Ah, February. That special time of year when you can’t remember what it feels like to be warm outdoors and spring is still oh so far away. It’s the worst, right? At Leadville and Twin Lakes, we invite you to turn that February frown upside down and experience how amazing winter in Colorado can be (yes, even in February).
SKIING AND SNOWBOARDING
If you’re looking for an authentic, down-to-earth Colorado ski and snowboard destination, look no further than Ski Cooper. With abundant snow and fewer crowds, Ski Cooper is a fantastic place to shred with family and friends.
New to the sport? Cooper’s renowned ski school is the perfect place to learn to ski and ride. Under the direction of seasoned and certified professional Bill McGinty, Cooper’s instructors are highly qualified and incredibly friendly. You’ll feel comfortable from the word “go” and will love your time on the snow. Private lessons at group lesson pricing!
Cooper has acres of learning terrain, served by Colorado’s longest Magic Carpet conveyor lift, which is an easy way to ride up the slope. You’ll have plenty of room to get comfortable on the gentle slopes.
As your skills progress, take on some of the nation’s finest “Green Circle” easier terrain. You can practice your skills there until you graduate to our smooth intermediate “Blue Square” cruising runs. When you’ve become an advanced skier/rider you can really put your skills to the test on Cooper’s advanced “Black Diamond” slopes.
Whether it’s your first time on snow, or you’re looking to improve advanced techniques like powder or moguls, our Ski School will help you reach your goals!
You can rent ski and snowboard equipment at Cooper, including helmets.
Ages 3 and up for Ski Lessons | Ages 6 and up for Snowboard Lessons Call 719-486-2277 to book!
CROSS-COUNTRY (AKA NORDIC) SKIING
There are nearly 100 miles of groomed winter trails in Leadville and Twin Lakes where you can leave the February sufferfest behind and be one with the snow. Try cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, fatbiking, hiking, or a bit of each! All experience levels are welcome!
In case you’re a newbie, it’s good to know that cross-country skiing comes in two styles:
- In classic style, you kick and glide along a track.
- In skate skiing, you push off from each leg, creating a V-shaped pattern on the snow.
LEARN AT THE TENNESSEE PASS NORDIC CENTER
At the Tennessee Pass Nordic Center, you can learn classic and skate skiing in private or multi-person lessons. Lessons include a daily trail pass to give you plenty of time to practice and enjoy great snow and jaw-dropping scenery.
Please call 719-486-1750 at least 24 hours in advance to make reservations for lessons. Rentals from the Nordic Center are extra. For use on all area trails, rentals are also available in Leadville (see below).
CROSS-COUNTRY SKI & SNOWSHOE TRAILS
Let’s learn more about those 100 miles of trails, many with free access!
BEST FOR BEGINNERS
The Tennessee Pass Nordic Center, Mineral Belt Trail and Mt. Massive Nordic Ski and Snowshoe Trails are great for new skiers and snowshoers.
BEST FOR INTERMEDIATE AND ADVANCED
Leadville’s East Side Mining District offers amazing mountain views and some areas with steeper hills. The Mining District Trails and Turquoise Lake trails are also open for snowmobiles, so keep an eye and ear out and be ready to step off trail and wave hello!
The Leadville National Fish Hatchery has nice trails through the forest and past lakes; they are not groomed and have slightly more hill.
TWIN LAKES TRAILS
New snowshoers may also want to try the Interlaken trail near Twin Lakes or the Colorado Trail / Continental Divide Trail as it wraps around the lake shore. These trails are not groomed, so they may be more difficult for new cross-country skiers.
Other portions of the Colorado Trail / Continental Divide Trail north of Twin Lakes may be good in certain conditions, but some areas pass under avalanche terrain. They are not recommended for beginners unless you also have backcountry travel experience and avalanche training and gear. COTREX provides daily avalanche forecasts.
FATBIKING
Fatbiking is one of Leadville-Twin Lakes’ signature outdoor sports. Explore on wheels at the groomed Timberline Singletrack Trails, the East Side Mining District, Mineral Belt Trail, and Turquoise Lake Road.
Bike rentals are available at Cycles of Life in downtown Leadville and at Tennessee Pass Nordic Center, which also has fatbike trail access for a trail fee. If you also like to explore on wheels, learn more about the Leadville-Twin Lakes fatbiking scene and events on the Cloud City Wheelers website.
TRAIL ETIQUETTE
Did you know that people are asked to travel on certain parts of each winter trail depending on their activity? Doing so keeps the trail smooth and safe for all users. Here’s how to know which section to use.
WHAT PART OF THE TRAIL SHOULD YOU USE?
That depends on your mode of transportation. Follow these guidelines to keep everyone
safe and happy:
- Classic Nordic Skiers: Use ski tracks.
- Skate Skiers: The corduroy in the middle of the trail is for you.
- Fatbikers: Ride to the edge of the trail opposite the ski tracks.
- Snowshoers: Use the far side of the trail opposite the ski tracks (on the Mineral Belt Trail). In some places, you may also see snowshoe tracks just to the right of the ski tracks.
- Walkers/Hikers: Walk on the far side of the trail opposite the ski tracks, or just to the right of the ski tracks. If the snow is soft, you may “posthole,” or sink deeply into the snow leaving a post-sized hole. If that happens, please consider using snowshoes or coming back on a day when the snow is firm, to preserve the groomed surface for other users. Snowshoe rentals are also available in downtown Leadville (see below).
Please also warn other users when you come up behind them, as they may not hear you coming. Keep in mind freshly groomed trails need time to set and firm up properly before using. Nordic Pulse lets you know the time many of our trails were last groomed.
NON-SKIERS, PLEASE AVOID THE SKI TRACKS
On one side of the trail, you will see long parallel ski tracks. Those are for cross-country/Nordic skiing. If you are not skiing, please do not step on the ski tracks. Doing so creates a bumpy ride for people on skinny skis.
FOR YOUR DOG
If you are bringing a doggo, please keep your pup on a leash, for everyone’s safety. A dog could trip skiers or bikers, and a crash could injure people and pets. Please also keep them out of the classic ski tracks.
WHERE TO RENT EQUIPMENT
CROSS COUNTRY SKI RENTALS:
Alpine Ski & Sport (Leadville)
Cycles of Life (Leadville)
Leadville Outdoors (Leadville)
Leadville Ski Country (Leadville)
Tennessee Pass Nordic Center (near Ski Cooper)
SNOWSHOE RENTALS:
Alpine Ski & Sport (Leadville)
Bill’s Rentals (Leadville)
Leadville Outdoors (Leadville)
Leadville Ski Country (Leadville)
Tennessee Pass Nordic Center (near Ski Cooper)
SKI & SNOWBOARD RENTALS:
Alpine Ski & Sport (Leadville)
Bill’s Rentals (Leadville)
Leadville Ski Country (Leadville)
Ski Cooper (Ski Cooper)
ENJOY!
We’re thrilled to introduce you to what we hope will become a lifelong love of winter sports. Have a wonderful time!
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