Colorado · Cross-country skiing

Blackmer Drive

Blackmer DrivePhoto: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
1.9 mi
distance
566 ft
climb
7,784 ft
high point
Hard
difficulty
May–Sep
best months

Caution at last check

Weather is marginal · SNOTEL, OpenWeather · checked 17 h ago

Blackmer Drive is a cross-country ski route in Colorado, about a mile from Steamboat Springs. The route climbs from roughly 7,187 feet to 7,784 feet, with a total gain of 566 feet, and it is rated hard. The steepest stretch comes at about 0.58 miles, where the grade reaches 45 percent. The most comfortable months for skiing are typically December through February, when typical averages from a nearby weather station in Steamboat Springs run from highs around 29 to 34°F and lows near 5 to 8°F. That station sits well below the route, so temperatures on the higher ground run cooler. The route sits right beside the Howelsen Hill area, where the Npr and Emerald Meadows mountain biking trails are each about 0.1 miles away. Climbers can head to Butcher Knife, about 1.4 miles off, and Steamboat Springs KOA offers camping roughly 2.7 miles away.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · May–Sep

    Best time to visit Blackmer Drive

    Best months: May–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.

    1. Jan

      29° / 5°

      14 wet

    2. Feb

      34° / 8°

      13 wet

    3. Mar

      45° / 18°

      11 wet

    4. Apr

      54° / 27°

      12 wet

    5. May

      65° / 34°

      12 wet

    6. Jun

      76° / 39°

      9 wet

    7. Jul

      83° / 46°

      9 wet

    8. Aug

      82° / 44°

      11 wet

    9. Sep

      74° / 36°

      10 wet

    10. Oct

      59° / 26°

      9 wet

    11. Nov

      43° / 16°

      11 wet

    12. Dec

      30° / 6°

      14 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Steamboat Springs, CO, 1.3 mi away at 6,866 ft. The station sits about 900 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more snow worth the drive

Howelsen MeadowPhoto: Ranugad, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Howelsen Meadow

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0.49-mile cross-country ski trail in Colorado with 46 ft of elevation gain.

Steamboat Ski ResortPhoto: CarTick at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Steamboat Ski Resort

~8 min drive

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Emerald Meadows TrailPhoto: Notchcode, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Emerald Meadows Trail

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0.21-mile route in Colorado with 45 ft of elevation gain.

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Onyx MinePhoto: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Onyx Mine

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Howelson Hill Ski Area

Next door

Howelson Hill Ski Area in Colorado has 4 lifts and 14 runs with 1,069 ft vertical drop.

Emerald Meadows Trail;Lupine TrailPhoto: Notchcode, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Emerald Meadows Trail;Lupine Trail

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Bluffs Loop TrailPhoto: Notchcode, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Bluffs Loop Trail

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0.79-mile loop with 275 ft gain in Colorado.

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Emerald Meadows

Next door

0.16-mile out-and-back ski route in Colorado with 76 ft of elevation gain.

Howelsen MeadowsPhoto: Notchcode, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Howelsen Meadows

Next door

Howelsen Meadows is a 0.28-mile trail in Colorado with 62 ft of elevation gain.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors