Colorado · Cross-country skiing

Milligan

MilliganPhoto: Allison Jaeger, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
0.9 mi
distance
77 ft
climb
8,778 ft
high point
Moderate
difficulty
Jun–Aug
best months

Milligan is a cross-country ski route in Colorado, about 0.85 miles long, with a moderate difficulty rating. It starts at an elevation of about 8,777 feet and reaches a high point of about 8,778 feet, so the climb is minimal, with a total gain of 77 feet. The route also has a total loss of 177 feet, which means it ends a little lower than it begins. The steepest stretch comes at about 0.56 miles in, with a grade of 8 percent. The nearest town is Elkdale, about 5.3 miles away. The route sits in a cluster of cross-country ski areas, with Gaskill and Columbine both about 0.2 miles away. That makes it easy to link with other ski routes in the area. Winter is the natural season for skiing here. Typical averages from the nearby Fraser weather station, at a similar elevation, show January highs around 31°F with lows near -1°F, while June highs reach about 72°F. The station sits a few hundred feet lower than the route, so temperatures on the ski trail run slightly cooler. Beyond skiing, the Grand County / Fraser Valley climbing area is about 2.8 miles away, and St. Louis Creek Campground is about 5.9 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 Milligan

    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, 7.2 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

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.

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

Gaskill

Next door

1.44-mile cross-country ski trail in Colorado with 395 ft of elevation gain.

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

Lower Young

~1 min drive

0.47-mile trail in Colorado with 203 ft 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.

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

~1 min drive

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.

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.

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

Mill Gulch

~1 min drive

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

Next door

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

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors