Trail Training for Nordic Skiers: Hidden Gems in Colorado’s High Country

Why late summer matters for your ski season.

For Colorado’s Nordic skiers, August marks an important transition. The summer crowds are thinning, the days are getting shorter, and the high-country trails are at their peak. Now is the time to shift from summer play to getting your body ski-ready.

Late summer trail training isn’t just about getting in the last of the warm days—it’s the chance to set your foundation for the winter ahead. Hiking Colorado’s diverse mountain terrain builds aerobic capacity, leg strength, balance, and ski-specific movement patterns. Training at elevation also enhances oxygen efficiency, making a real difference when the snow flies.

But even sweeter? Time on the trail this time of year resets your mindset. The pace is quiet. The goals are clear. And the trails, especially the lesser-known ones, offer solitude and scenery that reinvigorate your motivation for the season to come.

Here are six high-country trail options that combine physical challenge with relative solitude.

1. Uranium Mine Trail, Steamboat Springs

Distance: 3.1 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: ~600 feet
Best For: Hill intervals, technique work, short aerobic sessions

Located just outside downtown Steamboat, the Uranium Mine Trail is often overshadowed by nearby Fish Creek Falls. That makes it an ideal spot for focused training. The moderate grade and scenic overlook at the top provide a natural interval setting.

Training Tip: Use the uphill as a repeatable climb.

2. Gilpin Lake Loop, Mount Zirkel Wilderness

Distance: Approximately 10 miles (loop)
Elevation Gain: ~2,500 feet
Best For: Long slow distance, aerobic base development

North of Steamboat Springs, the Gilpin Lake Loop, a.k.a. “Zirkel Circle,” is a rugged, scenic, and moderately challenging route through the Mount Zirkel Wilderness. With alpine lakes, meadows, and sustained climbs,  it’s best for long, steady aerobic efforts. Plan on about five hours.

Training Tip: Keep a consistent pace throughout the loop, targeting a Zone 2 heart rate as you would in long winter races.

3. Soda Creek Trail, Keystone

Distance: ~3 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: ~400 ft
Best For: Hill‑interval repeats & technique work

Located at Meadow Creek Park off Ryan Gulch Road, a few miles northeast of Keystone, this trail follows Soda Creek through pine‑aspen forest and small cascades, ending at a peaceful alpine lake—ideal for uphill pushes with easy downhill recovery. Local hikers note its runnable terrain.

Training Tip: Push hard uphill to simulate ski intervals, recover on the descent, and repeat.

4. Snodgrass Mountain Trail, Crested Butte

Distance: ~5.8 miles round trip                                                                                        
Elevation Gain: ~1,600 ft 
Best For: Mid‑length endurance & strength hiking

This trail climbs steadily through aspen groves into open meadows, showcasing wildflowers and offering views of Mt. Crested Butte and Whetstone Mountain. This moderate-grade route is popular yet peaceful later in the summer.

Training Tip: Carry poles and power-hike uphill at Zone 3–4; cruise downhill to recover.

5.  Shrine Ridge Trail, Vail Pass

Distance: 4 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: ~1,000 feet
Best For: High-altitude adaptation

Shrine Ridge, just off Vail Pass, sits above 11,000 feet and offers quick access to alpine terrain. With sweeping ridgeline views and rolling topography, it’s a never-boring spot for altitude adaptation.

Training Tip: Stay well-hydrated by bringing plenty of fluids and having high-carb snacks on hand for fuel. Start at a moderate pace and watch for signs of altitude sickness, including headache, nausea, and dizziness.

6. Mohawk Lakes Trail, Breckenridge

Distance: ~8 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: ~2,000 feet
Best For: Mid-length endurance sessions, strength hiking

This more popular trail south of Breckenridge draws more hikers for a reason—it climbs through mixed forest, past historic mining ruins, and ends at alpine lakes with big views, making for a stunning four- to five-hour hike in fall. The last .5 miles to the upper lake is very steep, but yields the best vistas.

Training Tip: Consider biking to the trailhead, then hiking or running to the lakes. Add short strides or uphill accelerations on the return to simulate ski pacing and recovery.