Colorado · Cross-country skiing · Near Telluride

Corkscrew Gulch Road

Corkscrew Gulch RoadPhoto: Sandy Horvath-Dori from Grand Junction, CO, USA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
0.3 mi
distance
160 ft
climb
9,944 ft
high point
Moderate
difficulty

Is Corkscrew Gulch Road open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. It doesn't name Corkscrew Gulch Road, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Corkscrew Gulch Road is a short, moderate cross-country ski route in the Ouray Ranger District of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests in Colorado. It covers 0.28 miles and gains about 160 feet of elevation, with the high point at 9,944 feet and the low at 9,763 feet. The Forest Service manages the surrounding land. The most comfortable skiing weather typically comes in early spring and late fall. Typical averages from the nearby Silverton weather station, which sits about 660 feet below the route, put May highs near 58°F and October highs near 55°F, while January and December average highs around 34°F with lows in the single digits. Winter is cold and snowy. The Townsite Loop and Saratoga cross-country ski routes both lie within a tenth of a mile. Corkscrew Camping Area is about 0.2 miles away, and the Million Dollar Highway Free Campsite is about 0.4 miles away.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Corkscrew Camping Area

    Campground

    Campground · 0.2 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Colorado Boy Southwest Pub

    Restaurant

    Open after 6
  • If it rains

    Smuggler Union Tramhouse

    Attraction

    On your way back · 6 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Telluride

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go

    Best time to visit Corkscrew Gulch Road

    No month here meets our mild-weather rule. 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

      34° / -6°

      9 wet

    2. Feb

      36° / -3°

      9 wet

    3. Mar

      43° / 6°

      10 wet

    4. Apr

      48° / 17°

      9 wet

    5. May

      58° / 25°

      9 wet

    6. Jun

      70° / 31°

      7 wet

    7. Jul

      75° / 38°

      13 wet

    8. Aug

      72° / 37°

      15 wet

    9. Sep

      66° / 30°

      12 wet

    10. Oct

      55° / 20°

      9 wet

    11. Nov

      43° / 7°

      8 wet

    12. Dec

      34° / -5°

      9 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Silverton, CO, 8.8 mi away at 9,285 ft. The station sits about 700 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

SaratogaPhoto: Sandy Horvath-Dori from Grand Junction, CO, USA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Saratoga

Next door

0.76-mile cross-country ski trail in Colorado with 378 ft of elevation gain.

BrooklynPhoto: Sandy Horvath-Dori from Grand Junction, CO, USA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Brooklyn

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Brooklyn is a 0.52-mile route in Colorado with 378 feet of elevation gain.

Silverton MountainPhoto: Zach Dischner, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Silverton Mountain

~8 min drive

Silverton Mountain in Colorado has 1 advanced downhill run with 714 ft vertical.

Silver Pick RoadPhoto: Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Silver Pick Road

~32 min drive

Gentle 2.18-mile road-based ski tour in Colorado backcountry.

SKI

P Lake Ski Start Loop Outer

~23 min drive

0.36-mile loop ski start with 24 ft gain in Colorado.

Uncompahgre River WalkPhoto: Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Uncompahgre River Walk

~13 min drive

1.32-mile route in Colorado with 180 ft of elevation gain.

Iron FenPhoto: Sandy Horvath-Dori from Grand Junction, CO, USA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Iron Fen

Next door

0.43-mile ski trail in Colorado with 117 ft of elevation gain.

Telluride Ski AreaPhoto: Murray Foubister, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Telluride Ski Area

~16 min drive

Telluride Ski Area in Colorado has 20 lifts and 107 runs, 18 easy, 41 intermediate, 24 advanced, 23 expert, 3,891 ft vertical drop.

SKI

P Lake Ski Gravel Pit

~23 min drive

0.41-mile out-and-back ski route at P Lake Ski Gravel Pit in Colorado.

BoulevardPhoto: Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Boulevard

~19 min drive

0.97-mile cross-country ski trail in Colorado with 299 ft of elevation gain.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors