Colorado · Cross-country skiing · Near Clifton

Lions

LionsPhoto: KimonBerlin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
1.3 mi
distance
62 ft
climb
10,680 ft
high point
Moderate
difficulty
Jun–Sep
best months

Is Lions open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. It doesn't name Lions, 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.

Lions is a cross-country skiing route in the Grand Valley Ranger District of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests in Colorado, managed by the Forest Service. The route starts at about 10,675 feet and reaches a high of about 10,680 feet, with a total climb of about 62 feet over a distance of about 1.3 miles. The steepest stretch, with a grade of about 9 percent, comes at about 0.7 miles from the start. Winter is the season for skiing here. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show January highs around 26°F with lows near 6°F, and July highs around 68°F with lows near 42°F, so midsummer is the mildest stretch. Scales Lake Road and Kannah Crossing both sit about 0.1 mile away. Spruce Grove Campground is about 1.3 miles off, and Grand Mesa, a pier fishing spot, lies about 3.8 miles away.

Around this trail

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

    Spruce Grove Campground - Grand Valley RD

    Campground

    Campground · 1.3 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Slopeside cafe

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 5 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY-SA 3.0 (commons)

More in Clifton

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Jun–Sep

    Best time to visit Lions

    Best months: June–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

      26° / 6°

    2. Feb

      27° / 4°

    3. Mar

      34° / 12°

    4. Apr

      40° / 17°

    5. May

      49° / 27°

    6. Jun

      62° / 37°

    7. Jul

      68° / 42°

    8. Aug

      64° / 40°

    9. Sep

      57° / 34°

    10. Oct

      45° / 24°

    11. Nov

      34° / 14°

    12. Dec

      26° / 5°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Bonham Rsvr, CO, 9.5 mi away at 9,852 ft. The station sits about 800 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.

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Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors