Colorado · Cross-country skiing

Paradise Park

Paradise ParkPhoto: www.Pixel.la Free Stock Photos, CC0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
0.8 mi
distance
78 ft
climb
9,057 ft
high point
Hard
difficulty
Jun–Aug
best months

Paradise Park is a cross-country skiing loop in Colorado's Lower Loop, about 0.75 miles long and set at roughly 9,000 feet. The route is a loop that climbs from about 8,957 to 9,057 feet, with a total of 78 feet gained on the way around. The climb is short, but it starts steep, with a 11% grade about a fifth of the way in, and the trip as a whole runs about 78 feet uphill and 213 feet downhill. Winter is the season for this ski route. Typical averages from the nearby Crested Butte weather station, which sits a few hundred feet lower, show January highs around 26°F and lows near -7°F. June is the warmest month there, with highs around 70°F. For snow, December and January are the coldest. The park is managed by a non-governmental organization. The closest neighbor is the Lower Loop Wide Path, a mountain biking route about 0.2 miles away. Inner Magic Meadows 3, another cross-country ski route, is about half a mile off. The Slate River, a canoeing spot, is about 0.7 miles away, and Oh Be Joyful Campground lies about 2 miles out for an overnight stay.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Jun–Aug

    Best time to visit Paradise Park

    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, 2.1 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

Inner Magic Meadows 3Photo: www.Pixel.la Free Stock Photos, CC0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Inner Magic Meadows 3

Next door

0.49-mile route in Colorado with 74 feet of elevation gain.

Gunsight Pass Road 585Photo: Sheila Sund from Salem, United States, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Gunsight Pass Road 585

~2 min drive

0.67-mile route in Colorado with 86 feet of elevation gain.

Slate River RoadPhoto: Sheila Sund from Salem, United States, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Slate River Road

~2 min drive

7.70-mile cross-country ski trail in Colorado with 1,369 ft of elevation gain.

Pooch'S ParadisePhoto: Nick Taylor, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Pooch'S Paradise

~3 min drive

Beginner-friendly 1.82-mile Colorado ski trail perfect for families and new skiers.

Woods WalkPhoto: Nick Taylor, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Woods Walk

~2 min drive

Easy, short forest loop in Colorado ideal for beginner cross-country skiers.

Washington Gulch RoadPhoto: Sheila Sund from Salem, United States, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Washington Gulch Road

~5 min drive

Short, beginner-friendly road ski in Colorado's Washington Gulch.

Crested Butte Mountain ResortPhoto: Draconrex, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Crested Butte Mountain Resort

~6 min drive

Crested Butte Mountain Resort in Colorado has 15 lifts and 95 runs with 2,315 ft of vertical drop.

Middle EarthPhoto: Helimedic39, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Middle Earth

~5 min drive

Middle Earth is a 1.23-mile cross-country ski trail in Colorado with 310 feet of elevation gain.

PowerlinePhoto: Nick Taylor, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Powerline

~3 min drive

Powerline is a 0.14-mile ski trail in Colorado.

Coal Train TrailPhoto: Sheila Sund from Salem, United States, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Coal Train Trail

~3 min drive

0.48-mile trail in Colorado with 161 ft of elevation gain.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors