Colorado · Cross-country skiing

Ward Lake Campground Road

Ward Lake Campground RoadPhoto: Scott Loarie, CC0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
0.6 mi
distance
86 ft
climb
10,217 ft
high point
Moderate
difficulty
Jun–Sep
best months

Is Ward Lake Campground 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 Ward Lake Campground 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.

Ward Lake Campground Road is a 0.55-mile cross-country skiing route in Colorado's Grand Valley Ranger District, part of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. The Forest Service manages the land, and the road rises from about 10,127 feet to about 10,217 feet, with a total elevation gain of 86 feet. The steepest stretch comes at about 0.36 miles, where the grade reaches 10 percent. The most comfortable months for a visit are July and August, when typical averages from a nearby weather station run from highs around 64 to 68°F and lows near 40°F. Winter is far colder, with January highs typically around 26°F and lows near 6°F. Ward Lake and the Ward Ski Cut Off both sit about 0.1 mile away, and Grand Mesa and Ward Lake Campground are each about half a mile off.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Jun–Sep

    Best time to visit Ward Lake Campground 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, 6.6 mi away at 9,852 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more snow worth the drive

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