Where to ride in CO around New Years with the wife?

[LS1NOVA]

We will be staying in Golden with friends. Looking for riding for the two of us. Mostly trail and jumping off now and then to keep both of us happy. Play areas close to the trail. Kremling??
Thanks for any advice.

 

[Ski-Laxn]

Your best bet would be Grand Lake if you need to rent or if your bringing your own. Last year the riding there was incredible at that time of year.

 

[AndrettiDog]

It can be crowded, but Vail Pass is probably your best bet. It is 1/8 mile off of I-70 and plenty of play areas while following the groomed trail. Even though it can be crowded, there is plenty of riding area. The parking lot is the crowded part, so get there early.

 

[PJ-Hunter]

Sorry Bug! I have to disagree. If he wants easy riding with halfway decent play areas Grand Lake is the place for him. Miles and miles of groomed trails and the crowds won't be nearly as bad as VP. Plus GL has a really good show at midnight. and you can drive your sled around town.

VP is 20 yards off of I70 and is gonna be slammed with sledders, skiers, hybrids and snowshoers. No offense but VP is not a good choice for that weekend. IMO.

 

[sleddin pete]

Grand Lake is a good choice and I second that PJ.
Heard they also have a nice fireworks show.
Miles and miles of well groomed trails and play areas.
Sledding from your door at the hotel/motels.
You can ride downtown on a sled or walk to dinner(get there early it's the off season)People are sled friendly
Lot's of places rent sleds
Spirit Lake Polaris is right in town,and on the trail and have new Poo sleds every year.If you want another brand of sled try On the Trail or one of the other rental companies.
Pete

 

[PJ-Hunter]

^^^^ And that is coming from a guy who always rides on VP.

 

[tudizzle]

Grand lake for new years is supposed to be a good time..with the fireworks at night and the good mix of trail/off trail riding to keep you and the Mrs's happy.

 

[mtnsledr]

Grand Lake, It's hard to beat the variety of riding available there. (same reason the magazines test there each year)

 

[Hammertime]

One more for Grand Lake good place to do the riding your looking for. Enjoy!

 

[AndrettiDog]

Sorry Bug! I have to disagree. If he wants easy riding with halfway decent play areas Grand Lake is the place for him. Miles and miles of groomed trails and the crowds won't be nearly as bad as VP. Plus GL has a really good show at midnight. and you can drive your sled around town.

VP is 20 yards off of I70 and is gonna be slammed with sledders, skiers, hybrids and snowshoers. No offense but VP is not a good choice for that weekend. IMO.

I agree with the crowds, that's why I said get there early. I wasn't sure how easy Grand Lake would be since I don't ride there. I avoid VP during the weekends until around April. Then I ride it until June. I was just thinking about how easy it would be for him to find and that there is a lot of terrain.

 

[stingray719]

You guys must ride a different Grand Lake than I went to. Horrible chopped up trails, I for one will never pull that far to ride trails that rough.

Vail Pass or Cottonwood for me, or if I feel like a long trip NOTHING beats Grand Mesa.

My opinion and ya know what they say about opinions.

 

[Engine Pro 5x]

Grand Lake gets my vote too. Go see Jim at on the trail rentals as he's got a fleet of 010s that'll suit your needs. And if you intend to rent a sled be sure and call in advance as I've seen his entire fleet rented over the holidays !! >>>>.

 

[AZ800]

Depends...are you renting? Do you want amenities and acommodations nearby?
New Years is fun in Grand Lake, riding is good, but have to put a few miles on teh sleds to get away from "rental loop". Then the riding's good.
If you're looking for backcountry with noone bothering you and vast untouched snow, play areas everywhere right off trail, make the extra drive to Grand Mesa. Don't think you can rent good sleds up there, but there's a couple places to stay (sparce accomodations though) right on the hill. Can ride in to Electric Mountain Lodge. I think that's what we're doing for New Years this year.
If you're just looking for good snow and riding, can trailer your machines and don't care if you have to trailer up from the nearest town, then your options are endless. Wait until the snow gets good and pick the spot with the deepest snow. Rabbit Ears, Flattops, Vail Pass, Cottonwood Pass, etc, etc.
IMO Grand Mesa and the Flattops have the most play areas that are right off the trail and not touched.

 

[tudizzle]

You guys must ride a different Grand Lake than I went to. Horrible chopped up trails, I for one will never pull that far to ride trails that rough.

Vail Pass or Cottonwood for me, or if I feel like a long trip NOTHING beats Grand Mesa.

My opinion and ya know what they say about opinions.

He is not looking for the best place to ride...he is looking for the best place to ride..with his wife..on New Years...coming out of Golden. The three places you mention wouldn't even make it in the top ten if you were picking the best places in CO nor would Grand Lake. But for a New Years experience on sleds with the wife...Grand Lake would be a great place to go.

ok maybe the Mesa would be in the top ten

 

[AndrettiDog]

ok maybe the Mesa would be in the top ten

you just opened a can of worms.

 

[LS1NOVA]

Thanks for the advice guys.

We will be towing out from MN bringing our own sleds. 05 M7 and the wifes ZL. I like the boondocking but the wifes sled only has a 121 1.25 so not going to far off the trail.

Probably go with Grand Lake.

 

[stingray719]

He is not looking for the best place to ride...he is looking for the best place to ride..with his wife..on New Years...coming out of Golden. The three places you mention wouldn't even make it in the top ten if you were picking the best places in CO nor would Grand Lake. But for a New Years experience on sleds with the wife...Grand Lake would be a great place to go.

ok maybe the Mesa would be in the top ten

LOL! Everybody has thier opinions eh? I went to Grand Lake because of a magazine article calling it one of the best, yet I thought it a waste of time. Some even like Tiger Road in Breck. I guess it's ok if you like flat road riding shared with dog sleds (I stopped and a dog sled ran into me...lol).

Or Ophir creek where 116 tracks can climb anywhere. Some people like that, although we just go there with new riders.

I have ridden most of Idaho, and as much of Colorado as I like and I gotta say for my money only West Yellowstone beats Grand Mesa with all the diverse areas and types of riding. Maybe you didn't go far enough on your Mesa trip to see all of the hundreds of miles of roads, trails, and boondocking? Anyways, it is in fact just an opinion?

 

[tudizzle]

I hear ya on the riding styles. I have been riding a long time, but do not enjoy extreme riding. Maybe too old but destroying a sled doesn't appeal to me.

My main sled is a 1999 ZRT 800 with 900 kit on it. I don't weigh much so it goes anywhere my 700 RMK does. Used to go mostly Vail, Cottonwood pass and Ophir Creek.

Thanks!

Bill

Oh Bill...

 

[stingray719]

tudizzle you will have to spell out what you are inferring.

 

[cologgerdaughter]

Girls aren't allowed, my dad never let me go! Actually I went once and got stuck, and never went again!!