Colorado · Cross-country skiing · Near Glenwood Springs

Tower Trail

Tower TrailPhoto: NASA, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
2.5 mi
distance
218 ft
climb
7,893 ft
high point
May–Sep
best months

Tower Trail is a cross-country ski route in Colorado, about 7 miles from the town of New Castle. The trail is roughly 2.5 miles long, with a high point of 7,893 feet and a low of 7,679 feet. The climb is gentle, with a total gain of 218 feet and a total loss of 320 feet over the course of the route. The steepest stretch comes at about 1.2 miles in, with a grade of 9 percent. Winter is the natural season for this trail. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show January highs around 35°F with lows near 9°F, while June and July run warmer, with highs in the upper 70s to low 80s. The station sits at a similar elevation to the trail, so these figures are a fair guide to conditions on the route. The trail sits among several other cross-country ski routes. Home Trail is just 0.1 mile away, and Rhubarb Trail is about 0.4 mile off. For a change of pace, Divide Creek offers canoeing about 6 miles away, and Elk Creek Campground is roughly 9 miles out.

Around this trail

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

    SW/Central Flat Tops Area

    Campground

    Campground · 6.9 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Dairy Queen

    Fast food

    On your way back · 10 mi · Open after 6

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Glenwood Springs

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · May–Sep

    Best time to visit Tower Trail

    Best months: May–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

      35° / 9°

      11 wet

    2. Feb

      38° / 12°

      10 wet

    3. Mar

      46° / 21°

      11 wet

    4. Apr

      55° / 28°

      11 wet

    5. May

      65° / 35°

      10 wet

    6. Jun

      77° / 42°

      7 wet

    7. Jul

      82° / 48°

      11 wet

    8. Aug

      80° / 47°

      12 wet

    9. Sep

      72° / 40°

      9 wet

    10. Oct

      60° / 29°

      9 wet

    11. Nov

      45° / 19°

      9 wet

    12. Dec

      34° / 9°

      11 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Aspen Pitkin Co Ap, CO, 38.5 mi away at 7,720 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more snow worth the drive

Rhubarb TrailPhoto: NASA, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Rhubarb Trail

Next door

Rhubarb Trail is a 1.47-mile route in Colorado with 310 feet of elevation gain.

Basalt-Old Snowmass TrailPhoto: Instagram.com/jamie_fenn jamie_fenn, CC0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Basalt-Old Snowmass Trail

~49 min drive

0.74-mile trail in Colorado with 200 ft elevation gain.

Labrador LanePhoto: Hunter Bryant hunterbryant, CC0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Labrador Lane

~1h 1m drive

1.48-mile cross-country ski trail in Colorado with 172 ft of elevation gain.

Tom Blake Equestrian TrailPhoto: Hunter Bryant hunterbryant, CC0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Tom Blake Equestrian Trail

~1h 3m drive

Tom Blake Equestrian Trail is a 0.71-mile route in Colorado with 273 feet of elevation gain.

SEE

Sunlight Mountain Resort

~18 min drive

Sunlight Mountain Resort in Colorado has 3 lifts and 74 runs with 1,923 ft of vertical drop.

SKI

Shark Park

~31 min drive

Short, beginner-friendly Colorado ski route ideal for quick winter outings.

Jaffe ParkPhoto: redlegsfan21 from Vandalia, OH, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Jaffe Park

~1h 4m drive

0.46-mile ski trail in Jaffe Park, Colorado with 6 feet of elevation gain.

Rio Grande Trail Soft SurfacePhoto: Instagram.com/jamie_fenn jamie_fenn, CC0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Rio Grande Trail Soft Surface

~50 min drive

0.57-mile trail in Colorado with 184 ft of elevation gain.

Owl Creek Nordic TrailPhoto: Hunter Bryant hunterbryant, CC0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Owl Creek Nordic Trail

~1h 2m drive

5.38-mile cross-country ski trail in Colorado with 1,072 ft of elevation gain.

SKI

Sp Tie in - Stevens Gulch Both

~44 min drive

26.24-mile cross-country ski trail in Colorado with 1,048 ft gain.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors