Karin Prescott and her dog, Ellie, glide up the recreation path on Vail Pass.
Cross-country skiing is always a warm, aerobic alternative to downhill, but how do you know where to take your skinny skis in Vail? Luckily, the valley is home to three Nordic centers – in Vail, Beaver Creek and Cordillera. However, sometimes it’s nice to get out of the tracks and explore.
We’ve come up with a few options for free places to recreate on skinny skis:
- Vail Pass recreation path from East Vail:
Take the East Vail exit from Interstate 70 and drive East on Bighorn Road until it ends. Park and go under the highway. Needless to say, the recreation path is under about four feet of snow, but you’ll notice many cross-country ski tracks. The outgoing pitch is a gradual uphill workout and the return trip can be either a swift glide with new snow or a speed track on hard-packed conditions.
- Davos Trail in West Vail
Take the West Vail exit and go north on Chamonix Road, take a left at the stop sign and a right on Davos. Park in the cul-de-sac. This route is best on new snow days, as it’s a bit steep for the first two miles and can be a little fast for skinny skis on the descent if it gets too snow-packed. At the radio tower at the end of the trail, you’ll catch breathtaking views of the entire valley.
- Red Sandstone Road
Take the main Vail exit to the North Frontage Road and travel West. Take a right on Red Sandstone and drive up the switchbacks until you reach the gate, where you can park. This road, which leads to Piney Lake in the dry months, is closed to car traffic in the winter. It’s also groomed sometimes and can be a great place to classic OR skate ski.
- Lake Creek in Edwards:
Take the Edwards exit from I-70 and travel south into town. Take a right on Highway 6 and a left on Lake Creek Road and travel about three miles, staying right as the road splits onto W. Lake Creek Road. The trailhead is on your right. You might want to walk your skis up the first steep pitch of the trail, but then it flattens out and becomes a forested, gradual uphill glide.
- Camp Hale
Yes, this was the training grounds for the 10th Mountain Division, and remnants of the camp makes for fascinating scenery as you glide through the flat expanse of shelters and roads, many of which are groomed and perfect for skate-skiing. Take the Minturn Exit from I-70, travel through Minturn and continue up Battle Mountain about 12 miles until you see Camp Hale on your left.
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