Colorado · Cross-country skiing

Columbine

ColumbinePhoto: Allison Jaeger, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
0.3 mi
distance
8,868 ft
high point
Easy
difficulty
Jun–Aug
best months

Columbine is a cross-country ski loop of about 0.3 miles, set at roughly 8,850 feet on Snow Mountain Ranch in Colorado. The trail is flat, with no net gain and a high point of about 8,868 feet, and it is rated easy. Winter is the natural season for this ski route. Typical averages from the nearby Fraser weather station, at about 8,560 feet, show January highs around 31°F and lows near -1°F, with summer highs climbing into the mid-70s in July. That station sits a few hundred feet lower than the trail, so temperatures on the route run slightly cooler. The loop sits close to other ski areas: Gaskill is about 0.1 mile away and Milligan about 0.2 mile. For climbing, the Grand County / Fraser Valley area lies about 3 miles off, and St. Louis Creek Campground is about 5.6 miles away for anyone planning an overnight stay.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Jun–Aug

    Best time to visit Columbine

    Best months: June–August. 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

      31° / -1°

      11 wet

    2. Feb

      34° / 2°

      10 wet

    3. Mar

      43° / 11°

      9 wet

    4. Apr

      51° / 20°

      8 wet

    5. May

      62° / 27°

      7 wet

    6. Jun

      72° / 33°

      6 wet

    7. Jul

      77° / 38°

      9 wet

    8. Aug

      74° / 37°

      10 wet

    9. Sep

      68° / 29°

      8 wet

    10. Oct

      56° / 21°

      7 wet

    11. Nov

      41° / 10°

      8 wet

    12. Dec

      31° / -1°

      10 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Fraser, CO, 7 mi away at 8,560 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more snow worth the drive

MilliganPhoto: Allison Jaeger, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Milligan

Next door

0.85-mile cross-country ski trail in Colorado with 74 ft of elevation gain.

Steve'S AlleyPhoto: Allison Jaeger, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Steve'S Alley

Next door

0.29-mile ski trail in Colorado with 38 ft of elevation gain.

Lower YoungPhoto: Allison Jaeger, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Lower Young

~1 min drive

0.47-mile trail in Colorado with 203 ft of elevation gain.

Log TrailPhoto: Allison Jaeger, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Log Trail

Next door

0.28-mile route with 180 ft gain in Colorado.

Walts WayPhoto: Allison Jaeger, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Walts Way

Next door

0.50-mile trail in Colorado with 73 ft of elevation gain.

LynchPhoto: Allison Jaeger, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Lynch

~2 min drive

0.42-mile cross-country ski trail in Colorado with 208 ft of elevation gain.

SwensonPhoto: Allison Jaeger, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Swenson

Next door

0.59-mile ski trail in Colorado with 135 ft elevation gain.

HomesteadPhoto: Allison Jaeger, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Homestead

Next door

Homestead is a 0.84-mile ski trail in Colorado with 212 feet of elevation gain.

Eagle ValleyPhoto: Allison Jaeger, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Eagle Valley

~2 min drive

0.80-mile ski trail in Eagle Valley, Colorado with 340 ft of elevation gain.

Donner PassPhoto: Allison Jaeger, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Donner Pass

Next door

0.28-mile ski route at Donner Pass in Colorado with 78 ft of elevation gain.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors