Colorado Winter Hiking Guide

For winter hiking, Colorado is among the first states that come to mind. Perhaps the late musical artist John Denver merits some credit for his tunes, such as 1972's "Rocky Mountain High: Colorado." But John Denver or no John Denver, Colorado mainly ranks high for cold weather winter hiking because of an excellent system of national and state parks.

Safety comes first among participants in winter hikes, in Colorado or elsewhere. As much as we may desire to achieve our Rocky Mountain High at a high level of altitude, lower altitudes will help to keep us out of the deep stuff. Also, Colorado hiking enthusiasts inform us that the western slopes for Rocky Mountain hiking have deeper snow and are more prone to avalanches, while the eastern slopes are more easily traversed.

Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park is an outstanding venue for cold weather winter hikes. Park rangers are available to review snow conditions and hazards. Following is a list of suggested winter hiking trails within Rocky Mountain National Park, with distances listed one way.

-- Upper Beaver Meadows, 8,300 feet above sea level, 1.5 miles, elevation gain of 140 feet. This an excellent Colorado winter hiking trail for beginners who will decide if they really enjoy winter hiking. Head for Upper Beaver Meadows Road. There's a good chance you'll see some elk, bedded down among trees. Rating: Easy.

-- The Pool, 8,280 feet above sea level, 2.5 miles, elevation gain 200 feet. Go to Fern Lake Trailhead. Rating: Easy, plus we get to view frozen waterfalls.

-- Cub Lake, 8,600 feet above sea level, 2.3 miles, elevation gain 540 feet. Beautiful pine and aspen. Snow often becomes deeper near the midway point. This trail can be combined with The Pool for a longer excursion. Rating: Moderate.

-- Chasm Falls, 8,960 feet above sea level, 2.5 miles, elevation gain 400 feet. Take Highway 34 into Horseshoe Park. You'll observe cabins that were occupied by prison laborers near the start of the past century. Don't hike too close to the ice formations. Rating: Moderate.

-- Gem Lake, 8,800 feet above sea level, 1.8 miles, elevation gain 910 feet. Head for MacGregor Ranch. The granite you'll see is estimated at 1.8 billion years old, so yeah, it has a weathered look. Keep a lookout for Paul Bunyan's Boot, described as "a curious balanced rock." Rating: Difficult.

-- Deer Mountain. Now we're really getting up there, at 10,013 feet above sea level, for this 3-mile Colorado winter hike with an elevation gain of 1,075 feet. Take Highway 36 to Deer Ridge Junction. You'll get a great view of the Continental Divide, but you'll have to earn it. Ask t he park ranger if you'll need snowshoes. Rating: Strenuous.

Aside from Rocky Mountain National Park, Lost Creek Wilderness also is recommended. It's not quite as scenic, but usually is warmer because of natural protection from harsh winds. The location is in Kenosha Pass, about 65 miles south of Denver along U.S. 285.

Remember, frostbite isn't always painful at first. The first warning sign is a tingling feeling that becomes numb. Always, always carry a cell phone.

Sure, it's cold out there, but think of this: No bugs!

SOURCES

http://gorp.away.com/gorp/resource/us_national_park/co/hik2_rm.htm

http://www.backpacker.com/february_1999_destinations_winter_hiking_for_beginners/destinations/718