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

Aspen / Snowmass

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

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 Run a 5k in the Snow

The 10th annual Rio Frio Ice Fest in Alamosa is a three-day festival that offers various al fresco activities including a snowman making contest, ice carving and a 5K.

Jameson Midgett / Aurum Breckenridge

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

5 Try a New Trend

Uphill skiing 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 Nordic skiers for a 2.5-mile and 3,000’+ vertical climb. Page 17

J Bar / Hotel Jerome

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

8. Polish Your Skills

Buttermilk Mountain has several terrain parks. S3 Park has 20 or so beginner- and intermediatelevel features that will test your skills. Page 27

9 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

10 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

11 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

12 Snowmobile through Grand Lake

Claiming the title of Snowmobile Capital of Colorado, the area around Grand Lake has a lot of terrain for snowmobilers, but it is also legal to ride your snowmobile right through town. Page 74

13 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

14. 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

15. 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

16 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

C2 Photography / Aspen Snowmass;

17. Discover Aspen

Read our feature story on one of the world’s most well-known ski resorts and discover a few things you may not know. Page 58

Matthew Inden / Miles

18 Scale a Frozen Cliff Face

The quaint mountain community of Ouray is home to the world’s first ice climbing 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

19 Visit the National Parks

Colorado’s four national parks offer a slew of activities in winter. From the snow-capped peaks of Rocky Mountain National Park 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

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