The end is approaching. After this weekend, Keystone, Vail and Beaver Creek will all close for the season. Tears will be shed and hearts will be broken, but not for the strong few who know how to cope with such losses. By simply adding another adventure to the day, skiers and boarders will make it back to Denver with even bigger smiles than before. These beautiful spots are all great to stop and relax at before the dreaded ride home, and any of them will assist greatly with Sunday’s massive losses. Not to fully fret, Breckenridge is open until April 27 and A-Basin should still have a couple months to offer. Regardless, an extra adventure is always a good idea, so don’t think twice and go for it.
Dillon Reservoir
The Dillon Reservoir was created in 1963 as a water storage facility, but it’s also a great place to just kick back and relax. Nestled right in between I-70 and Keystone, it’s impossible to miss on the way back to Denver unless the plan is to head over Loveland Pass. Walking paths with great views wrap around the entire reservoir, but for an even better view check out the docks. To find these, simply take I-70 down to exit 203 (Frisco) and the Frisco Bay Marina is a couple miles down on the left.
McCullough Gulch Trail
Just 15 minutes away from Breckenridge is a beautiful 2.8-mile round-trip hike up and back the McCullough Gulch Trail. The trailhead is eight miles down route CO-9 S towards Blue River on Blue Lakes Drive, which will come up on the right. One hundred yards down, take another right on McCullough Gulch road, stay left at the split two miles later and the parking area will appear straight ahead. Originally created for mining purposes, the hiking trail is rocky and steep at times, but several waterfalls and lakes along the way make the effort well worth it. These bodies of water are great spots for fishing as well, just make sure to bring along a Colorado fishing license. Not doing this may lead to an expensive afternoon.
St. Mary’s Glacier
St. Mary’s Glacier is on the way home from every mountain, making it quite enticing on any drive. From Silverthorne, head east down I-70 for 30 minutes and take exit 238 (Fall River Road). Continue onto Fall River Road for about 20 minutes, and the St. Mary’s Glacier trailhead will be on the left by the parking lot. The hike up and back is only a mile and a half round trip, so there’s no excuses for this one. At the base of the glacier is a crystal clear lake with several cliffs that can be jumped off of into chilly waters. Depending on the conditions, bringing ski and snowboard gear is a good call to earn a few extra turns. Just make sure to be safe because ski patrol won’t come to the rescue if something goes wrong.
Hanging Lake
About an hour from Vail and Beaver Creek is one of Colorado’s best outdoor offerings, Hanging Lake. It’s a bit of a detour after a long day on the slopes, but go for it because this will be the last weekend of the season in Eagle County. Head west on I-70 to exit 121 (Grizzly), then hop back on I-70 east down to exit 125 (Hanging Lake). There’s no westbound exit, so while pulling the U-turn on I-70 is inconvenient, it’s also mandatory. After parking, walk up the paved path about a quarter mile and the trailhead will be on the left. It’s a 2.4-mile round trip hike full of fairly challenging terrain. Swimming and fishing are prohibited to protect the lake, but great times can still be had amongst the beautiful and clean scenery.
Closing days are sad. However, coping with them is no problem in these wonderful places. Keep in mind they will most likely still be quite snowy, so bring a pair of winter boots just in case. For the less adventurous, stop by drier options like Lookout Mountain, Sloan’s Lake or even just one of Denver’s many parks at the very least. Even the shortest pit stop will create a far smoother transition into the concrete jungle of Denver. Find somewhere comfortable to sit down, think back on the awesome season Colorado had and don’t forget about the opportunities these mountains hold all year round.
