Living in a Winter Wonderland

Gunnison County, Colorado is a bonified winter wonderland where the magic of our snow globe villages will warm your heart and toes! We call winter our “off season” because summer is our peak time for visitors at Three Rivers Resort. While we take a break from rafting, hiking and biking, we love the beauty of the winter landscapes as well. We’re having just as much outdoor fun in winter but we swap out summer gear for skis, snowshoes, ice skates and snowmobiles. Here is the winter list of favorite activities. Take your pick!

Downhill Skiing or Snowboarding:

This one is obvious and Colorado is famous for its 30+ ski areas. In Gunnison County, we have easy access to a full resort with world class runs at Crested Butte Mountain Resort(owned by giant Vail Resorts). Or take a short drive to independently-owned Monarch Mountain with all natural snow. In a good winter, tiny Cranor Hill outside of Gunnison will open for some fun and affordable beginner runs from a Poma lift.

Cross Country Skiing (also called Nordic skiing):

This is where Gunnison County really shines in winter. The Crested Butte Nordic Center is a gem with 55 km of groomed trails for classic or skate skiing. Gunnison
Nordic grooms another 45K of trails in and around Gunnison (including the golf course and Hartman Rocks). The ungroomed backcountry trails are also incredible from the road to Gothic, up Spring Creek or even out Lottis Creek way up in Taylor Canyon. If you can walk, you can Nordic ski! Grab a lesson and gear from Crested Butte Nordic Center.

Snowshoeing:

This is your winter equivalent to hiking. Bring your own shoes or rent some from locations in Gunnison or Crested Butte. With this kind of hiking, there are no “stay on the trail” rules. With enough snow, you can basically walk anywhere.

Snowmobiling:

Bring your own and use our cabins as a basecamp. Or, rent one locally, take a guided tour (recommended if not experienced) and get up close and personal in the deep snow of the higher elevations.

Ice Skating:

Both Gunnison and Crested Butte have ice rinks with skate rentals. Just check for open ice time. If you have your own, bring them and if you can hit it just right in the early winter season when it’s cold but not snowing, you can chase “wild ice” out on our many lakes.

Sledding:

Newsflash – you do NOT have to be a child to enjoy the thrill of sledding down a snow-covered hill, squealing all the way. You will find well-known sledding hills in Gunnison by Western Colorado University and in Crested Butte by the ice rink or go walk up any hill you see on public land and let it rip!

Fishing:

This IS a year-round sport, even in the mountains. We offer guided fly-fishing trips to the “C&R” which is the catch ‘n release section of the Taylor River right below the dam. Our ice fishing trips are becoming more popular every year and you may be able to land a monster out of Blue Mesa or Taylor Reservoirs.

Fat Biking:

Unwilling to give up your bike for a season? Well, Crested Butte happens to be the site of the Fat Bike World Championships.
Also, check out the Crested Butte Mountain Bike Association for information on where to go with your big, heavy fat bike! They offer some limited trail
grooming in winter.

Hot Springs:

Who doesn’t love soaking in hot water outside in the middle of winter?? Locally, you can visit Waunita Hot Springs just east of Gunnison and pay for a day pass. Call ahead to be sure they’re open to the public that day. Regionally, choose from a huge variety of hot springs within a 2+ hour radius. Check out this article about 30 Colorado Hot Springs to visit. Over half are an easy day trip from our location here in Almont!

Weekend getaway in a cozy cabin:

Well, guess who has you covered there? Three Rivers Resort IS open YEAR-ROUND! We offer the best of our cabins and vacation homes for winter guests, including some with gas fireplaces and private hot tubs overlooking the Taylor River. There is just nothing better than this for a complete UNWINDING after the holidays or a long week.