So many travelers automatically think – “let’s go skiing” when they think of Colorado. There is so much more to that beautiful state than winter sports. Once the weather warms up, the snow melts and the ski lovers go home, there is a long list of activities that make Colorado a perfect spring break or Summer getaway!
The great outdoors in Colorado is a magical thing. As the snow flies, certain areas provide access to cross country skiing and snowshoeing, fat biking and skate skiing. However, as the snow melts and the days lengthen, these playgrounds turn into base camps for outdoor recreation and gathering places for families.
“We’re truly a year-round destination here in Colorado, but many people might not realize how many places truly transform from season to season,” said Cassidi Brickner with Colorado Cross Country Ski Association. “Our Nordic centers, which are hot spots for a variety of winter activities, turn into base camps for golf, family adventures, ranching and even weddings when the snow melts. It’s a wonderful transformation that lets our guests enjoy their favorite locations in both winter and summer.”
While there is plenty of winter fun still to be experienced at Colorado’s Nordic Centers, it’s also the perfect time to make plans to see these places when summer’s green eclipses winter’s white.
Family fun
Taking the family to the Nordic Center is a wonderful way to spend a weekend or a day. With the varied activities that are available for the whole family, from fat biking to skate skiing, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. The same is true in the summer, as well.
At the Frisco Adventure Park, tubing and sledding turns into summer fun with a free bike park, free skate park, free disc golf course, hiking and biking trails, camping spots, wagon rides and more. Views of Lake Dillon as you explore are a bonus.
Saying “I do”
There are few places as picturesque as the wide-open spaces in northern Colorado. When planning for the big day, picking the perfect spot, with plenty of room for family and friends, can be difficult. These destinations, which are spectacular in the snow, become picture-perfect in the summer with dramatic views that provide an incomparable backdrop for the ceremony and plenty of space for wedding big and small.
- Devil’s Thumb Ranch
- Snow Mountain Ranch
- Tennessee Pass
- Thunder Mountain Lodge
Groomed trails to groomed fairways
Perhaps one of the most striking changes when the snows melt is realizing that many of those impeccably groomed cross-country ski and snowshoe trails were created over the foundation of impeccably groomed fairways and greens. Measure your distance in yards and holes instead of kilometers this summer at one of these spectacular Nordic Centers turned award-winning golf courses.
- Grand Lake Golf Course
- Vail Golf Course
- Keystone Golf Course
Cross-country to corrals
During the winter months, you may have heard the soft nicker of a horse on your cross-country journey; perhaps you saw the barn in the distance, with its residents clustered close, dark spots within the snow. It’s in the summer months that these stellar trails come alive with equine residents, and they’re all ready to take you on a ride. Explore the trails that you thought you knew at these dude ranches. It’s an experience that might make you forget your winter escapades!
- Home Ranch
- Latigo Trails
- Vista Verde
From playing 18 holes to riding into the sunset or simply spending quality time with the family, there is just as much adventure to be had at Colorado’s Nordic Centers in the summer as there is in the winter. So strap on your skis for another skate, but be ready: summer is on its way!
About Colorado Cross Country Ski Association
Colorado Cross Country Ski Association is the go-to source for information about Cross Country Skiing in Colorado. From family-friendly ski centers to world-class Nordic operations and deluxe guest ranches, our 19 member resorts and ranches, boast a combined total over 850 km of expertly groomed and back-country ski (both skate and classic) and snowshoe trails, as well as top-notch instruction, equipment rental, lodging and retail sales. The CCCSA coordinates the Colorado Nordic Race Series as well as a multi-resort punch pass. Get more details online at www.coloradocrosscountry.com
Don’t wait until next winter to visit Colorado! Wouldn’t you love to see all those mountains in the spring?
