Colorado · Cross-country skiing

Middle Earth

Middle EarthPhoto: Helimedic39, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
1.2 mi
distance
85 ft
climb
8,961 ft
high point
Moderate
difficulty
Jun–Aug
best months

Is Middle Earth open right now?

Closure in the area

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

Middle Earth is a cross-country ski route in the Gunnison Ranger District of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests in Colorado, about 1.2 miles long with a moderate climb of 85 feet from a starting point at 8,915 feet to a high of 8,961 feet. The Forest Service manages the surrounding land. The route is short and stays low, with the steepest stretch at about 0.97 miles. The closest neighbors are Old Ditch Trail and Gulch, both about 0.1 mile away, and the climbing at The Hone Stone and High Times, each about 0.4 mile off. Winter is the natural season for skiing here, and typical averages from the Crested Butte weather station, just 0.8 mile away, show January highs around 26°F with lows near -7°F. Summer is warmer, with July highs in the mid-70s. For more time on the trails, the Slate River offers canoeing about 2 miles away, and Crested Butte RV Resort has camping about 2.2 miles out.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Jun–Aug

    Best time to visit Middle Earth

    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

      26° / -7°

      12 wet

    2. Feb

      29° / -2°

      11 wet

    3. Mar

      38° / 7°

      10 wet

    4. Apr

      47° / 19°

      9 wet

    5. May

      58° / 28°

      8 wet

    6. Jun

      70° / 34°

      7 wet

    7. Jul

      76° / 40°

      10 wet

    8. Aug

      74° / 38°

      12 wet

    9. Sep

      66° / 31°

      9 wet

    10. Oct

      54° / 22°

      8 wet

    11. Nov

      39° / 9°

      9 wet

    12. Dec

      27° / -4°

      11 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Crested Butte, CO, 0.8 mi away at 8,867 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more snow worth the drive

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Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors