Tubing and Sledding in Winter Park, CO

Posted on January 13, 2012 by Chris

Colorado Adventure Park Winter Park, Colorado

Have you been sledding at the Fraser Tubing Hill recently. There is a new company over behind the Alco store and they are providing some fancy tubing. The place is called Colorado Adventure Park it is a great experience for the whole family. And I mean the whole family. We spent a morning on ugh etudes with the four year old twins and the grandparents, that is from four to seventy nine years old.

Colorado Adventure Park is Grand County’s newest, fastest, largest and safest adventure park. With excitement in mind CAP proudly offesr a variety of activities to satisfy every guests quest for adventure. In addition to tubing and sledding the Park offers snow scoots and a soon to open terrain park.

The snow scoots are for kids seeking speed and a little competitive fun. A Snow Scoot is a Polaris 120 snowmobile for kids ages six and up and under 130 pounds. The Snow Scoots are ridden along a groomed track in the meadow at the Colorado Adventure Park. Snow Scoots are in operation from 10am to 6pm.

The terrain park will open in February 2012 and is for the young one that are looking to improve their terrain park skill in a safe and fun setting. If you are looking to do more tricks and the ski area is closed, come by Colorado Adventure Park and enjoy our terrain park under the lights and all day long.

Tubing, snow scoots and the terrain park require helmets so be sure to bring yours or you can rent one at the Adventure Park. There is a concessions stand and beer and wine is served. They even have a fire pit with smores kits available.

If you are looking to spend a day away from Winter Park and Mary Jane head out to the Colorado Adventure Park for a day of thrill for all.

Devil’s Thumb Ranch Sleigh Rides

Posted on February 14, 2011 by Chris

Horse Drawn Carriage Rides Winter Park, CO

Looking for some fun for the kids and the whole family? Devil’s Thumb Ranch is offering guests of Winter Park Lodging Company a screaming deal for carriage rides through their Cabin Creek Stables. The stables have agreed to a special offer just for WPLCo guests…

Mondays through Thursdays, get four sleigh riders for the price of two (a $70 savings) on our feed sleigh rides offered at 10:30 and 3 pm daily. Reservations required, space limited.

The feed sleigh rides are when they take a small amount of guests out to help feed the cattle…they get to see the cows very close up and help give them hay…kids and people from the big cities love it.

You can check out Devil’s Thumb other sleigh ride offerings or do a special event out on their beautiful property.

Ski Magazine rated Devil’s Thumb Ranch in their top 5 Favorite Sleigh Rides and this what they had to say about DTR:

After a sleigh ride around the ranch’s 5,000 snowy acres, return to the stable to dinner around the campfire. Tabernash, Colo., near Winter Park; (800) 933-4339; devilsthumbranch.com .

Dinner at either The Ranch House Restaurant or Heck’s Tavern is some of the best eatin’ you will find here in Winter Park or the whole Fraser Valley. If you have never been out to Devil’s Thumb you are missing one of the top destinations in Grand County and Colorado for that matter.

So if your heading up to Winter Park let us here at the Winter Park Lodging Company set you up with the best deals and most fun activities that be had on your Winter PArk winter vacation. Check out all the special deals WPLCo has to offer guests of the Grand County and the Fraser Valley.

Come on up and get to horsin’ around and have a grand time in Grand County, Colorado.

Snowshoeing around Winter Park, CO

Posted on January 13, 2011 by Chris

Winter Park, Colorado Snowshoeing

It has been snowing, snowing, snowing up here in Winter Park and there is no time like now to get out and check out the snowshoe trails of the Arapaho National Forest trails, Snow Mountain Ranch, Rocky Mountain National Park and Winter Park Resort.

Winter Park is pretty much surrounded with snowshoe trails that are in Arapaho National Park and some of these trails are accessed just by walking out your door. There are miles of trails and solitude and beauty for you to explore on your own pace.

Snow Mountain Ranch just down US Highway 40 in Tabernash has some great snowshoe trails. The YMCA’s winter spot near the Winter Park Ski Resort offers the Nordic Center, a place that features miles of trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Perfect for the winter activity beginner. Snow Mountain Ranch’s miles of snowshoeing trails accommodate everyone from the beginner to advanced. Snowshoe rental is available through the Nordic Center. $10-$15 for equipment.

The Rocky Mountain National Park can be accessed from Grand Lake, just a 25 minute drive from Winter Park and has trails for beginners to the advanced snowshoer. You can’t beat the park for its variety of trails. You could spend every weekend there and find a new trail to snowshoe. The problem is many people agree, and so even in the winter, solitude is a luxury. The most popular trails tend to get beaten down and turn so icy that you don’t need snowshoes to hike them. Try to go on a snowy day, when the fresh blanket will eliminate those problems.Rocky Mountain National Park rangers offer guided snowshoe treks in the winter and other snowshoe events are on the calendar.

Winter Park Resort offers guided snowshoe tours and snowshoe rentals. Winter Park Resort has some of the best snowshoeing trails of all the Colorado resorts, this is from word-of-mouth from friends and a couple experiences of our own. Generally any resort or the areas around them have good places to go. If you aren’t into the alpine skiing and find yourself in our little ski town ski town, you can find a good place to snowshoe for free or a few bucks.

That is Mr. ZB above taking on his snowshoe garb and hitting the great trails here in Winter Park, CO.

Great Fall Fun in Winter Park, Colorado

Posted on October 1, 2010 by Amy

Some may think that fall in Winter Park, being a shoulder season in the mountains, is a time where we all sit around and long for the snow to start flying. Those people are soooo wrong!! Winter Park has had the most glorious fall ever and I, for one, could live with another month of warm sunny days and cool clear nights, as long as it snows a bunch in November. I hope the weather gods agree.

Here are a few of the fun things I have done this September and hope to do in October:

Elk Viewing – We made a trip to Rocky Mountain National Park one evening last week to see the elk and listen to them bugle. We go every year, but it is always exciting to see and hear them. It amazes me how they are not bothered by the people a bit. We had a few walk within 10 yards of us. The ranger said that the elk usually hang out in the meadows for 5 weeks, so there is still plenty of time to get out there to see them.

Fall Foliage – The Aspen trees are in their prime right now with all shades of yellow, gold, orange, and red. In the sunshine, they look like a painting in the doctor’s office. Nothing will relax you more than a drive through the mountains to see the fall colors.

Golf – This is the best time of year to get out there and play 18, or even just 9 holes. There are no crowds, the courses are in fabulous condition, you can get great deals, and the weather doesn’ t get any better. Be sure to stock up on snacks and drinks before you head out as the cart girls have abandoned their carts to squeeze in a few rounds themselves before the snow flies. Pole Creek (package rate available for our guests), Headwaters at Sol Vista, or Grand Elk are some fantastic courses for late season golf.

Dog Cart Rides — The dogs like to run all year long and it is cool enough again for them to take you on an adventure. You’ll ride in a cart instead of a sled, but it will still be exhilirating. When your ride has finished be sure to stop in to Dog Sled Rides of Winter Park and see the puppies that just arrived last week! Our guests save 30% on cart rides, scooter rides and kennell tours this fall until November 24th. Click here for details.

Hot Air Balloon Rides — What a great way to get up and see the folliage. Temperatures rise up to 40 degrees when you get high in the air, so you’ll be nice & toasty. Call Sue and Jack at Grand Adventure Balloon Tours to schedule the ride of your life, and get $10 off per person as a guest of Winter Park Lodging Company. You have never experienced anything so peaceful as being up in a balloon!

Hot Sulphur Springs Resort — One of the best ways to enjoy the fall scenery, while getting a bit of well-deserved re Soak in the Healing Waters of Hot Sulphur Springs st & relaxation at the same time, is to take the scenic drive through Byers Canyon to the Hot Sulphur Springs Resort, located about 45 minutes from Winter Park in the town of Hot Sulphur Springs. Choose your favorite pool filled with natural hot spring water from out of the twenty or so pools of varying temperatures and sizes. The Native Americans frequented these springs for years and believed they had healing effects.

Mountain Biking with Bears - well, not exactly. But we have been seeing quite a bit of wildlife, including bears, while on our mountain bike rides. Not only is it wonderful to be amidst the beautiful fall foliage on the trails, it’s exciting to know that you could see a moose, fox or bear around any bend in the trail. See more about a bear sighting or read about a recent moose sighting.

Maybe we’ll see you up here in our beautiful backyard this fall. We’ve got a list of lots of other fall activities in Winter Park & Grand County and would be happy to share some ideas with you. Give us a call at 970-722-0707 or 877-329-1383 or email us at info@winterparklodgingcompany.com anytime.

Fall Discount with Winter Park Dog Sled Kennels

Posted on September 27, 2010 by Valarie

Guests of Winter Park Lodging Company visiting this fall are in for a treat. Dog Sled Rides of Winter Park is offering a generous 30% discount for the following activities, until November 24, 2010. Plus, we hear they just had puppies. Who doesn’t love to play with puppies?

Give them a call or book your tour today.

Cart Rides: www.dogsledrides.com/winterpark/carts.php – Designed for two adults or two adults and one or two children. One of the adults must use the steering and braking to control the cart. The carts have four wheels and are pulled by nine or ten dogs. We follow our open trails for 3.5 miles. The ride is about 45 minutes and the guests are here for about 75 to 90 minutes.

Scooter Rides: www.dogsledrides.com/winterpark/scooters.php - One rider aged 14 or older per scooter. The scooters have two wheels and are pulled by one or two dogs. We follow our open trails for 3.5 miles. The ride is about 45 minutes and the guests are here for about 75 to 90 minutes.

Kennel Tours: www.dogsledrides.com/winterpark/summer.php – The kennel tours are for people of all ages and ability levels. We learn a lot about how to care for our dogs, see where they live, see the sleds, and get to mingle with the dogs in the exercise yard. Depending on how many questions are asked, the tour lasts about an hour or so.

Call Dog Sled Rides of Winter Park at 970-726-8326 today.

Horseback Riding in Winter Park: Steak Dinner Ride

Posted on August 8, 2010 by Chris

Bernie's Backside

My brother and his family plus my 77 year old dad were in town last week, so we decided to be tourists and headed to Sombrero Stables in Snow Mountain Ranch (a YMCA camp) for a steak dinner horseback ride.

We had to arrive by 3:30 to be matched with our horses (I got “Hitch” who liked to eat grass). We were riding by 4:15 in a straight line with our nice guide who rode looking back at us to be sure we were ok.

We rode the horses into a nice trail, thru some beautiful big aspens and by a meadow where our guide said she saw a moose just a few days before. We squinted and hoped, but no moose appeared. It was very peaceful and not scary in the least, since they don’t let you go any faster than a walk, although we learned the trick of holding the horse back a bit and then got to trot to catch up.

We arrived at our dinner spot – a wagon-looking grill and picnic area. By that point, one of my nephews was in the deep depths of a horse allergic reaction so they offered (and he accepted) to take some Benedryl and ride back down in the car. He hung out with us for dinner though which was surprisingly good. We had steak, excellent grilled potatoes, beans, and bread. They even had “Cowboy Coffee” for the caffeine addicted.

Wagon Grill

Got back on the horses and by that point we were aching a bit (knees, bum, etc) but we made it back before sunset and said goodbye to Bernie, Hitch, and the rest of the horses. One hint – if you tell them you’re an experienced rider, they give you the horses that act up a bit so for the most enjoyable time, swallow your pride and tell them you’ve never put your foot in a saddle.

Strongly recommend this fun activity for families with kids (age 3 and up) or groups that want to take enjoy the scenery and West without flying down a mountain on a bike or falling in the river on a raft. Thank you, Sombrero Stables!

Night Ranger Rocks Winter Park!

Posted on August 8, 2010 by rachelb

This weekend in Winter Park is filled with good times and good tunes. Today, the free 103.5 Fox Winter Park Music Fetival kicked off at 10am in Hideaway Park. Local vendors set up shop for food, drinks, and fun for the whole family. The playground and skate park were packed all day and we got geat weather overall, with just a few sprinkes late in the afternoon. There was a great line up including Pat Travers, The Groove Hawgs, and the headliners- famous for their 80′s power ballads and melodic hard rock- Night Ranger. They brought everybody to their feet with classics like ‘Don’t Tell Me You Love Me’ , ‘Sentimental Street’ and of course, ‘Sister Christian’. Here they are, singing the emblamatic 80′s tune in downtown Winter Park…

Needless to say, we all had a good ol’ time rockin’ to the 80′s, and the music continues through the weekend all around town. Our visitors who booked their lodging with Winter Park Lodging Company even enjoyed free VIP tickets to the festival. Come up to Winter Park for some fresh mountain air, Summer mountain music, and free fun for the whole family. It can ‘t be beat!

Winter Park July Recipe of the Month

Posted on July 18, 2010 by Chris

It’s sunny and warm in Grand County this month but most likely a lot cooler than wherever you are if you’re not here. Come on up and stay in one of our properties with big outdoor porches and grill up some marinated flank steak, summer-fresh aspargus, and mashed potatoes with garlic. Here is my mama’s recipe for the flank steak marinade. Probably my favorite thing to eat. Don’t tell ma that I published it on the internet!

Grillin' in WP!

In a bowl, mix:

- 1 & 1/2 cup salad oil

- 3/4 cup soy sauce

- 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce

- 2 T. dry mustard

2 & 1/4 tsp salt

1 T. course, freshly ground pepper

1/2 cup white or red wine vinegar

1 & 1/2 tsp. dried parsley flakes (i skip that sometimes)

2 crushed garlic cloves, if you aren’t a vampire (can leave out if so)

1/3 cup fresh lemon juice

In a casserole dish, lay out flank steak. cover with the marinade and put in the fridge. Turn at least once so both sides get good and tasty. Best if you leave overnight. My mom says you can reuse the marinade a second time but that sounds a little gross to me.

Now you have to book your lodging so you can grill out without sweating to death. We even had our fleeces on this week after dinner!

The Winter Park Mountain Bike Trail of the Week #3

Posted on June 17, 2010 by Chris

spruce creek to tipperary grand county Tipperary to Spruce Creek

The third Winter Park mountain bike trail of the week is here. This week we have a great ride with some double and single track going trough Spruce Creek a couple times. Overall it is a great ride with some water, good downhill jumps and great mountain scenery.

Tipperary to Spruce Creek

Distance: 7miles
Trail Location: From the Winter Park Visitor Center head north on US Hwy 40 into the town of Fraser. At the stop light turn left onto CR 72 stay right and drive through the meadow. At the “T” take a left, at the top of the hill you will see the Rodeo grounds.
Trail Description: Begin at the rodeo grounds west of Fraser. Head west on Givelo Trail. At the first intersection, CR 50S, turn right. Stay left on CR 50. Continue on CR 50 uphill, past two lodges on the right and over the cattle guard. Look for Tipperary on your left. Take a left on to Tipperary. Tipperary is a two track climb through, pines, aspens and lush mountain meadows. A canopy of trees covers much of the trail. Cross the first creek; continue to climb. Climb through two meadows, past a couple of springs, past the intersection to Back Scratch and through the second (and last) creek. The trail levels and begins the descent not long after a wet spring-fed area. You are now on Spruce Creek. (You only know this by looking at the map as there is no intersection or sign) The descent is much more technical than the climb. It’s loose and rocky, so be careful. Your next turn is a left onto St. Louis Creek Road and follow this back to your vehicle at the Rodeo Grounds.

Come on out and enjoy the great Colorado outdoors. Let Winter Park Lodging Company supply your Winter Park summer vacation lodging and enjoy an active healthy getaway.

Winter Park Hike Trail of the Week

Posted on May 31, 2010 by Chris

Hiking in Winter Park, CO

The Winter Park/Fraser Valley Chamber of Commerce is doing a bike and hike trail of the week and I thought I would pass it along on our blog for any of you that have an interest in hiking and biking.

The first edition is Monarch Lake for the hike. I have done this hike with my wife pregnant with twins so it is about perfect for kids, families and pets. Monarch Lake is absolutely beautiful and there is lots of wildlife in the area so keep the camera close and be on the watch. There is good fishing in Monarch Lake so take a pole and try to snag a big one.

Winter Park Hike Trail of the Week

Monarch Lake

Length:4.07 miles round trip
Elevation: Trailhead: 8,345′ Highest Point: 8,459′
Rating: Easy- A trail requiring limited skill with little challenge to travel
Trailhead Location: From the Winter Park Visitor Center continue North on US Hwy 40 for about twenty minutes into the town of Granby. Once you drive through the town of Granby you will see an exit sign for US Hwy 34 to Grand Lake and Rocky Mountain National Park.From there take Hwy 34, and between mile marker 5 and 6 turn onto CR 6 (FDR 125). Follow this road for 10 miles to the Monarch Lake parking area.
Trail Information: This easy loop around the lake is a popular destination year round. The trail begins at an old cabin that is staffed in the summertime. Along the way you will pass an old steam donkey engine, log chute pilings and cabin remains from when this area was logged in 1902. Keep your eyes open for the moose!
Special Trail Regulations: dogs must be on a leash not to exceed six feet at all times. Day use at this trailhead requires the purchase of an Arapaho National Recreation Area entrance pass or display of your golden passport on the dash of your vehicle. If you are camping overnight in the wilderness, then only a wilderness permit is required. Please leave the parking stub from the wilderness permit on the dashboard of the vehicle in the parking lot.

Again, Monarch Lake Trail is a great scenic hike just a short drive from Winter Park and Fraser on your way to Grand Lake. Make a day of it and head over to Grand Lake and have a bite to eat and take in Grand Lake, Colorado’s biggest natural lake.

Summer is here so get out of the house, get a little exercise and see the beauty of Colorado.