Winter Sports
The White River National Forest offers spectacular winter recreation opportunities such as skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and sledding.
Cross-country winter travel by snowmobile is allowed in many areas, some areas of the forest are closed to snowmobiles to protect sensitive wildlife & Wilderness areas. View the Winter Motor Vehicle Use Map to see maps of all open trails/areas and open dates.
Be Prepared:
Each year people get hurt or even die in the backcountry by not being prepared! Plan ahead and learn tips, techniques and strategies for avoiding winter hazards here: Winter & Backcountry Recreation Safety.
Additional trailhead parking and winter safety information is available from Summit County.
Please be aware that each downhill skiing and snowboarding winter recreation area has unique ski area uphill policies.
Skiing/Snowboarding
Plan ahead and learn tips, techniques and strategies for avoiding winter hazards. Review our Winter & Backcountry Recreation Safety page for more tips.
Please be aware that each downhill skiing and snowboarding winter recreation area has unique ski area uphill policies.
- Arapahoe Basin Ski Area
- Aspen Highlands Ski Area
- Aspen Mountain Ski Area
- Beaver Creek Ski Resort
- Breckenridge Ski Resort
- Buttermilk Ski Area
- Copper Mountain Ski Area
- Green Mountain/Heeney Area
- Keystone Ski Area
- Snowmass Ski Area
- Sunlight Mountain Resort
- Vail Ski Area
- Vail Pass Winter Recreation Area
Sledding/Tubing
Sledding/Tubing opportunities on the White River National Forest.
Snowmobiling
The lists below are just a sampling of the trails and areas that are open to snowmobiless. Cross-country winter travel by snowmobile is allowed in many areas, provided that the snowmobile is operated on snow.
Certain areas of the National Forest are closed to snowmobiles to allow for “quiet use” or to protect sensitive wildlife. To see maps of all open trails, areas, and open dates see the Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUMs) for the districts you are interested in. You will want to look at the Winter MVUMs.
Each year people get hurt or even die in the backcountry by not being prepared! Plan ahead and learn tips, techniques and strategies for avoiding winter hazards. Review our Winter & Backcountry Recreation Safety page for more tips.
Blanco Ranger District (East of Meeker, CO)
- Flat Tops NW
- Rio Blanco County Road 10, South Fork Road
- Ripple Creek Pass
- East Beaver / Sleepy Cat Road #250
- Morapos Trailhead
- Pagoda #1804
- Breckenridge Area
- Georgia Pass Road (South Fork Swan) TH #355
- Middle Fork Road (Swan River) TH #6
- North Fork Road (Swan River) TH #354
- Frisco Area
- Green Mountain/Heeney Area
- Spring Creek Area
- Keystone Area
- Deer Creek Road TH #5
- Saints John Road TH #275
- Webster Pass Road TH #285
Eagle-Holy Cross Ranger District (Vail-Eagle area)
- Eagle Area
- Crooked Creek Pass / Sylvan Lake
- Yeoman Park - Fulford Area
- SE Flat Tops Area
- Coffee Pot - Deep Lake Area
- Vail Area
- Homestake Road TH #703 (winter)
- Meadow Mountain TH #2124
- Red Sandstone Rd - Muddy Pass/Moniger Rd TH #700
- Tigiwon Road TH #707 (winter)
- Vail Pass Winter Recreation Area
- East & West Divide Creek Area
- Lower Clinetop Road (Forest Road # 603)
- Upper Clinetop Road (Forest Road # 603)
- Rifle Area
- Red Elephant Point Road #211.2A
- SW/Central Flat Tops Area
- Bar H-L Road (Forest Road #211)
- Buford-New Castle Road (Forest Road-245)
- West Elk Trailhead
XC Skiing/Snowshoeing
XC Skiing/Snowshoeing opportunities on the White River National Forest.
Blanco Ranger District (East of Meeker, CO)
- Breckenridge Area
- Bakers Tank Trailhead #40
- Boreas Pass Road TH #10
- Breckenridge Nordic Center Day Use Area
- Burro #80
- Crystal Lakes Road TH #44
- Georgia Pass Road (South Fork Swan) TH #355
- Gold Hill TH #79
- Indiana Creek Road TH #593
- McCullough Gulch TH #43
- Middle Fork Road (Swan River) TH #6
- North Fork Road (Swan River) TH #354
- Pennsylvania Creek Road TH #611
- Quandary Peak TH #47
- Spruce Creek (Mohawk Lakes) #58
- Spruce Creek Road #800
- Wheeler National Recreation TH #39
- Frisco Area
- Corral Creek #41
- Frisco Nordic Center
- Gore Range TH #60
- Mayflower Gulch TH #1178
- Meadow Creek TH #33
- Miner's Creek Road TH #1000
- Miners Creek TH #38
- Mount Royal/Masontown TH #1
- North Tenmile TH #37
- Old Dillon Reservoir TH #87
- Peaks TH #45
- Summit County Rec Path
- Wheeler Lakes -Gore Range TH #60
- Wilder Gulch TH #75
- Green Mountain/Heeney Area
- Keystone Area
- Silverthorne Area
Eagle-Holy Cross Ranger District (Vail-Eagle area)
- Eagle Area
- SE Flat Tops Area
- Vail Area
- Beaver Creek Ski Resort
- Buck Creek #2106
- Eiseman (winter)
- Gore Lake #2015.1A
- Grouse Lake TH #2127
- Homestake Road TH #703 (winter)
- Martin Creek TH #2128
- Meadow Mountain TH #2124
- Middle Creek Road #719 (winter)
- Mitchell Creek Loop TH (winter)
- No Name Road TH #705 (winter)
- Paulie's Plunge / Stone Creek TH #2349
- Piney Guard Station
- Red Sandstone Rd - Muddy Pass/Moniger Rd TH #700
- Tigiwon Road TH #707 (winter)
- Vail Pass Winter Recreation Area
- Vail Pass/Tenmile Canyon National Recreation
- Vail Ski Resort
- West Grouse Creek TH #2129
Search for Winter Sports Opportunities
Quandary Peak TH #47
Red Elephant Point Road #211.2A
Red Sandstone Rd - Muddy Pass/Moniger Rd TH #700
Redstone Area
Rifle Area
Rifle Ranger District
Rio Blanco County Road 10, South Fork Road
Ripple Creek Pass
Rock Creek Road #1350
Saints John Road TH #275