Colorado · Cross-country skiing

Homestead

HomesteadPhoto: Allison Jaeger, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
0.8 mi
distance
62 ft
climb
8,840 ft
high point
Easy
difficulty
Jun–Aug
best months

Homestead is a short, easy cross-country ski route on Snow Mountain Ranch in Colorado, a non-governmental organization-managed property about 0.8 miles long. The climb is gentle, with a total gain of 62 feet from a starting point of about 8,800 feet to a high of 8,840 feet, and the steepest stretch comes at about 0.4 miles in. Winter is the natural season for this trail. Typical averages from the nearby Fraser weather station, which sits a few hundred feet lower, show January highs around 31°F with lows near -1°F, while June and July run in the low to mid 70s. The station's figures are typical averages from 1991 to 2020. Silvers and Log Trail are both within a quarter mile, so the route fits easily into a longer outing on the ranch. Climbers can head to the Grand County / Fraser Valley area about 2.6 miles away, and St. Louis Creek Campground is about 6 miles off.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Jun–Aug

    Best time to visit Homestead

    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, 7.4 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

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

Silvers

Next door

Silvers is a 0.21-mile cross-country ski trail in Colorado with 16 feet 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.

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

Lynch

Next door

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

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

Columbine

Next door

Columbine is a 0.31-mile ski trail in Colorado with 40 feet of elevation gain.

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.

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

Mill Gulch

Next door

0.40-mile trail in Colorado with 47 ft of elevation gain.

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

Walts Way

~1 min drive

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

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

Goldie

Next door

Goldie is a 0.16-mile ski trail in Colorado with 4 feet of elevation gain.

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

Wild Turkey

~1 min drive

Wild Turkey is a 0.42-mile ski trail in Colorado.

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

Steve'S Alley

~1 min drive

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

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors