Cross-country Skiing

Cross-country, Nordic or skateskiing – no matter what you call it, trekking is a simple way to bask in the beauty of winter in the Southwest. Bundle up and head outdoors this season to enjoy classic cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the Four Corners. Whether you prefer a groomed trail or fresh powder, this region has many scenic locations to enjoy exercising in the snow-covered countryside. Most cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trails are free and open to the public, unless associated with a ski area.

ANDREWS LAKE

Andrews Lake, located between Durango and Silverton, has diverse terrain for crosscountry skiers to explore. Though no trails are groomed, leave it to other visitors to create many paths to follow. location: On Highway 550 about a mile from Molas Pass, look for a small parking lot on the east side of the highway.

ASPEN TOWN

A 15-mile out-and-back adventure with great views, the trail passes by historic mining and town sites ending at Eureka, where you will see the ruins of Sunnyside Mill. There are switchbacks and a creek crossing at Arrastra Gulch; the creek is usually frozen. location: Access this trail from Kendall Mountain Community Center. The trail heads northeast from the road.

CHICKEN CREEK

With beautiful views of the Mancos Valley, La Plata Mountains and Mesa Verde National Park, Chicken Creek offers visitors miles of trails groomed by volunteers with machines just minutes from Mancos, Colorado. This summer, the Forest Service and Southwest Conservation Corps added 12 more miles of terrain to explore. location: Travel north from Mancos on Highway 184, turn east on County Road 40 and what for a sign about three miles ahead. Maps of Chicken Creek and other Nordic ski areas in the Cortez, Dolores and Mancos areas are available at www. mancosvalley.com/skiing.

ECHO BASIN

With more than 30 miles of unplowed Forest Service roads, Echo Basin offers adventurers an exciting, but difficult experience. Some years, the first 12 miles of the roads are groomed. location: From Mancos go two and a half miles east on Highway160 and turn north on County Road 44. Go three miles to the Forest Service gate where there is a plowed parking lot.

VALLECITO RESERVOIR

More than nine miles of groomed trails await cross-country skiers looking for easy to moderate terrain and mountain scenery. location: Take County Road 240 east from Durango to the stop sign on Highway 501; turn left. At the reservoir, turn right, crossing over the dam to the trailhead.

HILLCREST GOLF COURSE

When the links are covered with snow, the Hillcrest Golf Course opens to the public for cross-country and skate skiing, free of charge. Enjoy a bird’s eye view of residential neighborhoods in Durango from atop Rim Drive. location: Just North of Fort Lewis College at 2300 Rim Drive in Durango

IRONTON

Nested in a fairly level valley, three to four miles of groomed trails lead past the historic ghost town of Ironton. Upon further exploration, there are more challenging miles of ungroomed, marked trails to other historic mine sites and scenic overlooks. location: 7 miles south of Ouray on Highway 550