Colorado · Cross-country skiing

Wild Turkey

Wild TurkeyPhoto: Allison Jaeger, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
0.4 mi
distance
139 ft
climb
8,915 ft
high point
Hard
difficulty
Jun–Aug
best months

Wild Turkey is a cross-country ski route on Snow Mountain Ranch in Colorado, a non-governmental organization-managed property about 0.4 miles long. The climb is short, with a total gain of 139 feet and a loss of 169 feet, and the steepest stretch comes at about 0.09 miles, where the grade reaches 12 percent. The route starts at 8,912 feet and peaks at 8,915 feet, so it is a brief, low-elevation outing rather than a long climb. Winter is the natural season for this ski route. Typical averages from the nearby Fraser weather station, which sits about 355 feet lower, show January highs around 31°F with lows near -1°F, while June and July run in the low to mid 70s. The station's figures are not adjusted for the higher elevation of the route. Lynch and Through The Woods are both cross-country ski routes about 0.1 mile away. Climbers can head to the Grand County / Fraser Valley area, about 2 miles off, and St. Louis Creek Campground is about 6.5 miles away for an overnight stay.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Jun–Aug

    Best time to visit Wild Turkey

    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, 7.7 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

LynchPhoto: Allison Jaeger, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Lynch

Next door

0.42-mile cross-country ski trail in Colorado with 208 ft of elevation gain.

BamsePhoto: Allison Jaeger, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Bamse

Next door

2.38-mile cross-country ski trail in Colorado with 149 ft of elevation gain.

SilversPhoto: Allison Jaeger, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Silvers

Next door

Silvers is a 0.21-mile cross-country ski trail in Colorado with 16 feet of elevation gain.

Through The WoodsPhoto: Allison Jaeger, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Through The Woods

Next door

0.60-mile cross-country ski trail in Colorado with 70 ft of elevation gain.

GoldiePhoto: Allison Jaeger, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Goldie

Next door

Goldie is a 0.16-mile ski trail in Colorado with 4 feet of elevation gain.

HomesteadPhoto: Allison Jaeger, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Homestead

~1 min drive

Homestead is a 0.84-mile ski trail in Colorado with 212 feet of elevation gain.

Old LynchPhoto: Allison Jaeger, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Old Lynch

Next door

Old Lynch is a 1.22-mile cross-country ski trail in Colorado with 469 feet of elevation gain.

MilliganPhoto: Allison Jaeger, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Milligan

~1 min drive

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

Walts WayPhoto: Allison Jaeger, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Walts Way

~2 min drive

0.50-mile trail in Colorado with 73 ft of elevation gain.

Mill GulchPhoto: Allison Jaeger, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Mill Gulch

Next door

0.40-mile trail in Colorado with 47 ft of elevation gain.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors