Snow Mountain Ranch sits on 5200 acres just off Hwy 40 between Tabernash and Granby. It is a year-round playground offering over 120 km of groomed trails for cross country skiing, snowshoeing, fat biking, tubing, sleigh rides and other winter outdoor activities as well as mountain biking, hiking, horseback riding, Frisbee golf, zip line, climbing wall, and tubing in the summer. Construction of the new buildings for Camp Chief Ouray and Activities Center will continue through the winter at the far end of the Nordic Center parking lot compromising access to and eliminating several of the old CCO loops.
Snow Mountain Ranch is considered one of the best-groomed Nordic Centers in the country and you can cross country ski usually from mid-November until mid-April. The terrain can accommodate everyone from the first-time skier to the elite racer. Be sure to ski with your dog on the dog-friendly loops next to the Nordic Center – but remember, leashes are required. This year the Nordic Center shop officially opened Nov 21 but trails have not had enough snow to be officially open but many areas of higher ground are being rolled. Hopefully the storms this week are changing that! Check out the new grooming report on Nordic-pulse.com/ski-areas…great up-to-the minute information!
The Nordic Center’s full-service ski shop is where you will find great deals on lessons and rental packages. They also have the latest Nordic and snowshoe gear and apparel for sale. To re-energize, visit the Skinny Ski Café, which is scheduled to be open this season, and enjoy a light snack or warm up with a bowl of soup and a sandwich. Learn to ski with one of SMR instructors or rent a chariot and let the rhythm of skiing put your child to sleep. A one-year membership for family or individual is $250.00 or three years for $600.00 and includes cross country skiing, sledding, winter tubing, and ice skating privileges. A membership also gives access to the swimming pool, basketball, roller skating and so much more. You can rent cross country ski equipment as well as performance gear, fat bikes and snowshoes at the Nordic Center and, with your membership, you also get discounts on lodging at the YMCA of the Rockies. Regular trail fees for adults are $29.00 per day but Grand Nordic members receive 10% discount. Children 12 and under can ski for $14.00, and Children 5 and under ski for free. A five-time punch card that can be shared between family members is available again for $110.00. For details on trail pass, equipment rental and group lessons, visit the website or call 970-887-2152 X 4173. New this year is on-line signup for Nordic ski lessons. See website for details.
The first of two free ski lessons offered by Grand Nordic including free equipment and trail pass for all Nordic Club members is offered Sunday Dec 11. Signups for the free lessons are on-line at the Snow Mountain Ranch – go to www.grandnordic.org for a direct link. Following the Snow Mtn Classic Race Jan 14 is the Grand Nordic Ranch2Ranch Trek Feb 11 and 12. Either day, the Trek will start at Snow Mountain Ranch, go over the Fraser to Granby Trail and end at the Granby Ranch or you can even ski back, all benefiting Kids Nordic skiing in Grand County. The season winds down with the famed Snow Mountain Stampede featuring both Classic and Skate events on Mar 11 and 12. Check out the YMCA website at www.ymcarockies.org/Nordic-Center for details.
Colorado Biathlon hails Snow Mountain Ranch as their home venue. Rifle certification clinics are held every fall and winter. Several events are held each month starting in December at Snow Mountain Ranch. Check www.colorado.biathlon.org/schedule or call Snow Mountain Ranch Nordic Center 970-887-2152×4173 for more information. Come out to see the action and learn about biathlon.
The free Grand Nordic Kids program starts Jan 20 with Friday afternoons at 1pm for kids 5-10 and runs every Friday ending with a Nordic Festival Feb 24 except for Feb 3 during Ski for Light. Visit the Grand Nordic Website for more information or to register for the Ranch2Ranch Trek www.grandnordic.org or call Grand Nordic at 970-887-0547.
But winter is really here! Get out and Enjoy…
