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Cross Country Skiing
Colorado Snowshoeing and Cross-Country Skiing in Salida Colorado and Buena Vista Colorado
Snowshoeing & X-C Skiing. Snow bends the branches of pine trees lining the trail. Your skis swoosh across the winter quiet. A dome of brilliant blue sky arches above Taylor Mountain. You might strap on snowshoes, to try "winter hiking" for the first time, and startle a deer as you bound up Foose's Creek Trail.
Colorado's Central Peaks Region boasts trails that will accommodate beginner and advanced cross-country skiers, snowshoers, and snowmobilers. Backcountry travel amid the region's 14ers offers winter sports fans a chance to enjoy some of Colorado's most pristine beauty.
Snowmobiles are excluded from wilderness areas. Check with the forest service before going into unfamiliar territory. Most of the trails you will find are marked with diamond signs by the forest service-blue diamonds designating ski and snowshoe use and orange diamonds for snowmobile use.
If you don't have a set of back-country skis or snowshoes, there are many places in Chaffee County that will sell or rent you a pair. Businesses that sell and rent back-country equipment are The Trailhead in Buena Vista and Headwaters Outdoor Equipment, Mountain Sports Haus, Wilderness Ski Shop, and Mt. Shavano Ski & Snowboard Rental in the Salida area. These businesses also sell topo maps and trail guides that can show you all the best trails.
As with all outdoor winter sports, enthusiasts must pay special attention to weather conditions and avalanche hazards. A simple phone call to the forest service can update you on where it's safe to go and where it's not. Also, just because it's cold out doesn't mean you can't get dehydrated. Back-country skiing can drain your energy as much as hiking. Be prepared with extra clothes, water, and food.
Cross Country Skiing
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