Colorado · Cross-country skiing · Near Estes Park

Short Cut

Short CutPhoto: inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
0.3 mi
distance
13 ft
climb
8,655 ft
high point
Easy
difficulty
Jun, Sep
best months

Short Cut is a short cross-country ski route in Colorado, about 0.3 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 13 feet. It is an easy outing that fits easily into a day spent around Grand Lake, the nearest town, about 1.8 miles away. The route rises slightly from a low point of 8,629 feet to a high of 8,655 feet. The steepest stretch comes at about 0.23 miles, with a 5% grade, and the climb is short enough that it works well as a quick addition to a longer ski or as a break on the Colorado River Trail, which lies just 0.1 mile away. Late spring and early fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Grand Lake show May highs around 59°F and September highs near 68°F, while winter brings frequent snow days and lows in the single digits. Ptarmigan Tuck, another cross-country ski area, is 0.2 miles away. The Grand Lake climbing area is about 2.1 miles off, and Bull Mountain Campground offers a place to stay within about 2.5 miles.

Around this trail

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

    Bull Mountain Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 2.5 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Wild Bear Tavern

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 1 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 Short Cut

    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, 1.8 mi away at 8,720 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more snow worth the drive

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

Colorado River Trail

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0.20-mile trail in Colorado with 28 ft of elevation gain.

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

River Run Connection

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

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

Winter'S Way

~1 min drive

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

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Front 9 LoopPhoto: Loco Steve, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Front 9 Loop

~21 min drive

1.12-mile loop in Colorado with 38 ft of elevation gain.

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

Himes Sight

Next door

0.82-mile cross-country ski trail in Colorado with 74 ft of elevation gain.

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

River Run

Next door

0.62-mile cross-country ski trail in Colorado with 78 ft of elevation gain.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors