top of page
  • Rob McGovern

Colorado Winter Bucket List

We've rounded up 20 great activities West of 105 you'll want to add to your Colorado winter bucket list. (Click on the page number to get more details!)



1. The Longest Run

#Ski Longshot at #Snowmass. At 5.3 miles, Longshot is the longest run in the state (and the fifth in the country). The blue run is accessed via a short hike from Elk Camp chair lift.

Page 27


Credit: A.J. Melor

2. Visit a Fairytale (Ice) Castle

Returning to #Dillon for the second consecutive year, the Ice Castles are built using hundreds of thousands of icicles that are hand-placed by professional ice artists to create the #winter wonderland. Lights illuminate the castles at night.

Page 16


3. Soak in a Hot Spring

Colorado is home to dozens of natural #hotsprings, some which are located in historic, century-old facilities and others which are literally off the side of the road, and winter is the ideal time to experience them.

Page 50


Credit: Breckenridge Tourism Office

4. Breck in a Day

Spend a whole day exploring #Breckenridge with our 24-hour guide. Find out what to do, eat and drink, as well as where to rest after a long day exploring.

Page 66


Credit: Jordan Curet

5. Try a New Trend

#Uphillskiing is not entirely new, but it is gaining in popularity across Colorado, so expect to see more people skiing uphill this winter. In March, #Aspen hosts the annual America’s Uphill, a race that attracts #snowshoers, #runners and #Nordicskiers for a 2.5-mile and 3,000’+ vertical climb.

Page 17


Credit: Four Seasons Resort and Residences Vail

6. Après like a Legend

Aspen’s J Bar (inside Hotel Jerome) was a favorite hangout spot for gonzo journalist and novelist Hunter S. Thompson. Read about J Bar and nine other #aprés-ski spots.

Page 104


7. Watch the Masters

Colorado will once again host some of the best winter athletes in the world when the X Games returns to Aspen from Jan. 24 - 27, 2019. There will also be musical performances from, among others, Lil Wayne. All of the competitions are free and open to the public; the games will also be aired on ESPN and ABC.

Page 118



Credit: Johnny Wilcox / Pine Creek Cookhouse

8. Dine in the Backcountry

Immerse yourself in Colorado’s spectacular natural landscape by having dinner at a secluded cabin. Ski, snowmobile, snowshoe or take a snowcat to one of several #backcountry #dining options this winter.

Page 78






9. Spot Some Wildlife

We’ve teamed up with artist Todd Telander to present a guide to some of the wildlife you might spot in Colorado this winter. His magnificent illustrations bring the amazing diversity of #wildlife in the state to life.

Page 128


10. #Snowmobile through Grand Lake

Claiming the title of Snowmobile Capital of Colorado, the area around #GrandLake has a lot of terrain for snowmobilers, but it is also legal to ride your snowmobile right through town.

Page 74



Credit: Focus on the Beer

11. Get High

Visit the highest #breweries in the state and taste some of their hoppy concoctions this winter. We round them up on Page 88


12. Explore Beyond the Beaten Track

Colorado is home to dozens of #huts, #cabins, #yurts and #lodges, many of which are so remote you have to snowshoe or Nordic ski to them. We rounded up over a dozen options for a winter adventure.

Page 42



Credit: Herbert Bayer, Ski in Aspen poster, 1946. Denver Art Museum Collection, Gift of the Estate of Herbert Bayer

13. Celebrate Art

#Bauhaus, one of the most influential #art and design schools in history, is celebrating its centenary. Read about how it influenced and shaped Aspen into what it is today.

Page 112



Credit: MouCo Cheese Company

14. Say Cheese

Colorado is home to great artisan producers of all kinds of things. We spoke to a few #cheese producers about their products; they also suggested a few libations you can pair with their cheeses. Consider giving the gift of cheese this Xmas.

Page 92


15. Heli Skiing

The San Juan Mountains offer some of the most incredible scenery anywhere, and the tens of thousands of acres of untouched terrain can be accessed in winter - for a price. There are a couple of operators in the state that offer everything, from single drops to day-long adventures.

Page 34



Credit: Jeremy Swanson

16. Discover Aspen

Read our feature story on one of the world’s most well-known #skiresort towns and discover a few things you may not know.

Page 58


Credit: Rob McGovern / Period Communications

17. Scale a Frozen Cliff Face

The quaint mountain community of #Ouray is home to the world’s first #iceclimbing park. With over 200 different routes, the park has some of the best winter climbing in the nation. Try to catch the four-day ice climbing festival from Jan. 24 - 27, 2019.

Page 40



Credit: NPS / Patrick Myers

18. National Parks

Colorado’s four national parks offer a slew of activities in winter. From the snow-capped peaks of Rocky Mountain #NationalPark to the groomed Nordic ski trails of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, we’ve rounded up the best winter offerings at each.

Page 72


19. Polish Your Skills

Buttermilk Mountain has several terrain parks. S3 Park has 20 or so beginner- and intermediate-level features that will test your skills.

Page 27



Credit: Petar Dopchev

20. Fat Tire Fest

The Fat Bike World Championships will be held in Crested Butte in January. The five-day celebration of everything fat bike includes the championship race, a 30-mile ride that will determine the world champion. The fourth installment of the event will be celebrated with an after party the evening of the race.

Page 120



 

Read the whole winter issue of West of 105 for FREE here

bottom of page