Colorado · Cross-country skiing

Pooch'S Paradise

Pooch'S ParadisePhoto: Nick Taylor, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
1.8 mi
distance
84 ft
climb
8,958 ft
high point
Easy
difficulty
Jun–Aug
best months

Is Pooch'S Paradise open right now?

Road closed

Gunnison County Road 12: road closure is listed as closed by CDOT 511.

As of · Source: CDOT 511. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Pooch's Paradise is a cross-country ski route in the Gunnison Ranger District of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests, about 1.8 miles long and rated easy. It rises from a low point of 8,861 feet to a high of 8,958 feet, a climb of 84 feet one way. Winter is the natural season for this kind of skiing. Typical averages from the nearby Crested Butte weather station show January highs around 26°F with lows near -7°F, while June brings highs around 70°F and July highs near 76°F. The station sits just 0.8 miles away at almost the same elevation as the low end of the route. The Powerline cross-country ski route lies about 0.1 mile away, and the Woods Walk Conn. mountain biking trail is just as close. The Slate River, about 1.2 miles off, offers canoeing, and Crested Butte RV Resort, roughly 2.9 miles away, is the closest campground.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Jun–Aug

    Best time to visit Pooch'S Paradise

    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

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

Powerline

Next door

Powerline is a 0.14-mile ski trail in Colorado.

Cb Nordic StadiumPhoto: cogdogblog, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Cb Nordic Stadium

~1 min drive

0.28-mile trail at Cb Nordic Stadium in Colorado with 47 ft of elevation gain.

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

Inner Magic Meadows 3

~2 min drive

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

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

Teocalli

~2 min drive

0.69-mile cross-country ski trail in Colorado with 25 ft of elevation gain.

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

Woods Walk

Next door

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

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

Crested Butte Mountain Resort

~5 min drive

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

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

Washington Gulch Road

~7 min drive

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

Paradise ParkPhoto: www.Pixel.la Free Stock Photos, CC0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Paradise Park

~3 min drive

0.75-mile cross-country ski trail in Colorado with 202 ft of elevation gain.

Ditch Trail WestPhoto: cogdogblog, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Ditch Trail West

~1 min drive

0.32-mile trail in Colorado with 86 ft of elevation gain.

Skyland CcPhoto: Helimedic39, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Skyland Cc

~2 min drive

1.33-mile cross-country ski trail in Colorado with 141 ft of elevation gain.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors