{"id":4792,"date":"2024-01-16T21:22:51","date_gmt":"2024-01-16T21:22:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/?p=4792"},"modified":"2025-10-31T09:52:38","modified_gmt":"2025-10-31T15:52:38","slug":"best-snowshoeing-near-denver","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/blog\/best-snowshoeing-near-denver\/","title":{"rendered":"Snowshoeing Near Denver: Winter Park, Grand Lake &#038; Beyond"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" data-id=\"4793\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/colorado-snowshoe-trails-sign.jpeg\" alt=\"A sign that says snowshoe trails.\" class=\"wp-image-4793\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/colorado-snowshoe-trails-sign.jpeg 1200w, https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/colorado-snowshoe-trails-sign-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/colorado-snowshoe-trails-sign-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/colorado-snowshoe-trails-sign-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/colorado-snowshoe-trails-sign-800x533.jpeg 800w, https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/colorado-snowshoe-trails-sign-600x400.jpeg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Only 90 minutes from Denver, Grand County is known for having some of the best snowshoeing in Colorado. From groomed Nordic Centers to untouched, high-elevation trails in our abundant <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/places-to-go\/explore-wilderness-areas-trails\/\">wilderness areas<\/a>, there are so many places to explore on a pair of sturdy snowshoes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#safety\">If you\u2019re snowshoeing in the backcountry, check out these backcountry safety tips<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best Snowshoeing Near Denver<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#winter-park\">Winter Park Snowshoeing<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#grand-lake\">Grand Lake Snowshoeing<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#tabernash-granby\">Tabernash\/Granby Snowshoeing<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<a class=\"button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/things-to-do\/xc-skiing-snowshoeing\/#rentals\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Snowshoe Rentals<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"winter-park\">Winter Park Snowshoeing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Home to the legendary backcountry trails of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/places-to-go\/mountains-vistas\/berthoud-pass\/\">Berthoud Pass<\/a>, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/vendors\/winter-park-resort\/\">world-renowned ski resort<\/a> and plenty of riverside paths, snowshoeing spots are easy to find in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/winter-park\/\">Winter Park<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fraser River Trail<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Difficulty<\/strong>: Easy<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beginning in Winter Park and ending in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/fraser\/\">Fraser<\/a>, the Fraser River Trail is ideal for a snowshoe-clad stroll along the icy river. Running parallel to US 40, this route treats you to frosty views of the surrounding summits and maybe even deer, beaver or moose spottings. To make a whole day of your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/places-to-go\/lakes-rivers\/fraser-river\/\">Fraser River<\/a> snowshoe adventure, make some stops along the way. Pop into <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/places-to-go\/history-museums\/cozens-ranch-museum-and-stage-shop\/\">Cozens Ranch Museum &amp; Stage Shop<\/a> to learn a little bit about the region\u2019s ranching history. Or snag a seat by the bar at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/vendors\/hideaway-park-brewery-2\/\">Hideaway Park Brewery<\/a> to sip a bubbly local pint. And if you\u2019re looking for a shorter, one-way trip, grab your gear and hop on the shuttle bus at the Safeway in Fraser to get taxied back to where you began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Jim Creek Trail<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Difficulty<\/strong>: Moderate<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.alltrails.com\/trail\/us\/colorado\/jim-creek\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Jim Creek Trail<\/a> is a peaceful, 8-mile snowshoe route accessed right from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/vendors\/winter-park-resort\/\">Winter Park Resort<\/a>. This hike boasts a gradual incline and 1,473 feet of elevation gain, winding through fluffy, snow-blanketed pine forests. While the trail is open year-round, in winter it\u2019s the perfect path to take in the quiet beauty of the crystal-covered Rockies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Berthoud Pass<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Difficulty<\/strong>: Difficult<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For a vertical challenge with a big payoff, head to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/places-to-go\/mountains-vistas\/berthoud-pass\/\">Berthoud Pass<\/a>. Any trek along this high-mountain pass is sure to amaze, with white-capped panoramic views of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/places-to-go\/mountains-vistas\/continental-divide\/\">Continental Divide<\/a>. The <a href=\"https:\/\/trails.colorado.gov\/trails\/mount-flora-15916\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mount Flora Trail<\/a> is approximately 6.3 miles out and back, so layer up and head out early to maximize your daylight. Be ready for some wind as you ascend this peak all the way to icy Ethel Lake. For an overnight adventure, take the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fs.usda.gov\/recarea\/arp\/recreation\/recarea\/?recid=83379&amp;actid=91\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Second Creek Trail<\/a> up to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/vendors\/the-broome-hut\/\">The Broome Hut<\/a>, a reservable backcountry shelter only accessed via snowshoe or ski in winter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Note: <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/avalanche.state.co.us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Check Berthoud Pass snowpack conditions<\/em><\/a><em> before you head out and always err on the side of caution when exploring the backcountry.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/snowshoeing-near-denver-1024x683.jpeg\" alt=\"Two people snowshoeing near Denver\" class=\"wp-image-4795\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/snowshoeing-near-denver-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/snowshoeing-near-denver-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/snowshoeing-near-denver-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/snowshoeing-near-denver-800x533.jpeg 800w, https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/snowshoeing-near-denver-600x400.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/snowshoeing-near-denver.jpeg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"grand-lake\">Grand Lake Snowshoeing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>With an incredible Nordic Center, massive bodies of water that freeze over each winter and stunning views of Rocky Mountain National Park visible right from town, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/grand-lake\/\">Grand Lake<\/a> is a dazzling place to explore by snowshoe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Grand Lake Nordic Center<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Difficulty<\/strong>: Easy to Difficult<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Surrounded by the snowcapped peaks of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/rocky-mountain-national-park\/\">Rocky Mountain National Park<\/a> and Arapaho National Forest, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/vendors\/grand-lake-nordic-center\/\">Grand Lake Nordic Center<\/a> is a true winter wonderland for snowshoers. Explore more than 35 kilometers of trails catering to all skill levels. Discover dedicated snowshoe paths, a dog loop and even a kid&#8217;s tubing hill. Beginners can stop by, rent some snowshoes (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/things-to-do\/xc-skiing-snowshoeing\/\">or cross-country skis<\/a>!) and spend the day traversing the sparkling snow. Afterward, sit in a cozy chair and unwind with a steaming hot cocoa at the lodge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Adams Falls<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Difficulty<\/strong>: Easy<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the most popular hikes on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/places-to-go\/mountains-vistas\/adams-falls\/\">Adams Falls<\/a>. This easy trek to the towering waterfall begins right at the edge of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/grand-lake\">Grand Lake<\/a>, five minutes from downtown. In the winter, it turns into a quiet path, perfect for stepping in some snowshoes and crunching up to the viewpoint. Plus, with less tree coverage, the overlooks along the trail open up. That means you can spy on the frozen-over <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/places-to-go\/lakes-rivers\/the-grand-lake\/\">Grand Lake<\/a>, where you\u2019ll probably spot some ice skaters gliding across the surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"tabernash-granby\">Tabernash\/Granby Snowshoeing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Neighboring towns, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/granby\/\">Granby<\/a> and Tabernash are home to two epic Nordic Centers and plenty of public trails worth exploring on your snowshoes. Whether you want to pair your trek with an overnight stay at a local dude ranch, or you\u2019re looking for a quicker trip, this is a great area to check out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Snow Mountain Ranch\/YMCA of the Rockies Nordic Center<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Difficulty<\/strong>: Easy to Difficult<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/vendors\/snow-mountain-ranch-ymca-of-the-rockies-2\/\">Snow Mountain Ranch\/YMCA of the Rockies<\/a>, the family-friendly Nordic Center will help you craft an unforgettable <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/articles\/a-winter-weekend-of-adventure-in-grand-county\/\">winter weekend<\/a>. Featuring more than 80 kilometers of piney forest trails, wide-open snowy meadows and riverside routes, you will definitely need more than one day to see it all. Bringing a pup along for the fun? Nearly half the trails are pet friendly, so Fido can race alongside you as you pad through the crunchy snow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Devil\u2019s Thumb Ranch Nordic Center<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Difficulty<\/strong>: Easy to Moderate<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Discover the winter charm of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/vendors\/devils-thumb-ranch-resort-spa\/\">Devil&#8217;s Thumb Ranch Nordic Center<\/a> in Tabernash. With more than 6,500 acres of frosty landscapes, this center is the perfect setting for a snowshoeing adventure. Their well-marked snowshoe trails have everything from leisurely strolls through open meadows to steep, energetic romps in the woods. Rentals are available, so you can easily gear up, breathe in the crisp mountain air and immerse yourself in the enchanting landscapes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Monarch Lake Loop<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Difficulty<\/strong>: Easy<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In summer, Monarch Lake is a hub for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/things-to-do\/water-sports\/\">boating and water sports<\/a>, but when the weather cools down, it transforms into a serene, snowy destination. Explore the winter beauty of Monarch Lake Loop, ideal for an easy but stunning snowshoe excursion in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/granby\/\">Granby<\/a>. This 4-mile, leashed-dog-friendly trail winds through shaded forests, crosses cool creeks and follows the lake&#8217;s frozen shoreline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/snowshoes-ski-rentals.jpeg\" alt=\"Snowshoes and cross-country skis hanging on a wooden rack in a ski shop.\" class=\"wp-image-4752\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/snowshoes-ski-rentals.jpeg 1200w, https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/snowshoes-ski-rentals-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/snowshoes-ski-rentals-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/snowshoes-ski-rentals-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/snowshoes-ski-rentals-800x533.jpeg 800w, https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/snowshoes-ski-rentals-600x400.jpeg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"safety\">Colorado Snowshoeing Safety<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Learn about backcountry safety before embarking on your adventure. Check snowpack conditions ahead of time and always bring proper gear. See these resources for more information:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/avalanche.state.co.us\/?\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Berthoud Pass Snowpack Conditions<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/avalanche.state.co.us\/basic-avalanche-safety-info\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Backcountry Safety Guide<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/avtraining.org\/upcoming-public-avalanche-training-courses\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Avalanche Safety Courses<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/avtraining.org\/resources\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Avalanche Safety Resources<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Get More Grand County Trip Inspiration<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>Looking for even more <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/things-to-do\/winter\/\">things to do this winter in Grand County<\/a>? Check out these resources:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/articles\/ski-shops-winter-park\/\">Get all the gear you need at these Winter Park ski rentals<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/things-to-do\/xc-skiing-snowshoeing\/\">Learn all about cross-country skiing in Grand County<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/articles\/best-restaurants-in-grand-lake\/\">Get a great meal at these restaurants in Grand Lake<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/articles\/lodging-hotels-fraser-colorado\/\">Cozy up at some stunning hotels in Fraser<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Only 90 minutes from Denver, Grand County is known for having some of the best snowshoeing in Colorado. From groomed Nordic Centers to untouched, high-elevation trails in our abundant wilderness areas, there are so many places to explore on a pair of sturdy snowshoes. If you\u2019re snowshoeing in the backcountry, check out these backcountry safety [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":4793,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[88,87,86,85,56],"class_list":["post-4792","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4792","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4792"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4792\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10447,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4792\/revisions\/10447"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4793"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4792"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4792"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitgrandcounty.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4792"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}