Your world changes when you become an active outdoor parent. The days of sleeping in the car, on someone’s hotel floor or while your significant other drives all night are long gone. Once the kiddos arrive, you need to find winter getaways that can both get the two of you out there charging hard and keep the little people happy. That can be a tall order at most resorts where you need to spend a fortune to put kids in ski school and navigate a gauntlet of hotels and restaurants and elevators.
Enter the YMCA of the Rockies Snow Mountain Ranch. The property, located just north of Winter Park and backed up against the mountains, the place is exactly what the young family (or family of any age) needs. It’s like summer camp for all ages, and though it is open year round, it shines in the winter thanks to an amazing nordic center and lodging options that range from extended-family size cabins, to lodge rooms, to yurts. Don’t worry about the kids complaining that they are bored here. The list of activities is mind boggling: there’s an indoor pool, archery, ice skating, a crafts cabin, yoga, sleigh rides, horses, dog sledding, races, basketball, sauna, guided trips… or time to just chill out and enjoy the spot. Hell, it’s even dog friendly. Parents, take a deep breath and enjoy.
SKI
The big highlight of Snow Mountain Ranch is the incredible nordic trail system. It’s one of the best laid-out in Colorado, with 100 kilometers of trails stretching out over 5,200 acres. There’s something for everyone here: little loops for the family, long blasts for skate demons, lonely tracks off into the hills for introvert kick-and-gliders, dedicated trails for skijoring with your dog, snowshoe tracks, tubing and sledding. There are even three kilometers of lighted trail for those who just didn’t get enough when the sun was up. If you truly want to get your nord on (and you brought your rifle), one of the few biathlon course in the state is located here, with the Colorado Biathlon Club running a race series over the winter. The Nordic Center offers a full range of skate and classic rental options and the trails are free to anyone who is staying at the ranch. There are also a wide range of classes that can get beginners schussing or racers upping their game as well as children’s programs and waxing clinics throughout the season.
STAY
Take your pick when it comes to staying here. The most rustic option in winter comes in the form of six-person yurts ($89/night), but be warned, they are not heated. A simple step up is a room in one of the three lodges ($79-$159/night depending on date booked) on the property. The cabins may be the best way to go, however. They include two-four bedroom cabins that sleep up to 10 ($139-$349/night depending on size of cabin and date booked) and three-five bedroom vacation homes that sleep up to 12 ($239-$489 depending on size of cabin and date booked). Those with bigger needs can opt for even larger, group-only cabins. Another plus, dogs can stay in cabins for $10 per night extra.
PLAY
There are plenty of great spots to stay in a cabin and ski. The true difference here, especially for families, is the ridiculous plethora of other activities. Don’t miss the Craft Shop, where kids of all ages can engage in projects like leatherworking, tie-dyeing, and beading that would make scoutmasters proud. The Kiva Center features indoor roller skating, basketball, volleyball, ping-pong, archery, foosball and an indoor climbing wall. Of course this is a YMCA facility so there is also a heated, indoor swimming pool and sauna. Beyond, all of that there are a bevy of presentations and guided tours. All those activities and more are free when you stay at Snow Mountain Ranch, though be sure to sign up early for the more popular activities. Day visitors just need to buy a $15 wrist band to take part in the fun.
Dog Power
Got an atavistic urge? There are few experiences like riding on a dogsled and you can do just that at Snow Mountain Ranch every Thursday morning and Saturday morning with a presentation beginning at 8:30 a.m. and ride starting around 9:00 a.m. Musher and guide, Steve Peterson and his twelve Alaskan huskies give you a taste of Iditarod by pulling you on a tour around the property. In a world of so much technology and action sports, dogsledding connects you to something deeper, a beautiful bond between animal and human. Peterson’s presentation on the sport is 45 minutes long and open to anyone. The cost for a ride for YMCA members and guests is $25 for a single rider or $40 for double riders (must be from the same group or family, combined weight cannot exceed 250 pounds). For non-members and non-guests the ride costs $65 for a single rider or $120 for double riders (again, must be from the same group or family, combined weight cannot exceed 250 pounds), which includes a day pass and cost of the ride.
To book call the Snow Mountain Ranch Program Department at 970-887-2152, ext. 4135; email dogsled@ymcarockies.org
