As the summer season winds down, Colorado’s Snow Mountain Ranch is gearing up for another exciting snow season.

The Nordic Center at Snow Mountain Ranch has more than 100 kilometers of trails accommodating everyone from the first-time cross-country skier or snowshoer to the elite racer. Beginners can ski on short, dog-friendly loops around the Nordic Center while the experienced racer can train on longer trails with steeper climbs up Blue Ridge Mountain. Beyond cross-country skiing, families and groups can enjoy ice skating, sledding and tubing, snowshoeing and sleigh rides.

“We have the most up-to-date Nordic grooming equipment in the country,” said Tom Merkt, Nordic Director of Snow Mountain Ranch. “It is specially ordered from Germany and allows us to create optimal conditions for both classic and skate skiers.”

The Nordic Center’s full-service ski shop offers lessons and rental packages and the latest cross-country ski gear and apparel for sale. To re-energize, the Skinny Ski Cafe is the spot to enjoy a light snack or warm up with a bowl of soup and a sandwich.

For guests staying at Snow Mountain Ranch, complimentary cross country ski and snowshoe trail passes are provided.

Downhill skiers and snowboarders are not far from Winter Park, Mary Jane and Ski Granby Ranch. Snow Mountain Sports on the Snow Mountain Ranch property offers alpine ski and snowboard rental, as well as gear.

Located 30 minutes outside Rocky Mountain National Park, Snow Mountain Ranch is a 5,100 acre resort-style property operated by YMCA of the Rockies. In addition to winter activities a number of on-site facilities offer indoor fun during the colder months. This includes an indoor pool complete with water slide and rock climbing wall, the Kiva activity center with basketball courts, three-story rock climbing wall, indoor archery, and roller skating rink, the craft shop with a variety of arts and crafts projects, a library, and plenty of cozy fireplaces to snuggle up at. Accommodations at Snow Mountain Ranch include hotel-style lodge rooms, pet-friendly cabins, multi-bedroom vacation houses, and an expanded yurt village.

For more information about Snow Mountain Ranch and the Nordic Center visit www.ymcarockies.org or contact Martha Sortland at msortland@ymcarockies.org.

Logo courtesy Snow Mountain Ranch/ YMCA of the Rockies