Colorado · Cross-country skiing · Near Idaho Springs

Start Green

Start GreenPhoto: Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
0.3 mi
distance
11 ft
climb
8,598 ft
high point
Easy
difficulty
Jun–Aug
best months

Start Green is a cross-country skiing route in Colorado, about 2 miles from the town of Maryvale. It is a short, easy outing, covering roughly 0.3 miles with a slight climb of about 11 feet from a starting point near 8,579 feet to a high point of about 8,598 feet. The route is nearly flat, and the steepest stretch comes at about 0.19 miles, with a grade of around 4%. Winter is the natural season for cross-country skiing here. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Fraser, at a similar elevation, show January highs around 31°F with lows near -1°F, while June highs reach about 72°F. That station sits just 2.7 miles away, so its figures should closely match conditions on the route. Several other spots lie within a short drive. Broken Barn, another cross-country ski area, is about 0.2 miles away, and the Radcliff mountain biking trail is about 0.1 miles off. For paddling, Ranch Creek is about 1.1 miles away, and Idlewild Campground, about 3.8 miles out, offers a place to stay.

Around this trail

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

    Idlewild Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 3.8 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Heck's Tavern

    Pub

    On your way back · 1 mi
  • If it rainsUser:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

    Hamill House Museum

    Museum

    Museum · 18 mi from Idaho Springs

    Historic house-museum in Georgetown, Colorado, United States

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: User:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0 (commons)

More in Idaho Springs

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Jun–Aug

    Best time to visit Start Green

    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

      31° / -1°

      11 wet

    2. Feb

      34° / 2°

      10 wet

    3. Mar

      43° / 11°

      9 wet

    4. Apr

      51° / 20°

      8 wet

    5. May

      62° / 27°

      7 wet

    6. Jun

      72° / 33°

      6 wet

    7. Jul

      77° / 38°

      9 wet

    8. Aug

      74° / 37°

      10 wet

    9. Sep

      68° / 29°

      8 wet

    10. Oct

      56° / 21°

      7 wet

    11. Nov

      41° / 10°

      8 wet

    12. Dec

      31° / -1°

      10 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Fraser, CO, 2.7 mi away at 8,560 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more snow worth the drive

Broken BarnPhoto: Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Broken Barn

Next door

0.74-mile cross-country ski trail in Colorado with 57 ft of elevation gain.

SwindlerPhoto: Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Swindler

Next door

0.44-mile cross-country ski trail in Colorado with 123 ft of elevation gain.

DiscoPhoto: Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Disco

~1 min drive

0.90-mile cross-country ski trail in Colorado with 279 ft of elevation gain.

Winter Park ResortPhoto: Cemeyer2, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Winter Park Resort

~10 min drive

Winter Park Resort is a ski area in Colorado with 25 lifts and 141 runs.

SKI

Take D'leap (Snow)

~8 min drive

0.49-mile out-and-back route in Colorado with 178 ft of elevation gain.

Stage RoutePhoto: Photo by Tom Ortmeyer. – U.S. Department of Energy from United States, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Stage Route

Next door

Stage Route is a 0.53-mile ski trail in Colorado with 60 feet of elevation gain.

ChambersPhoto: Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Chambers

Next door

Chambers is a 0.59-mile trail in Colorado with 143 ft of elevation gain.

WesleyPhoto: Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Wesley

~1 min drive

0.21-mile cross-country ski trail in Colorado with 30 ft of elevation gain.

RadcliffPhoto: Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Radcliff

Next door

Radcliff is a 0.56-mile ski trail in Colorado with 106 feet of elevation gain.

Sawmill LoopPhoto: Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Sawmill Loop

Next door

1.34-mile cross-country ski loop in Colorado with 120 ft of elevation gain.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors