One of our favorite areas for cross-country skiing is Old Monarch Pass Road. If you have some time take the lift ride ($$) up and get some great photos. He was 73. The road climbs gradually from the highway to the high Continental Divide with big views of all the surrounding mountain ranges… This winter adventure starts on the north side of U.S. 50 just above the Monarch Mountain ski area. About 2 miles in and two miles back out. 3 comments. The Nordic Ski Capital of Colorado Start Skiing & Snowshoeing with Us Naturally distant, Naturally beautiful Rentals & Day Passes Explore Our Trails for the Day Start Skiing & Snowshoeing with Us Private Lessons for kids & Adults Learn to Ski Get more out of winter with our expert instructors. Monarch Pass travelers' reviews, business hours, introduction, open hours. gm update. The gift shop has many meaningful souvenirs and free popcorn if you ride the gondola.... We stopped at the top of Monarch Pass, and always do, for a number of reasons:*clean bathrooms*fun gift shop*ice cream and fudge break! I haven't been over the pass in years and was a little worried about taking or small RV over it. Old Monarch Pass, Salida. 279 Shares Post tags: powder day , snowshoeing , winter activities Web Cam Monarch Mountain Base Area Salida, Colorado. If you’re looking for more trail options, any of the seasoned pros at local rental shops can point you toward a trail that will be perfect for you. shop online. Take a Guided Tour, Summit County. Buy your 2020-21 season pass today! This route also takes you from Denver over Independence Pass (12,095 ft). Purchase lift tickets online, in advance, and save up to 40% off the window price! Hotels near (DEN) Denver Intl Airport; Hotels near (MTJ) Montrose County Airport; Hotels near (GUC) Gunnison Airport; All things to do in Monarch; Things to do near Monarch Pass. Several of the most popular trails have easy access from Monarch Pass. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Snowshoeing is easy to learn, fun for everyone, and can be a great high energy cardio workout. You might drive by the trailhead sign several times before finally finding it back in the trees. COTREX is a project by the Colorado DNR and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. But if you get the chance to drive its a beautiful pass … Read more. . Old Monarch Pass Rd Snowshoe Distance: 2.6 miles round trip to the pass Elevation: 10,939 ft to 11,392 ft Elevation Gain: 453 ft. A great way to be outside in winter!. Destination Questions. Highly recommend. However the roads have been up dated sense my last trip over and it was a good drive not sure if i would want to tow or drive a large RV over it. River Rafting & Tubing, Fishing Charters & Tours. He was 73. Geographic Region(s): Trip Length: 10 - 14 Days; Day 1. snowshoeing. Hiking, Snowshoeing, Photography, and Travel in Colorado and Beyond. We love this area - so much to do and see. Date of experience: February 2020. Included with the trail pass is complimentary access to an ice-skating rink. Monarch Pass lies between Gunnison and Salida and is the easiest way to reach Southwest Colorado from the Denver Metro Area. I do know, however, that the fall color was beautiful. season passes. Any suggestions? We stopped at Monarch Pass for a bit. It’s only a short drive from Creekside Chalets and Cabins, plus it’s incredibly scenic. He was 73. Hotels near Monarch Pass; Near Airports. Close. From the parking area, a wide and obvious signed path heads west along Forest Service Road 237. The views are amazing. Even in winter, this is an awesome road. Like. Restrooms: None at the trailhead Tickets. Helpful. Keep your eyes peeled for deer and elk who frequent the area. Bill Forrest, a Colorado climbing legend who also made notable innovations in mountaineering equipment, died Dec. 21 while snowshoeing near Monarch Pass. This three-mile trail is the perfect playground because it connects to all types of terrain so you can go as hard as you want or as easy as you want. I was rather surprised to discover we had climbed to 11,312 feet! Road on No Name Creek, Major Creek, and South Arkansas River in Gunnison National Forest, San Isabel National Forest. Check out updated best hotels & restaurants near Monarch Pass. The out-and-back Redtail trail is best for beginners. The rates are expensive, $25 for adults for a day pass, but drop significantly for kids, and rentals are available as well. Branching off of U.S. 50/Monarch Pass, this trail offers easy to access and mellow terrain- perfect for beginners or experienced skiers alike. We saw many hikers... Hotels near (MTJ) Montrose County Airport, Monarch Snowmobile Tours: Tickets & Tours‎. Loved Hwy 50! Monarch Pass lies between Gunnison and Salida and is the easiest way to reach Southwest Colorado from the Denver Metro Area. In January of 2006, I took a road trip to Salida for Martin Luther King’s birthday. If you've never done it before, it might be best to go on a guided tour. report. See more ideas about snow shoes, winter, aerobic activity. Would be great for cross country skiing Even in winter, this is an awesome road. AIARE Level 1 Rec; AIARE Level 1 Hut-Based (Crested Butte) AIARE Level 1 Hut-Based (Monarch Pass) AIARE Avalanche Rescue; AIARE Level 2 Rec; Avalanche Refresher; Ski Mountaineering. Traveling westbound on US 50 the turn-off to Old Monarch Pass is approximately a half mile past the entrance to the ski area. The lack of steep terrain reduces the risk of avalanches in this area, but it’s always important to check conditions before you go and take appropriate precautions. Helpful. Learn More . already! The views are amazing! Read more. Dogs: Allowed per U.S. Forest Service regulations. Colorado is full of easy-to-find and well-marked snowshoe trails, so you can get your hiking fix, see the mountains in a new perspe… The gift store has food, gifts, and nice animal display inside, and clean bathroom. We had our German Shepherd with us and she was able to ride also! Bill Forrest, a Colorado climbing legend who also made notable innovations in mountaineering equipment, died Dec. 21 while snowshoeing near Monarch Pass. Old Monarch Pass is a great place to snowshoe. nice ski area that is not as well known (and therefore NOT AS CROWDED) as most of the other Colorado ski areas. The Waterdog Lakes Trail on Monarch Pass is a steep, high-altitude climb of less than two miles to small lakes close to 11,300 feet in elevation. JSTrip_77 wrote a review Jan 2020. If you want to try something new, or if there’s not enough snow for snowshoeing, they also rent fat bikes. Hanoi, Vietnam 972 contributions 391 helpful votes. hide . It’s only a short drive from Creekside Chalets and Cabins, plus it’s incredibly scenic. Hidden on Monarch Pass about 22 miles from Salida, Colorado is a hiking trail soon to become one of your favorites. This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Get Here. Take a Guided Tour, Summit County. Advertising and Sponsorship Opportunities. One of our favorite areas for cross-country skiing is Old Monarch Pass Road. If you want to try something new, or if there’s not enough snow for snowshoeing, they also rent fat bikes. I will likely be up there this coming MLK weekend. AIARE Level 1 Rec; AIARE Level 1 Hut-Based (Crested Butte) AIARE Level 1 Hut-Based (Monarch Pass) AIARE Avalanche Rescue; AIARE Level 2 Rec; Avalanche Refresher; Ski Mountaineering. About 2 miles in and two miles back out. JSTrip_77 wrote a review Jan 2020. Whether you’re a free spirit or prefer to follow a groomed path, here’s a list to get you snowshoeing in Colorado's great outdoors this winter.Freestyle Snowshoeing TrailsIf you have a freestyle mindset with no need for a guide, groomed trails or rental facilities, these areas offer plenty of options to create your own unique Colorado snowshoeing experience. Terri Cook is an award-winning freelance writer based in Boulder. The out-and-back Redtail trail is best for beginners. Monarch pass is a beautiful drive! Saturday, February 21, 2009. Would be great for cross country skiing. I might be alone or with some friends. Monarch Mountain trail: If you're in or around Atlin, be sure to do this hike - it offers some great views of Atlin Lake & Atlin Mountain as well as Teresa Island, the 2nd tallest lake-island on the planet. Moosestomp is a bit more challenging and leads uphill to a scenic lookout point. This trail begins on the north side of U.S. 50 a short distance below the crest of 11,312-foot Monarch Pass. 5280 Publishing, Inc. Crested Butte Cross-Country Skiing & Snowshoeing Welcome to CB Nordic! Whether you’re a free spirit or prefer to follow a groomed path, here’s a list to get you snowshoeing in Colorado's great outdoors this winter.Freestyle Snowshoeing TrailsIf you have a freestyle mindset with no need for a guide, groomed trails or rental facilities, these areas offer plenty of options to create your own unique Colorado snowshoeing experience. Posted by 3 years ago. 100% Upvoted. Suite 675 Learn More . Date of experience: June 2020. Hanoi, Vietnam 972 contributions 391 helpful votes. Like. Avoid this route during “Considerable” and above avalanche ratings. Saturday, February 21, 2009. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Kenosha Pass Extended Forecast with high and low temperatures °F. Why Did Palantir Technologies Move Its Headquarters From Silicon Valley to Denver? Leave Golden, CO, and head south on US 285 towards US 50 and Monarch Mountain. We drove east from Montrose. Park at the trailhead and head up the trail for just over a mile. About 2 miles in and two miles back out. Getting there: From Denver, follow U.S. 285 south through Fairplay to the small town of Poncha Springs. From the highway, the easy-to-follow route gradually ascends about 400 feet in elevation, giving you plenty of time to enjoy the towering, snow-covered clusters of lodgepole pines, Colorado blue spruce, and Douglas Fir. Date of experience: February 2020. A Salida resident who summited p… Old Monarch Pass Road. Monarch is not the highest mountain in the Atlin area, but it is a great short day trip that gets you up to the sub-alpine to view the other majestic peaks. When to go: Early winter through spring, depending on snow conditions Locate the Old Monarch Pass trailhead, and you're there. Or, if you’re seeking a more challenging backcountry adventure, explore a shady canyon or embark on a heart pounding trek up a snow shrouded peak to witness spectacular winter views. Old Monarch Pass is a great place to snowshoe. They do offer jackets for riders because it can get cold and windy. Date of experience: June 2020. Matt was on skis and Sandra and I raced to keep up, so we made very good time to the bridge across Healy Creek about 3 km from the parking lot. Soooo worth it! Take a tranquil loop around a pristine mountain meadow. Just respect your limits and the terrain. I did not notice if there were any places to pull over and there really was no scenic view that I recall. We saw many hikers... Helpful. The trail … Keep me up to date on the latest trends and happenings around Denver. Snowshoeing is easy to learn, fun for everyone, and can be a great high energy cardio workout. There's a HUGE... Beautiful spot on HWY 50 with a gift shop and Tramway. *water bottle filling stations*picture at the Continental Divide sign (and spill some water there just for fun)This time we decided to ride the gondola up to the top. Tamalpais & Point Reyes; Punta Gorda Lighthouse; Washington. If you've never done it before, it might be best to go on a guided tour. 2 Week Extended Forecast in Kenosha Pass, Colorado, USA. The 4 mile loop around the lake includes stretches on the Arapaho Pass Trail #6, Arapaho Pass Spur Trail 6.1, and the Cascade Creek Trail #1. Snowshoeing. The 22-mile road opened in September 1921, and—fun fact—cost about $10,000 per mile to build. This three-mile trail is the perfect playground because it connects to all types of terrain so you can go as hard as you want or as easy as you want. Why we love it: A mellow outing with just enough uphill to feel like you’ve earned the wonderful top-of-the-mountain views We had a short break here, but didn’t linger long in the cold. Local trails offer adventure for cross-country skiing & snowshoeing near Ski Town Condos on Monarch Pass. Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are some of winters greatest outdoor pleasures. But if you get the chance to drive its a beautiful pass … Read more. This mellow, easy-to-access route across the Continental Divide follows a snow-covered 4×4 road that’s almost always packed down by snowmobilers and other winter sportsmen. All too soon, you arrive at the divide, where you’re treated to sweeping alpine views from the San Juans to the Sawatch. Web Cam Monarch Mountain Lodge. Monarch Pass: 2020 Top Things to Do in Gunnison County. It is well marked and snowplow drivers clear a wide area for parking on the side of the road. The view at the top is fantastic! Keep up with what's happening at Monarch, as well as our COVID-19 preparedness, straight from our GM. But, in winter, do take care. However the roads have been up dated sense my last trip over and it was a good drive not sure if i would want to tow or drive a large RV over it. After last week's massive storm dumped 70 inches of snow on the peaks, Old Monarch Pass Road is the perfect first cross-country ski or snowshoe trail to start your winter of snowy adventures. Buy Now Learn More . More clouds than sun. Matt was on skis and Sandra and I raced to keep up, so we made very good time to the bridge across Healy Creek about 3 km from the parking lot. We actually made a u-turn to come back and take the scenic tram ride to the top. Photo Gallery SKI & SNOWSHOE WITH CARE. Old Monarch Pass Loop is a 3.2 mile loop trail located near Salida, Colorado that offers scenic views.