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Snow Mountain Ranch Nordic Center among country’s best

Diana Lynn Rau
Grand Nordic Corner
Diana Lynn Rau
Staff Photo |

The Snow Mountain Ranch sits on 5,200 acres just off US Highway 40 between Tabernash and Granby. It is a year-round playground offering over 100 km of groomed trails for cross country skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, tubing, sleigh rides and other winter outdoor activities as well as mountain biking, hiking, horseback riding, Frisbee golf, zip line, climbing wall, tubing and other summer activities.

One of the best groomed Nordic Centers in the country, you can cross country ski from mid-November until mid-April with terrain accommodating first time beginners in loops around the Nordic Center to more challenging terrain suitable for even Olympic racers. And be sure to ski with your dog on the dog loops next to the Center and out to the campgrounds.

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 gear and apparel for sale as well as snowshoe gear. To re-energize, visit the Skinny Ski Café opening about Thanksgiving and enjoy a light snack or warm up with a bowl of soup and a sandwich.



A simple one year membership for $250 applies to either individuals OR families and includes cross country skiing, sledding, winter tubing, ice skating, swimming pool and Kiva activities like basketball and roller skating beside all the summer activities. You can rent cross country ski equipment and snowshoes, sleds, tubes or ice skates but the activities are included. And you get discounts on lodging.

“One of the best groomed Nordic Centers in the country, you can cross country ski from mid-November until mid-April with terrain accommodating first time beginners in loops around the Nordic Center to more challenging terrain suitable for even Olympic racers.”

Regular trail fees are $20 per day with a $15 fee for Grand Nordic members. Reduced rates apply for kids and seniors. The joint Nordic pass with Devil’s Thumb includes only cross country skiing for $300 obtained through Devils Thumb. Ask the Y about seasonal rentals on skis/boots/poles packages and the Trade up Program for rentals for younger children or about the Learn to Ski package including trail pass, equipment rental and group lesson. Call 970-887-2152 X 4173.



Snow Mountain Ranch is already open with great skiing on over 50k with some rolled and some tracked trails. Every Wednesday is a free ski day for locals. Snow Mountain Ranch has moonlight ski evenings to be announced. The annual Classic Race is scheduled for Jan 3.

The last of the series of free ski lessons offered by Grand Nordic including free equipment and trail pass for all Nordic Club members is offered Jan 4. Jan 10-12 is the Colorado Mountain Mushers Dog Sled Races while the National Ski for Light returns Jan 26-31. The Grand Nordic RANCH2RANCH TREK runs from Granby Ranch, over the Fraser to Granby Trail and ends at the YMCA on Feb 7.

Other YMCA events like snowshoe races and the Sons of Norway Barnelopet for kids are scheduled in February with regular waxing clinics every week or two starting in December. The season winds down with the famed Snow Mountain Stampede, now a weekend event on March 7-8. Check out the new YMCA website at http://www.ymcarockies.org/nordic-center/nordic-center-races-and-events for details or to sign up for any events.

Colorado Biathlon hails Snow Mountain Ranch as their home venue. Rifle certification clinics are held every fall and winter. Check http://www.colorado.biathlon.org/schedule or call YMCA Nordic Center 970-887-2152×4173 for more information. The next race is Dec. 6. Come out to see the action and learn about biathlon. Volunteers are always needed and receive a free trail pass for the day.

The free kids program starts Jan 9 with both Friday and Sunday afternoons at 1 p.m. for kids 5-15 and runs every weekend in January and February ending with a Nordic Festival on Feb. 27 and March 1.

Visit the Grand Nordic website for more information or to register for the Ranch2Ranch Trek http://www.grandnordic.org or call Diana Lynn Rau at 970-887-0547.


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