-country trails that art in the Winter Park area.

Snow Mountain Ranch and Devils Thumb Ranch can also be found on Google Maps but their ski trails have not been added yet.

And last, but certainly not least, you can find Winter Park Lodging Company on Google Maps also.

Winter Park Snowshoe Trails – Try Rendezvous

Posted on December 29, 2011 by Chris

The Winter Park area is home to multiple, great cross country trails which are “off the beaten path”. If you enjoy spending time outdoors but are looking for solitude that can’t be found at any resort, look no further than the Rendezvous trails. The trails at Rendezvous are not only very accessible, but also offer a wide range of difficulty. From Hwy 40, take a right at the first stoplight in Fraser (next to Safeway) and follow the road up the hill and to the right. Turn right on Cranmer and then another right onto CR 853. Follow CR 853 to where it ends at CR 850 and take a right. Park and the trailhead will be on your left (see picture below). Once on the trail, head strait until you come to an intersection at Cross trails. For a nice easy loop, taking Cross Trails to Winter Woods. Turn left on to Idelwild Trial and then another left onto South Fork Loop. This trail will meet back up Cross Trails. Add on Ditch Tail for more miles. Click here to view a map of the area

If you are looking to get even further away, check out the experimental forest in Fraser. This beautiful trail system takes a little longer to get to, but is well worth the drive. This 23,000 acre forest has been a site for studies in alpine and subalpine environments since 1937. For a nice easy ski, park at St. Luis Campground and ski the loop which includes Creek Side and Flume trails. If you are looking for a challenge, add on Chainsaw and Zoom, but be prepared for some big climbs. Click here to view a map of this area (look for the blue box stating 1^st St. Louis Campground).

Please be sure to bring a map on either of these trails, along with sun screen, a light snack and plenty of water. Maps are available at the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce, located in the heart of Winter Park. These trails are also great bike trails in the summer.

Winter Park Moonlight Snowshoe and Cross Country Ski

Posted on January 31, 2010 by Chris

Winter Park moonlight snow shoe and ski at Pole Creek Tabernash Pole Creek Moonlight Snowshoe

What a great way to spend a Saturday Night: on the links of Pole Creek Golf Club with skis on your feet and the moon lighting the ground below.

Pole Creek Golf Club had their first, of hopefully many, moonlight snow shoe and ski events this past Saturday night and the event was fantastic. Show up clip on the skis and make a run through the marked course. On the course is a bonfire with some hearty souls serving up schnapps with hot chocolate. Finish up the trek and head inside for some wine and dinner.

We hope that they continue this moonlight tradition all year long. It was a great time and there were a lot of people out enjoying the moonlight and the crisp Colorado air. Lots of kids, dogs and people of all ages having a great time in the clear moonlight.

Dinner was good, wine was even better. Service was a bit slow as I don’t think Bistro 28 expected quite as many people to join them for the first running of this event. Better get to ironing out the kinks before the next moonlight snowshoe event.

All in all it was a great night, ended with a glass of wine at home and the excitement of a another full moon in thirty days.

Snowshoeing in Winter Park

Posted on April 13, 2009 by Chris

Look for these signs

: Elyse having fun up Berthoud Trail

We went on a snowshoe outing this week to show my neices the outdoors of Winter Park without spending a dime. Ok, I did already have 2 pairs of snowshoes and borrowed the other pair from my friend (and realtor), Shanna, so I guess it wouldn’t be free for the tourist. To rent showshoes, go to The Ski Broker - not too much $ at all.

Shanna recommended this trail and we took her up on it. To get there, we went up Berthoud Pass (from Winter Park) past 2 switchbacks. On the 2nd turn to the left, there is a big orange backcountry avalanche warning sign and parking area. We pulled over, strapped on our snowshoes, grabbed our poles (don’t forget poles!!) and headed up the trail.

Shanna said there would be a flat meadow right away but we never found that – it was still really fun and not too tough. It was an easy uphill climb for awhile and we quickly forgot about life and started singing and laughing.

The path is very easy to follow and we saw two other groups while we climbed. It got a bit steep for awhile so we stopped often and took more photos.

We ran into some backcountry skiers. They were doing “Avy training” they told us. My neice from NC said “huh?!” so we got an education on Avalanche training and how people actually live on the extreme side of the outdoors. We said goodbye and continued to sing and hike in our wimpy little snowshoes. We felt cool, at least.

Top of the World (without much effort)!

The photos look a lot more extreme than it was – I think anyone in good enough shape to ski could easily do this. And, it was a fun experience to get out and relax!!

Exploring on Snowshoes

Posted on January 29, 2009 by Amy

Many who have never tried out snowshoes think it sounds like a difficult activity. Truth is, it’s really very easy and fun! It’s just like hiking, except with snow- and gravity-defying paddles on your feet.

Every other Saturday starting January 10th, the Winter Park and Fraser Valley Chamber of Commerce sponsors free beginner snowshoe tours with snowshoes provided. The tour takes place on a flat, easy trail edging the Fraser River, where you can enjoy the serenity of the forest and even spot an occasional moose. Call 970-726-4118 or 800-903-7275 or stop by the Visitor Center in downtown Winter Park to sign up!

If you want to go at it on your own, check out our trail recommendationsin the area. The summertime trails usually make for great snowshoeing trails as well!

Snowshoeing Trails Galore

Posted on February 10, 2007 by Chris

We went for a long hike last weekend in Winter Park – found a great place that’s easy to get to for snowshoeing or hiking. Turn into Lakota (across from WP), and walk up the hill. Take right at top of the hill and it will circle around to the Bon Fils station. About a 2 hour hike if you stop and take photos as much as we did.

This is a picture of my parents – 55 years of marriage. There was tons of snow!!

They are making progress on the condos next to Zephyr but it’s taking forever. Parking garage has been started also next to Zephyr… stay tuned for more updates…