Colorado · Cross-country skiing

Mill Gulch

Mill GulchPhoto: Allison Jaeger, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
0.4 mi
distance
80 ft
climb
8,992 ft
high point
Hard
difficulty
Jun–Aug
best months

Mill Gulch is a cross-country ski route in Colorado's Snow Mountain Ranch, a non-governmental organization-managed land unit about 0.4 miles long. It rises from a low point of 8,900 feet to a high of 8,992 feet, with a one-way elevation gain of 80 feet. The climb is short, but it starts steep, with a 6% grade about 0.05 miles in. The most comfortable ski months are typically November through March. At the Fraser weather station 7.9 miles away, typical averages run from highs around 41°F and lows near 10°F in November to highs around 31°F and lows near -1°F in December and January. The station sits about 430 feet lower than the route, so temperatures up high run cooler. Other cross-country ski routes lie close by: Lynch is 0.3 miles away and Keenan is 0.4 miles away. For climbing, the Grand County / Fraser Valley area is 2.4 miles off, and St. Louis Creek Campground is 6.6 miles away.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Jun–Aug

    Best time to visit Mill Gulch

    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, 7.9 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

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.

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

~1 min drive

0.28-mile route with 180 ft gain in Colorado.

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

Outlook

~3 min drive

Outlook is a 0.70-mile cross-country ski trail in Colorado with 354 feet of elevation gain.

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

Cranmer

Next door

Cranmer is a 0.89-mile cross-country ski trail in Colorado with 66 feet of elevation gain.

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

Homestead

Next door

Homestead is a 0.84-mile ski trail in Colorado with 212 feet of elevation gain.

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

Goldie

~1 min drive

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

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

Keenan

Next door

Keenan is a 0.80-mile trail in Colorado with 20 ft of elevation gain.

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

Columbine

~2 min drive

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

~1 min drive

0.85-mile cross-country ski trail in Colorado with 74 ft of elevation gain.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors