15 Best Winter Activities to Do in Colorado!

Colorado is one of the best places to visit during winter. With pristine snow and almost always sunny conditions, the winter months are tolerable and beautiful. This state might be known for some of the best skiing around, but numerous other activities can be done during the winter for those not interested in hitting the slopes. Whether you want to experience the cold from the comfort of a train or delve right into Colorado's powder by constructing the perfect snowman, these 15 best winter activities are sure to please anyone visiting Colorado this winter season.

Go ice skating at Keystone Lake

During Colorado’s winter months, Keystone Lake freezes over and becomes one of the best outdoor skating areas in the state. This five-acre lake has 12,000-foot mountains in the background and a large Christmas tree in the center, making for a very picturesque skating experience. This lake is the largest Zamboni-maintained outdoor ski rink in North America.

Go tubing in Fraser

Tubing, similarly to sledding but on an inflatable tube, is a great way to play in the snow. The city of Fraser is known for tubing. Home to the Historical Fraser Tubing Hill, known as the original tubing hill, Fraser is a two-hour drive from Denver. The slopes to tube down are well groomed and perfect for all ages and all skill levels.

Go ice fishing at Lake Granby

Lake Granby, a 7,250-acre lake, freezes over during the winter time and becomes a popular ice fishing destination. Fish for rainbow trout, brown trout and even salmon that swim beneath the ice. Lake Granby became popular among ice fishers because it is one of the lakes included in the Three Lakes Ice-Fishing Contest that happens every January.

Snowshoe at Copper Mountain

Although there are numerous places to go snowshoeing during the winter months in Colorado, Copper Mountain offers free, guided snowshoe tours, making it perfect for the beginner or anyone new to Copper Mountain. The three-mile, three-hour tour toward Vail Pass is a perfect way to experience the snowy weather at a slower pace. Tours are offered daily.

Try cross-country Nordic skiing at Devil's Thumb Ranch

Nordic skiing, not to be confused with alpine skiing, is the act of traveling on skis on typically flat or mild terrain. Nordic ski bindings are different than alpine ski bindings. The bindings on Nordic skis allow the heel to rise, making climbing up in elevation possible. Also referred to as cross-country skiing, Nordic skiing is very popular in Colorado. There are numerous areas to Nordic ski in Colorado, but Devil’s Thumb Pass in Tabernash has become one of the most popular cross-country ski areas in the state.

Go dogsledding in Leadville

Alpine Adventures invites you to join their mission to provide care and find loving homes for retired sled dogs. With professional race dogs coming from all over the country, explore the joys of snow sledding and the dog's happiness in retirement. Fall in love with the furry friends of Alpine Adventures.

Go snowmobiling in Steamboat Springs

Explore the majestic peaks of Steamboat Springs on a thrilling snowmobiling tour. Start your trek with complimentary shuttle service and safety equipment, including helmets, boots, and snow bibs. Your masterful guide will lead you on forested trails surrounded by dramatic views before allowing you to explore and marvel at the famous 'champagne powder.'

Ski or snowboard in Vail

With 25 ski resorts in Colorado and lots of backcountry terrain to ride, Colorado is a great destination for the skier and snowboarder. Large ski resorts reside in Colorado, but Vail is truly one of the most popular and well known. With seven back bowls and well-groomed runs on the front of the mountain, both skiers and snowboarders at any level will enjoy the terrain at this ski resort. Vail has over 5,289 acres of skiable terrain and offers 31 lifts, three terrain parks and gets over 300 inches of snow a year.

Build a snowman in Pagosa Springs

Now Colorado's winters are notorious for pristine and powdery snow. Snow can be found nearly everywhere in the state during the chilly months, but Wolf Creek Ski Resort in Pagosa Springs receives more snow than any other place in Colorado at over 400 inches a year. A snowman can be built anywhere with snow. However, Wolf Creek's snow at Wolf Creek Ski Area is all natural, not manmade. The area of Wolf Creek is sure to provide the best snow to build the perfect snowman this winter season.

Take a train ride up Pikes Peak

The Pikes Peak Cog Railway, the world's highest cog railroad, will take you up to the famous Pikes Peak, a 14,000-foot mountain near Colorado Springs. This railway is open year-round for visitors, but winter is a great time to take this train ride. During November and December, enjoy the Christmas-themed train where you can catch a glimpse of St. Nicholas, meet the crew from the North Pole, socialize with Santa's elves and enjoy hot chocolate against the snowy scenery.

Go fat tire biking at Front Range Ride Guides

Biking has become a popular activity among Colorado residents, and the snow doesn't stop bikers from enjoying a great ride. A fat tire bike, an off-road bike with wide, thick tires, makes it possible to bike in snowy and icy conditions. Since the tires are wider, they provide more traction than a regular bike, making it perfect for Colorado's powdery snow conditions. Denver, Boulder and Fort Collins are the top biking towns in Colorado. Hit up any of these destinations to rent fat tire bikes and find guided tours.

Attend the Winter X Games in Aspen

Be part of the X Games Aspen winter expedition. See the top 100 winter athletes competing in the biggest snow sporting event of the year. Enjoy the free side-line experience and the live coverage on ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC. Don't miss the thrill - it's time to start your winter games journey.

View snow sculptures in Breckenridge

Head to Breckenridge to witness the amazing spectacle of the International Snow Sculpture Championships. Teams worldwide combine to transform 25-ton snow blocks into magnificent works of art, all created only with hand tools. Join the crowds in historic downtown Breckenridge to take in the incredible sculptures created over 94 hours of intense sculpting.

View holiday lights in Denver

During the holiday season, a gorgeous array of holiday lights can be found in Denver at Denver Botanic Gardens. Known as Blossoms of Lights, the garden is illuminated with glistening and vibrating lights portraying animated scenes. Since plants don't thrive during the winter months in Colorado, this is a great way to come back to life with light. /p>

Visit a hot spring in Glenwood Springs

A hot spring is a relaxing way to enjoy the chilly outdoors in Colorado. Although the temperature outside may be well below freezing, a hot spring stays nice and warm year-round. There are numerous hot springs to visit in Colorado. However, the hot springs pool in Glenwood Springs is one of the hottest natural hot spring pools in the world.

This text was created by the author with the assistance of GPT-3, a large-scale language generation model developed by OpenAI. The author reviewed, edited, and revised the draft language to their satisfaction and is fully responsible for the content of this publication.

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