Although skiing is what put Colorado on the map, the state offers an abundance of other activities during the winter. Here are some of the most popular things to do off the slopes:
Adventure Parks
If you’re looking for fun for the whole family, head to the adventure park, where you’ll find a variety of activities to keep everyone entertained. Not every mountain has one, but they are becoming more common as resorts expand. One of the most popular in Colorado is Vail’s Adventure Ridge, an on-hill playground offering tubing, snowshoeing, a mountain coaster, snow biking, and kid’s snowmobiling. Close behind is Crested Butte’s Adventure Park, with bungee trampolines, tubing, rock climbing, and even mini golf. Although they don’t have full adventure parks, both Breckenridge and Aspen/Snowmass have alpine coasters and great tubing hills.
Snowmobiling
Another great way to explore the resorts and their surrounding areas, snowmobiling allows you to cover a lot of territory in a short period of time. It also provides a thrill like few others. If you’re in the Vail Valley, be sure to check out Top of the Rockies Snowmobile Tours, offering the largest trail system in the Vail/Beaver Creek Area. In Summit County, head to White Mountain Tours, Colorado’s highest snowmobile tour company. Steamboat and Aspen have a nice variety of options as well.
Snowshoeing/Cross Country Skiing
Just about every resort in Colorado has a Nordic center where you can rent equipment or sign up for guided tours. Once you’re set up, the experience will speak for itself. Some of the best areas include the Aspen/Snowmass trail system, one of the largest networks in North America with over 50 miles of trails, and the Frisco Nordic Center, offering 28 miles of trails near Breckenridge. Other favorites are Beaver Creek’s McCoy Park trail system and the Vail Nordic Center, both offering a nice variety of trails.
Dog-Sledding
For an experience similar to snowshoeing or Nordic skiing without the workout, look no further than dog-sledding. Being towed through the woods by twelve boisterous pups is sure to put a smile on your face. Dog-sledding is less common than other winter activities, but there are a variety of options throughout Summit County and the Vail Valley. In Breckenridge, check out Good Times Adventures or Snow Caps Sled Dogs. For the Vail Valley, contact Alpine Adventures Dogsledding or WinterHawk Dogsled Adventures. Both are based out of Leadville, but serve Copper Mountain, Vail, Beaver Creek, and Breckenridge.