Back 9 Loop
Photo: Loco Steve, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- 0.2 mi
- distance
- 8,136 ft
- high point
- Easy
- difficulty
- Jun–Jul, Sep
- best months
Back 9 Loop is a cross-country skiing route in Colorado, about 1.8 miles from the town of Elkdale. The loop is just under a fifth of a mile long and sits almost entirely on a flat plateau, with the high point at 8,136 feet and the low point at 8,128 feet. The route has no elevation gain, and the small drop of 7 feet makes it a nearly level run from start to finish. It's rated easy, so it works well as a short addition to a day spent exploring the area. Winter is the natural season for this ski route. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Grand Lake show January highs around 26°F with lows near 3°F, while December and February run only slightly milder. Summer there is much warmer, with July highs averaging about 75°F. The Back 9 Expressway lies just 0.3 miles away for another skiing option. Ike's Trail, a hike about 0.7 miles off, gives a change of pace. Climbers can head to the Grand County / Fraser Valley climbing area, about 3.6 miles away, and Sunset Point Campground sits roughly 6 miles from the loop.
Local outfitters
- Redemption Dog Sled Tours5 mi away
- On The Trail Outfitters15 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · Jun–Jul, Sep
Best time to visit Back 9 Loop
Best months: June–July and September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
26° / 3°
11 wet
Feb
30° / 4°
10 wet
Mar
40° / 13°
9 wet
Apr
48° / 23°
10 wet
May
59° / 31°
11 wet
Jun
70° / 38°
10 wet
Jul
75° / 44°
12 wet
Aug
73° / 43°
13 wet
Sep
67° / 36°
10 wet
Oct
55° / 27°
8 wet
Nov
40° / 18°
8 wet
Dec
28° / 8°
10 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Grand Lake 6 Ssw, CO, 8.7 mi away at 8,288 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more snow worth the drive
Photo: Loco Steve, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Back 9 Expressway
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SEE
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Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
