Colorado · Cross-country skiing · Near Clifton

Scales Lake Road

Scales Lake RoadPhoto: KimonBerlin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
1.9 mi
distance
138 ft
climb
10,808 ft
high point
Moderate
difficulty
Jun–Sep
best months

Is Scales 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 Scales 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.

Scales Lake Road is a 1.9-mile cross-country ski route in Colorado's Grand Valley Ranger District, part of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. The Forest Service manages the land. The climb is a short, moderate outing, with the road rising from about 10,675 feet to a high of 10,808 feet, for a total gain of 138 feet, and the steepest stretch at about 9% grade near mile 0.7. Winter is the natural season for skiing here. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show January highs around 26°F with lows near 6°F, while July is the warmest month, with highs around 68°F and lows near 42°F. That station sits roughly 950 feet lower than the route, so temperatures on the road run cooler. Lions and Kannah Crossing sit just 0.1 mile away. Spruce Grove Campground, about 1.3 miles off, offers a place to stay. For fishing, Grand Mesa is about 3.8 miles away.

Around this trail

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

    Spruce Grove Campground - Grand Valley RD

    Campground

    Campground · 1.3 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Slopeside cafe

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 5 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY-SA 3.0 (commons)

More in Clifton

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Jun–Sep

    Best time to visit Scales Lake Road

    Best months: June–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

      26° / 6°

    2. Feb

      27° / 4°

    3. Mar

      34° / 12°

    4. Apr

      40° / 17°

    5. May

      49° / 27°

    6. Jun

      62° / 37°

    7. Jul

      68° / 42°

    8. Aug

      64° / 40°

    9. Sep

      57° / 34°

    10. Oct

      45° / 24°

    11. Nov

      34° / 14°

    12. Dec

      26° / 5°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Bonham Rsvr, CO, 9.5 mi away at 9,852 ft. The station sits about 1,000 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors