Colorado · Cross-country skiing

Heckman

HeckmanPhoto: Eric Johnson, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
1.3 mi
distance
193 ft
climb
8,851 ft
high point
Hard
difficulty
Jun–Aug
best months

Heckman is a cross-country ski route on Snow Mountain Ranch in Colorado, about 1.25 miles long with an elevation gain of 193 feet. The land is managed by a non-governmental organization, and the climb rises to 8,851 feet from a start point at about 8,701 feet. The route is rated hard, and the steepest stretch comes at about 0.67 miles in, with a grade of 11 percent. Winter is the season for skiing here. Typical averages from the nearby Fraser weather station show January highs around 31°F with lows near -1°F, while June runs about 72°F by day and 33°F at night. The station sits a few hundred feet below the route, so temperatures on the trail run slightly cooler. The route sits close to two other cross-country ski areas, Just and Upper Just, each about 0.3 miles away. Climbers can head to the Grand County / Fraser Valley climbing area, about 3 miles off. St. Louis Creek Campground is roughly 5 miles away for overnight stays.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Jun–Aug

    Best time to visit Heckman

    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, 6 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

JustPhoto: Eric Johnson, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Just

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1.03-mile cross-country ski trail in Colorado with 71 ft of elevation gain.

Upper JustPhoto: Eric Johnson, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Upper Just

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DavisPhoto: Eric Johnson, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Creek SidePhoto: Eric Johnson, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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AudunPhoto: Eric Johnson, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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BiathlonPhoto: Eric Johnson, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Ranch ViewPhoto: Eric Johnson, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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

Old Lynch

~2 min drive

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WilsonPhoto: Eric Johnson, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Pole CreekPhoto: Eric Johnson, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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0.99-mile route in Colorado with 40 ft of elevation gain.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors