 Powderhorn sits on the western edge of the mighty Grand Mesa, not much more than an hour from the Utah border. With a summit elevation of 9850 feet it's not lofty by Colorado measure, but the semi-arid climate ensures dry powder, some 250" of it a year. The resort's 1650 vertical feet and 510 acres are an intermediate's dream: 50% of the terrain is blue. Another 20% is green, which helps cement Powderhorn's reputation as a great place to learn. One fixed-grip quad, two doubles and a surface lift serve the trails, which drop from the rim of the mesa. The West End double serves long cruisers like Tenderfoot, Snow Cloud, and Red Eye, as well as black-diamond Sweet Misery under the lift and the shorter Hooker between Tenderfoot and Red Eye. Over at the Take Four Quad you'll find the majority of the black terrain, a mixture of groomed trails, glades, and mogul runs. The blue runs here fade into green, but novices have their own separate pod off the short Easy Rider Double. The base facilities are just a short walk from the quad and the beginner double. A spacious day lodge houses guest services, the Powderhaus Restaurant, and other amenities. The Wildewood Inn and Restaurant are nearby; three modest condo clusters and a few other buildings complete the picture. Grand Junction is only 35 miles away and with some 30,000 souls it provides the lion's share of Powderhorn's customers and plenty of dining and lodging choices for visitors. Backcountry opportunities abound in the 360,000 acre Grand Mesa National Forest.
|
Ski Report
Colorado