Colorado · Cross-country skiing · Near Estes Park

River Run

River RunPhoto: inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
0.6 mi
distance
59 ft
climb
8,685 ft
high point
Moderate
difficulty
Jun, Sep
best months

River Run is a cross-country ski route in Colorado, about 2.3 miles from the town of Grand Lake. The trail is short, covering roughly 0.6 miles, and the climb is gentle, with a total gain of 59 feet from a starting elevation of about 8,650 feet to a high point of 8,685 feet. The route is rated moderate, and the steepest stretch comes early on, at about 0.05 miles in, with a grade of about 3 percent. Winter is the natural season for this ski route. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Grand Lake show January highs around 30°F with lows near 4°F and about 14 snow days. By May, highs reach about 59°F, and snow days drop to about two. The Ptarmigan Tuck Connection lies just 0.1 mile away, and Randal's Romp is about 0.2 mile off, so the route fits easily into a longer ski outing. Bull Mountain Campground is about 2.3 miles away, and the Colorado River offers paddling about 4.4 miles from the trail.

Around this trail

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

    Bull Mountain Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 2.3 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Wild Bear Tavern

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 2 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Estes Park

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Jun, Sep

    Best time to visit River Run

    Best months: June and September. 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

      30° / 4°

      14 wet · 14 snow

    2. Feb

      34° / 6°

      13 wet · 12 snow

    3. Mar

      42° / 14°

      12 wet · 9 snow

    4. Apr

      49° / 20°

      11 wet · 6 snow

    5. May

      59° / 28°

      12 wet · 2 snow

    6. Jun

      71° / 34°

      11 wet

    7. Jul

      76° / 40°

      14 wet

    8. Aug

      73° / 38°

      15 wet

    9. Sep

      68° / 32°

      12 wet · 1 snow

    10. Oct

      55° / 23°

      10 wet · 4 snow

    11. Nov

      40° / 13°

      11 wet · 9 snow

    12. Dec

      30° / 5°

      14 wet · 13 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Grand Lake 1 Nw, CO, 2.1 mi away at 8,720 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more snow worth the drive

Ptarmigan Tuck ConnectionPhoto: inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Ptarmigan Tuck Connection

Next door

Ptarmigan Tuck Connection is a 0.28-mile trail in Colorado with 54 feet of elevation gain.

Randal'S RompPhoto: inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Randal'S Romp

Next door

Randal'S Romp is a 0.60-mile ski trail in Colorado.

Winter'S WayPhoto: inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Winter'S Way

Next door

1.43-mile cross-country ski trail in Colorado with 171 ft of elevation gain.

Uphill RoutePhoto: Missvain, CC BY 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Uphill Route

~25 min drive

Short Colorado uphill climb for fitness and technique practice.

SEE

Granby Ranch

~26 min drive

Granby Ranch is a ski area in Colorado with 6 lifts, 39 runs, and 931 ft of vertical.

Ptarmigan TuckPhoto: inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Ptarmigan Tuck

Next door

Ptarmigan Tuck is a 0.19-mile ski trail in Colorado with 66 feet of elevation gain.

Randall'S RompPhoto: inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Randall'S Romp

Next door

0.87-mile route in Colorado with 36 feet of elevation gain.

Short CutPhoto: inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Short Cut

Next door

0.30-mile ski trail in Colorado with 26 ft of elevation gain.

River Run LoopPhoto: Don Graham from Redlands, CA, USA - God bless it!, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

River Run Loop

Next door

0.42-mile loop with 49 ft gain in Colorado.

River Run ConnectionPhoto: inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

River Run Connection

Next door

0.17-mile trail in Colorado with 9 ft of elevation gain.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors