Fall Colors in Winter Park Colorado

Changing of the Colors Winter Park, CO

Every summer comes to this in Winter Park.  It always seems to come to early and without warning. driving under the Rocky Mountain peaks and you notice an aspen that is starting to turn from green to yellow.  Well, it is here in Winter Park this year.  The neighbors aspen are about half yellow and some of trees on the hills are getting a little yellow also.

The change in colors comes early up here in WP-CO.  Best time to see the trees is in mid-September.  There is plenty to do in Winter Park and Grand County, Colorado in September and it is unbelievably beautiful this time of year.  Check out some of the activities here in Winter Park the last half of September.

Also, don’t forget that Trestle Bike Park is open everyday through Labor Day and Fri, Sat and Sun the following three weekends.

Mountain biking Winter Park in general in September and early October are at their best.  The weather is a bit cooler, the scenery is amazing and a lot of the crowds have settled in for school down in the lowlands.

So now is the time to plan your fll getaway to the mountains and get a great discount from Winter Park Lodging Company.The WPLCo offer for fall and early booking is:

Labor Day Sale! Get 50% off your 2nd night for stays between Aug 1st and Nov 15th. OR get 20% off on stays between Nov 16th and Dec 16th. Book by August 31st.

Downhill Mtn. Biking at Trestle Bike Park!

Come get your fix of adrenaline filled fun at the fastest growing Downhill Bike Park in the U.S.! Trestle Bike Park in Winter Park, Colorado has something for everyone. Whether it’s your first time on a downhill bike, you’re looking for some coaching on technique, or you’re a seasoned pro who wants to work on speed alone, there are plenty of options for all.

As mentioned in Chris’s earlier blog, the WPLC crew got together last week for an exciting day of downhilling. After getting suited up in our ‘armor’ (see right) and loading our bikes on the lift, the ladies (Amy, Sarah, and myself) took the Trestle 101 course, which is perfect for those who are beginning or wanting to improve technique. For anyone looking to take the class, we recommend our instructor Ian who was knowedgable and who’s calm demeanor helped 3 crazy girls get down the mountain in one piece! Meanwhile, Chris and Dace were on their own with the helmet cam strapped on and ready to rock. We’ve got part 1 of their roller coaster ride caught on tape for you to check out…

After a few practice rounds and mtn. biking fundamentals, Ian took us girls down a looooong green trail aptly named ‘Green World’.  It was a fun winding trail through dense trees, open single track and rolling hills with lots of swooping turns (we liked calling them woop-de- woos). Needless to say, our class and one run on Green World lasted nearly three hours, so we got a great workout and were quite tired at the end. All in all, it was a great day and experience. We had a few spills, but managed to get back on the bikes and keep truckin’.  Gotta say the body armor doesn’t just look cool, it definitely cushions the falls! Soon, we’ll have part 2 of the helmet cam video up and running, so keep an eye out…

If you’re thinking about taking a weekend getaway filled with fresh mountain air or getting out of the city heat , Winter Park is where it’s at. Get an unbeatable price on summer lodging with Winter Park Lodging Company, and save big on all kinds of outdoor activities, including Trestle Bike Park and cross country bike rentals (great for the whole family!). We have an exclusive deal for our guests that gets you and your friends geared up for less! When you book your rentals online , you save over 20% off walk in rates and that’s a steal.

Remember, the Crankworx freestyle bike competition starts today and goes through the weekend at Winter Park Resort. Bring the kids and dogs and be amazed at the  high flying stunts these guys do -  It’s totally free and a wild time. Our instructor Ian will be competing too, so we’re going down to cheer him on and take some video. See you there!

Mountain Bike Capital USA Winter Park CO

Winter Park Mountain Bike Capital USA

The Winter Park/Fraser Chamber is getting a new website up and running strictly about mountain biking in and around Winter Park, Colorado.  So far there are trails and some other such stuff there and it looks to be a great addition to their main website.

The website is http://www.mountainbikecapitalusa.com/ . It is still under construction but there are a few Winter Park bike trails there.  If you would like to contribute photos or video there is a place to do that on the site.

With over 600 miles of trails, it’s no wonder that Winter Park & the Fraser Valley is the Mountain Bike Capital of the United States.

The Winter Park Lodging Co crew took a day this week to hit the Trestle Bike Park for some downhill gravity fed mountain biking and what a day it was.  We will post some video of my falls when we get them edited.  If you have not downhill mountain biked it is something that should be tried.  It is a workout like nine other and quite the rush.

Here are some of the Winter Park/Fraser mountain bike events and races:

Upcoming 2010 Events

* July 24 – Trestle Bike Park Race Series #1 (Downhill) at Winter Park Resort

* July 25 – Trestle Bike Park Race Series #2 (Super D) at Winter Park Resort

* July 25 – Women, Wheels & Wine – Women’s Mountain Bike Day at Devil’s Thumb Ranch

* July 29 – Aug 1 – Crankworx Colorado at Winter Park Resort – one of the largest gravity-fueled mountain bike festivals in the United States!

* July 31 – Epic Singletrack Series #5 (Crankworx CO Cross Country) at Winter Park Resort

* July 31 – Aug 1 Mountain Bike Capital USA™ Weekend at Hideaway Park

* Aug 14 – Epic Singletrack Series #6 (Mary Jane Circuit) at Winter Park Resort

* Aug 15 – Trestle Bike Park Race Series #3 (Downhill Finale) at Winter Park Resort

* Aug 28 – Epic Singletrack Series Finale (King of the Rockies) at Winter Park Resort

* Sept 4-6 – Winter Park Pursuit Mountain States Cup Race (Endurance | Gravity | Super D) at Winter Park Resort

Looking to have some fun on a bike well Winter Park CO is the place to be this summer.

Winter Park Mountain Biking – Vasquez to Blue Sky Trail

- Bike up Vasquez Road and continue straight. Turns into water board road (about 5 cars and trucks came down as we biked up, but it was a Sunday)

- Continue up and up and eventually, you’ll see the turn off to the LEFT for Blue Sky Trail. At this point, you may be cursing me for giving you this idea.  It is all uphill at this point but when you get on the trail, it’s pretty much all back down, so you can give your heart a rest and test your skills on the single track.

- After about 5 minutes from turning left, you’ll see the single track entrance to Blue Sky (again to left). Get clipped in (or in my case, shoved in to open toe holds) and enjoy the ride. Be careful of riders coming up hill. I came 6 inches from a collision.   You’ll encounter some roots, some rocky areas, and little bridges. You pass over the rambling river a few times and it makes for great shots.

- The trail ends and spits you out on Arapahoe Road which meets up with Vasquez and back into town – enjoy flying down perfect pavement and roll into Deno’s for a brew on the patio.

Trestle Bike Park Freeride Fridays

Winter Park Trestle Bike Park

Freeride Friday’s are starting early this year. In fact they are starting this weekend. What is freeride Friday? you may ask. Well it is not free downhill riding, as in no cash spent.  It is freeridin’ on Friday with extended hours discounted rates and lots of activities after the ridin’.  If you have never been or your kids, especially those teenagers, you need to get out to Trestle Bike Park to check it out.  A more fun thrilling day can not be had and it is a serious workout on the body.

Anyway, the trails up here in Winter Park are in such great shape that Freeride Friday is starting this weekend, June 25th.  So get your gear together or come rent with Trestle Bike Shop and enjoy extended hours at the park. Stick around after the ride for your complimentary beverage and Coca-Cola® Family Movie Night Family in the Village!  The movie is Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The Winter Park Chocolate Festival is on Saturday and the weather looks spectacular for the weekend.

Here is the complete deal for Freeride Friday:

Rental / Trestle Park Pass, $34.99 (walk-in only)
Extended Bike Park hours open until 7pm with discounted lift/rental packages

For just $34.99, get a downhill mountain bike, lift ticket, protective gear and all the runs you can fit into 3 hours. Just head to the mountains by early afternoon to take advantage of this $79.99 value for only $34.99. Package includes:

▪ Kona Stinky downhill bike
▪ Body armor package
▪ Full face helmet
▪ Lift ticket
▪ Bonus Coors Light or soda

Everything you need to get you on the mountain and start your weekend! Valid from 4-7pm, with rentals due back by 7:30pm. Call 303.316.1564 for more information.

Freeride Fridays Bike Park Lift Ticket only: $19
Trestle Bike Park School
As part of Freeride Fridays, Trestle Bike Park School is offering deals on two new clinic times:

Group Lesson Special

• 2 hours of coaching for $20 per rider
• 11am, 1pm, 3pm
• Additional hour of coaching for just $10 more

Fun fun fun is all I can say about Trestle. Anyone with even a small bit of thrill seeking in them needs to check out the bike park. Its is a great time, safe and as I said a great workout.

Looking for some lodging when up in Winter Park, Colorado?  Well, let Winter Park Lodging Company hook you up with the best prices, deals and local knowledge of the area.

The Winter Park Mountain Bike Trail of the Week #3

Tipperary to Spruce Creek

The third Winter Park mountain bike trail of the week is here.  This week we have a great ride with some double and single track going trough Spruce Creek a couple times.  Overall it is a great ride with some water, good downhill jumps and great mountain scenery.

Tipperary to Spruce Creek

Distance: 7miles
Trail Location: From the Winter Park Visitor Center head north on US Hwy 40 into the town of Fraser. At the stop light turn left onto CR 72 stay right and drive through the meadow. At the “T” take a left, at the top of the hill you will see the Rodeo grounds.
Trail Description: Begin at the rodeo grounds west of Fraser. Head west on Givelo Trail. At the first intersection, CR 50S, turn right. Stay left on CR 50. Continue on CR 50 uphill, past two lodges on the right and over the cattle guard. Look for Tipperary on your left. Take a left on to Tipperary. Tipperary is a two track climb through, pines, aspens and lush mountain meadows. A canopy of trees covers much of the trail. Cross the first creek; continue to climb. Climb through two meadows, past a couple of springs, past the intersection to Back Scratch and through the second (and last) creek. The trail levels and begins the descent not long after a wet spring-fed area. You are now on Spruce Creek. (You only know this by looking at the map as there is no intersection or sign) The descent is much more technical than the climb. It’s loose and rocky, so be careful. Your next turn is a left onto St. Louis Creek Road and follow this back to your vehicle at the Rodeo Grounds.

Come on out and enjoy the great Colorado outdoors.  Let Winter Park Lodging Company supply your Winter Park summer vacation lodging and enjoy an active healthy getaway.

Outdoor Gear Swap in Winter Park, CO

Don’t miss the 2nd annual Fraser Valley Community Gear Swap benefitting Habitat for Humanity on Saturday & Sunday, June 19th and 20th. Come out between 9am & 5pm to the Epic Mountain Sports parking lot at the Park Place Shopping Center (with Conoco and Movie Theater).

Sell your used skis, snowboards, bikes, kayaks, golf clubs, tents & camping gear or any other sporting equipment you no longer need, or pick up a new addition for your outdoor gear collection.

To sell your stuff, drop off your gear on Friday afternoon between 4pm and 6pm or on Saturday morning between 7am and 9am. You name your price, fill out a sale form and keep 100% of the proceeds from your gear. If you don’t want to take that old stuff back to your garage, you can donate it to the Habitat for Humanity.

Plus, all Park Place Shopping Center stores will donate 5% of Saturday sales to the Habitat Humanity. Take advantage of the big sale at Epic Mountain Sports and specials at Rise & Shine Bakery, and feel good about helping out the community.

For more info, call Epic Mountain Sports at 970-726-2868.

No. 2 Winter Park, CO Mountain Bike Trail of the Week

SolVista Mountain Biking

The second edition of the mountain bike trail of the week is here courtesy of the Winter Park/Fraser Chamber of Commerce and it is a great ride indeed.  The trail is Tron at the Sol Vista Bike Park and i is a great intermediate classic cross country mountain bike trail with some single track, wooded areas and a bit of climbing.

The SolVista Bike Park has professionally designed trails to challenge and excite mountain bikers of any skill level.

The SolVista trail rating system is similar to that used in the snow-skiing industry. Trails are rated beginner, intermediate or expert, based on steepness of trail, technical difficulty and number of obstacles and overall riding experience. Regardless of difficulty, all  jumps and stunts have “go-around” options, so you’ll never be forced into a dangerous situation.

Bike Sol Vista – TRON

Trail Location: To get to Sol Vista Basin at Granby Ranch from the Winter Park Visitor Center, continue North on US HWY 40 for about 15 minutes and turn right towards the Inn at Silver Creek. Continue up the hill to the base area of SolVista Basin.
Trail Information:Tron just may be the perfect blend of flowing singletrack, rocky wooded sections, man-made terrain and open turns. Branching off of Cheez-it, Tron will put a smile on your face. There is an “expert” step-down jump that has a go-around option.
Visit Bike SolVista for more information.

There are lots of good trails at SolVista and Tron is one of the “nice fun types”.  SolVista is a great early season destination because most of the slopes are southern exposure and the snow melts early hence their early ski season closure.

Head out to SolVista for a great day of mountain biking.

Winter Park Colorado Mountain Bike Trail of the Week

Flume Trail Winter Park, CO

Here is the first Winter Park Colorado mountain bike trail of the week.  The Winter Park Chamber of Commerce  has started to do a mountain bike trail of the week and I thought I would pass it along.

I have ridden the Flume/Creekside trail with the wife about three years ago.  The ride is not that physically demanding but there are a couple tricky parts that take some mountain bike skill.  I would say the whole family could do this ride with maybe a couple of areas of walking for the beginning bikers.

Some mountain bike etiquette:

• downhill riders make way for uphill riders
• if the trail is very muddy dismount and walk bike
• if taking a break move off of trail

OK so here is the Flume/ Creekside mountain bike trail of the week.

Length: 5.3 Miles
Elevation: 8,900′
Rating: This is a physically easy trail but does require intermediate off-road skills.
Location: The trail starts at the St. Louis Creek Campground. From the Winter Park Visitor Center head north on US Hwy 40 for 1.5 miles once you come to the stop light in Fraser take a left on to CR 72 and stay right through the meadow. Once you come to the stop sign take a left. To get to the campground take CR 73 from Fraser for four miles.
Trail Information: Begin at St. Louis Creek Campground. The trail-head for Creekside. Creekside begins as a two track that is rocky and rutted in sections and slightly uphill with little terrain change at the beginning. The two track will turn into single track as the trail approaches the creek. The single track trail becomes more difficult with less gravel and larger river rock and more twists and turns. This is the most scenic part of the trail. Large beaver ponds may harbor an occasional moose, so take time to enjoy your surroundings.
Enter Flume and be prepared for an extremely fun ride. This trail is slightly moderate downhill descent with numerous turns, yet is never too hard. The kind of ride that makes your smile hurt. Heavily wooded forests at times gives way to open meadows full of wild flowers in the spring. The Flume trail gets its name from an old logging flume, which it parallels, for much of the ride. The trail will go through some aspens before reaching the scenic over look bench. Take time to enjoy the view of Byers Peak and St. Louis Creek.
Shortly after the scenic overlook is a trail junction. Straight ahead is Chainsaw, turn left and the trail will take you across St. Louis Creek. Turn left after the bridge and follow an old road back to the campground.

This is a great ride that is not to hard.  Do look for moose and other wildlife in the area.

On the way back to Winter Park stop and have a beer and a bite to eat at one of Winter Park’s fine eateries.

Summer is here so lets get outside and enjoy this wonderful place called Winter Park, Colorado.

SolVista Mountain Bike Park and Summer Operations to Open June 4th

SolVista Mountain Bike Park

Solvista Bike Park and Base Summer season
Operating Friday – Sunday, June 4 – September 2010 (closing date TBD)
Select courses open for Triple DHip Downhill Stage Race Participants only May 29-31, 2010

Lift tickets
• Friday 12-7pm: $25 Adult, $15 Child*
• Sat/Sun 10-5pm: $25 Adult, $15 Child*

Season pass
• Adult Unlimited Bike Pass: $199 ($175 if purchased on or before May 26, 2010)
• Child* Unlimited Bike Pass: $149
*child is under the age of 13

The SolVista Bike Park provides an affordable, but high-quality Rocky Mountain trail experience. Offering daily ride tickets or season passes for bike riders.

Bike-specific Lift Chairs

Solvisat is excited to continue the use of bike-specific lift chairs for the 2010 season. Our lift capacity and speed is fast and your bikes are protected on these fantastic pieces of equipment.  The SolVista Bike Park has professionally designed trails to challenge and excite mountain bikers of any skill level. Five existing trails embrace skill levels of beginner through expert with our number of trails doubling by the end of the 2008 season!

The trail rating system is similar to that used in the snow-skiing industry. Trails are rated beginner, intermediate or expert, based on steepness of trail, technical difficulty and number of obstacles and overall riding experience. Regardless of difficulty, all of the jumps and stunts have “go-around” options, so you’ll never be forced into a dangerous situation.

click for larger Solvista map

Solvista has a bunch o new trails ready for this season.  Looking for some riding a week before Winter Park’s Trestle Bike Park opens check out Solvista Bike Park. Or if the Trestle becomes old hat head on down the road for a little Solvista mountain biking.