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

[CANNONMAN]

For what LS1NOVA is looking for Grand Lake would be perfect, but to say the Grand Mesa wouldn't even make the top 10 riding areas in CO is INSANE! It is more likely in the top 3 in CO to ride and possibly the best there is. Nothing better IMO.

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

 

[stingray719]

cannonman I agree. My brother came out from Idaho to ride Grand Mesa with me. I prefer the trails and the flat out high speed roads and my brother is a boondocker/extreme rider type so we both had a blast. Was plenty of both for us. But then again it really depends on what you like as I tried to say earlier. Everybody likes something ya know?

 

[BackCountryBob]

Grand Lake for the wife. Make your reservations NOW as they fill up very quickly. There are a number of very good restaurants with the Rapids as one of the best. Go to the Chamber web site--very sled friendly.

Depending on how much time you have you can trailer to Rabbit Ears and ride the trails/powder--only a one hour drive from GL. Get there early to get a parking space. Christmas holidays are very popular in both places.

Check out www.smowmobilcolo.com which is the Colorado Snowmobile Association web site which will have trail maps---the site is currently under reconstruction but should be available soon.

BCB

 

[wildskies.com]

Northern end of the Flat Tops and an awesome cabin rental

Our cabin is available to the public for rentals. It is uncrowded in our area b/c we are the only ones in a 30 mile radius with winter lodging and the majority of local property owners don't stay in the winter.

Our cabin can handle snowmobile groups of 12 or under (ideally 1-3 families or friends who want to go out for a 3 day trip or longer) to rent our cabin on the Northern end of the Fl at Tops (GPS coordinates are on our website: wildskies.com).

During hunting season I rent to hunters, but in the winter the snowmobile
clubs maintain over 178 miles of trails in the area not to mention the
Flat Tops Scenic Byway which isn't plowed for about 35 miles and all the
meadows and bowls off of that-which it turns our one area is a target of
the Gems Wilderness Campaign (Ripple Creek Pass). So, we have great groomed trails for those not able to go into the deep powder.

How would you guys recommend I find snowmobiling folks like you who would want to rent our cabin where you can snowmobile in and out from the front door? The local folks don't want to stay overnight-they just go home. I need to find the folks that are far enough that driving home wouldn't be a good option, but that are close enough to want to come out.

I would appreciate it if you could let me know how you decide on where to go for your snowmobiling trips and what sources you turn to for finding lodging etc.

I also would appreciate any good leads to people at snowmobiling clubs whom might be the best contacts for me to help spread the word. If you know anyone looking for an exceptional snowmobile in-out location in the Flat Tops please send them my way.

Sincerely,
Lisa Bennett
970.926.0216
wildskies.com

 

[bushy]

^^Too bad SW doesn't have a forum for this type of lodging and vacation get-away advertising. Do they already make advertising dollars for this and so a conflict of interest? Among all the exhaustive forums, I'd think something like this would be very useful to users from near and far.

Lisa, You could try advertising in the CO Snow Scoop newspaper that is published by the CO Snowmobile Association. COHVCO also has a paper that uses advertisers. Or/and advertise with neighboring state snowmobile associations. Lot's of folks come here from the mid-west to ride the mountains. You could also try posting in the General snowmobile section on here or in the Mountain Deep Powder section. Probably get moved to some other forum, but where to move it, there is no appropriate forum for this.

Regarding the topic. Seems they do a pretty good job on the trails at the north end of that system out of Gould where it's not that busy. Of course, it only takes a half day of busy riding to turn pristine trails into whoops. For what your after, I think you and the wife will have a great time in GL. If the trail is too brutal or boring, then look for one of the side trails that take you up into the high country to see some of the spectacular country above 10.5K'. With the town of GL rideable and the extensive trails system, along with the abundance of accessible, extreme high terrain sets that area apart from anywhere else in CO and is probably why the mags rate it high as a destination. Everything GL has, can be had elsewhere and probably with better snow, but that combination of factors in one place is unique to GL.

 

[black swan]

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?

The Mesa is a gooder! We all agree. If you want ride end-to-end and stop at restaurants along the way. Its hard to beat, Electric Mtn has a rep for awesome food & hospitality. The Alexander is open again, the GML does the grooming, open for gas and goodies. Mesa lakes also has cabin and a restaurant. On a full moon, i'd love to hit all of the above but it' cover 200+ miles of trail. That's just impossible, to stay on the trail and all.......