Skiing is one sporting activity that everyone looks forward to during the winters.
In the USA, Colorado is considered a snow-sure state.
Here are the best kept secret skiing resorts of Colorado that ski-lovers can explore this winter:
San Juan Mountains
San Juan is a range of the rugged Rockies of the Colorado that is sparsely populated and a lesser known ski resort in the region. The slopes here are uncluttered and the lift queues are not crowded. It boasts of the highest concentration of peaks above the range of 14,000 ft. in North America. Every season it provides ski lovers with fresh, untouched powder snow considered the best thing for skiing.
Durango
The next stop is the Durango Mountain Resort situated in Durango. It has spectacular views of the valleys below and is a good place to get acclimatized to altitudes. The McMillan peak is the best peak for the powder hounds. Another favorite spot in this resort is the Graysill Mountain. Both these peaks are for those skiers who love tackling the winding moonscapes.
Silverton
Just an hour’s drive from Durango is Silverton, which is an expert-only ski resort. The runs are very steep, at least degrees and un-groomed. The ski lifts are perched atop at 3700m, without safety bars and swing like a pendulum. You are allowed up the peak only if accompanied by a guide especially during the avalanche season in February. It qualifies as a perfect place for extreme skiing. Professional skier Shawn White is said to have trained here secretly for the Winter Olympics of 2010. A visit to this one street town and the historic Teller House Hotel will complete the tour to this hardcore skiing resort.
Telluride
A two-hour ride through windy, hair-pin bends, scenic frozen waterfalls and sheer drops brings you to Telluride, America’s favorite celeb winter hotspot. The peaks can be reached by a lift or through fantastic hikes. Palmyra peak is the perched just over 4000m and is a difficult one to hike to. This ski resort is a great one if you are looking at a place to slip into oblivion and not be bothered by crowds.
Monarch
A further 2 hour ride from Telluride lands you at Monarch, a small scale, affordable, family resort. This houses the Gunbarrel, the oldest ski run in Colorado. It has ski runs for both the amateur and the expert skiers. Naturally carved drops, hits and tight-tree skiing are some of the main attractions of this site. The Mirkwood Basin is considered the extreme sports kind of terrain and has hotels and resorts nearby for those coming only for that purpose.
