Colorado · Cross-country skiing · Near Telluride

Priest Lake Road

Priest Lake RoadPhoto: Doncram, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
1.0 mi
distance
139 ft
climb
9,624 ft
high point
Easy
difficulty

Is Priest Lake Road open right now?

Closure in the area

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

Priest Lake Road is a short, easy cross-country ski route in Colorado's Norwood Ranger District, part of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. The Forest Service manages the land, and the route is about a mile long, rising roughly 140 feet from a low point of 9,478 feet to a high of 9,624 feet. The steepest stretch comes at about half a mile in, with a grade of about 22 percent. Winter is the natural season for this route. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Silverton show January highs around 34°F with lows near -6°F, while July highs reach about 75°F. That station sits a few hundred feet lower than the road, so temperatures on the route run slightly cooler. The road sits close to several other destinations. P Lake Ski Campgrund Loops and Matterhorn Campground Road are both about 0.2 miles away, and Priest Lake Designated Camping Area is under a mile off. Climbers can find The Wild Westerlies about a mile away.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Matterhorn

    Campground

    Campground · 0.2 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Oak Street

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 7 mi
  • If it rains

    Little Hawaii Grotto

    Attraction

    In town

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Telluride

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go

    Best time to visit Priest Lake Road

    No month here meets our mild-weather rule. 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

      34° / -6°

      9 wet

    2. Feb

      36° / -3°

      9 wet

    3. Mar

      43° / 6°

      10 wet

    4. Apr

      48° / 17°

      9 wet

    5. May

      58° / 25°

      9 wet

    6. Jun

      70° / 31°

      7 wet

    7. Jul

      75° / 38°

      13 wet

    8. Aug

      72° / 37°

      15 wet

    9. Sep

      66° / 30°

      12 wet

    10. Oct

      55° / 20°

      9 wet

    11. Nov

      43° / 7°

      8 wet

    12. Dec

      34° / -5°

      9 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Silverton, CO, 12.2 mi away at 9,285 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more snow worth the drive

Matterhorn Campground RoadPhoto: Doncram, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Matterhorn Campground Road

Next door

Matterhorn Campground Road is a 0.28-mile route in Colorado with 52 feet of elevation gain.

Basin TrailPhoto: Miles Buddy, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Basin Trail

~7 min drive

Basin Trail is a 0.14-mile route in Colorado with 21 feet of elevation gain.

North LoopPhoto: Doss Imaging, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

North Loop

~25 min drive

North Loop is a 1.85-mile cross-country ski trail in Colorado with 227 feet of elevation gain.

Telluride Ski AreaPhoto: Murray Foubister, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Telluride Ski Area

~9 min drive

Telluride Ski Area in Colorado has 20 lifts and 107 runs, 18 easy, 41 intermediate, 24 advanced, 23 expert, 3,891 ft vertical drop.

Silver Pick RoadPhoto: Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Silver Pick Road

~12 min drive

Gentle 2.18-mile road-based ski tour in Colorado backcountry.

SKI

P Lake Ski Start Loop Outer

Next door

0.36-mile loop ski start with 24 ft gain in Colorado.

TrestlePhoto: Dean Silver, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Trestle

~5 min drive

2.55-mile cross-country ski trail in Colorado with 846 ft of elevation gain.

Magic Meadows TrailPhoto: Kurt Bauschardt from Edmonton, Canada, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Magic Meadows Trail

~7 min drive

0.29-mile meadow trail in Colorado with minimal elevation gain.

Boyce Lake LoopPhoto: Doss Imaging, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Boyce Lake Loop

~25 min drive

0.94-mile cross-country ski loop with 158 ft gain in Colorado.

Silverton MountainPhoto: Zach Dischner, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Silverton Mountain

~21 min drive

Silverton Mountain in Colorado has 1 advanced downhill run with 714 ft vertical.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors