L-R: Wolf Creek Ski Area; John Trousdale, Durango Mountain Resort
A three-day weekend is a precious and rare commodity. With Martin Luther King weekend just around the corner, we have some fun ideas to spark your imagination about a different part of Colorado than you might typically consider.
Durango, Colorado, is nestled in the Southwest corner of the state and is home to Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort. Purgatory has 1,360 skiable acres to explore with plenty of eateries to refuel after a long day of fun. Move over San Francisco, Durango happens to boast the highest number of restaurants per capita than any city in the nation. In addition to the skiing, here are other fun winter activities:
-Winterfest at Purgatory January 17-20, is where you find snow activities for every taste. Ice climbing, a 14-foot jump onto a 50×50 air bag, Alpenglow Snowshoe Tours and more. Details here.
-Backcountry skiing, anyone? San Juan Untracked offers advanced and expert riders snowcat access to more than 35,000 acres of backcountry terrain.
-If you are looking for another way to explore the beautiful San Juan Mountains, how about dogsledding? Durango Dog Ranch offers hour-long, canine powered adventures for the whole family.
Another pocket of SW Colorado goodness is Wolf Creek Ski Area. Just 23 miles outside Pagosa Springs – named one of National Geographic’s Best Secret Ski Towns – it is a winter haven for adventure and adrenalin. With an ample 1,600 acres of terrain located in one of the snowiest areas of Colorado, Wolf Creek has the snow, terrain and nearby hot springs to turn your legs to quiver-like jello and help you relax.