As you hang up your skis for the winter season you might wonder what’s to become of your favorite winter wonderlands during the spring and summer. Fortunately, many of Colorado’s Nordic centers have alternative identities as hiking, biking, and horseback riding havens. These Nordic centers still provide outdoor adventures with stunning views during the summer and a multitude of activities for you and your family. Let’s check them out!
Devils Thumb Ranch Resort & Spa
Devil’s Thumb Ranch Resort & Spa is nestled in Winter Park, CO with easy access to Denver. There’s something for everyone at Devil’s Thumb especially families with activities that include horseback riding, zip lining, mountain biking, fly fishing, hiking, biking, archery, and the cowpoke camp for kids. Be sure to check out Heck’s Tavern on Saturday evenings for live music on the patio all summer, from June through September.
Frisco Nordic Center
While the actual Nordic center may be closed, during the summer the land surrounding the Frisco Nordic Center is open to the pubic for mountain biking and hiking on the same trails used for Nordic skiing in the winter. Mountain bikers are able to enjoy the trail, or may choose to participate in biking camps. There are even camps specifically geared to kids such as the youth bike camp, Girls on the Run Camp, and Play-Well LEGO Camp. At bike camp, participants will bike 5-8 miles each day of camp with an emphasis on body positioning, balance, gear shifting and maneuvering over obstacles. It's a great way for kids to get outside, be active, and have fun!
Home Ranch
Are you looking for a luxurious place to relax and experience fun activities too? Home Ranch offers horseback riding, hiking, biking, fly fishing, swimming along with luxurious accommodations and services to meet your every need. What’s more, the ranch offers families the vacation they deserve with plenty of activities for your kids as well. Can’t find what you’re looking for at the ranch? Home Ranch also offers access to rock climbing, whitewater rafting, and hot air ballooning. Guests can always count on all year round, warm hospitality at Home Ranch. Just ask!
Latigo Ranch
If you’re looking for a great Dude Ranch experience look no further than Latigo Ranch. Voted one of the top 50 ranches in the world and the top 12 best family vacations in 2018, Latigo Ranch has something for everybody. Its seclusion offers esteemed views of the Continental Divide, making a vacation that much more memorable. The ranch offers guests a full, all-inclusive, experience. That package has 29 activities and features to make for a fun, comfortable stay, including sunset rides, high meadows horse pack trip, several fishing options, and archery. Are you looking for a night under the stars? Be sure to check out Latigo Ranch’s overnight pack trip. Or, just hang by the pool and eat amazing food if that’s your thing, too!
Thunder Mountain Lodge
Enjoy all that Grand Mesa National Park has to offer this summer at the Thunder Mountain Lodge. Thunder Mountain Lodge has everything from fishing, boating, hiking, mountain biking, ATVing, and cozy lodges for your getaway. Thunder Mountain Lodge is the perfect place to find harmony amongst the beautiful Grand Mesa National Forest and with 300 lakes, it’s a fisherman’s paradise.
Vista Verde Ranch
Like many of Colorado Cross Country Nordic centers, Vista Verde Ranch offers tons of activities like hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and fly fishing. However, the summer guest ranch season at Vista Verde runs from June through late October with the first part of the summer designed for family vacations, and September and October designed as adult-only weeks. If you’re looking for a signature activity, Vista Verde Ranch prides themselves on their horsemanship clinic. They really take each guest’s experience with their horse even deeper. Guests even learn how to train their horse, or “speak horse” as they say.
Be it winter, spring, summer, or fall the locations that are home to Colorado Cross Country Ski Association are not only a great source for cross country skiers, but they can be the perfect vacation get away for anybody. With both indoor and outdoor activities, guests can be assured they will get the ideal Colorado treatment while experiencing comfortable quarters and wholesome hospitality. Just because there isn’t any snow on the ground doesn’t mean that these mountain trails, lodges, and views should be forgotten during the summer.