Wolf Creek Ski area, CO
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Description:
Wolf Creek Ski Area is one of the small, hidden gems that remains uncrowded in Colorado despite its great variety of terrain, friendly staff, and unbeatable snowfall. Wolf Creek consistently gets 500+ inches of snowfall per year, making it one of the premier powder destinations for southern resorts. The only thing holding Wolf Creek back is its lack long-run expert terrain. While there are several huckable cliffs, steeps, and chutes, they tend to be very short lived. The most exciting of this expert terrain can be found on Alberta Peak, Knife Ridge, and the Waterfall Area. However, this isn't to say that Bonanza, Montezuma, and Horseshoe Bowl don't have their fair share of adrenaline inducing drops and steeps!
Alberta Peak gives you access to some of Wolf Creek's best terrain and longest, continuous vertical. However, be wary of the Alberta Peak Chutes! They aren't so much chutes as they are a slanted wall of jagged rocks. They only give you one way down without hitting a 30-40 ft drop with a large amount of speed to clear the outcrops unless you decide to traverse around the area. On the way down from Alberta Peak you'll most likely run into the Waterfall Chutes, which contains one of the largest cliff drops in the area - a 40 foot drop on the skiers left when you enter Waterfall Gate 3. Not to worry though, none of these gates require a cliff drop if you don't want one. Most of the drops are planned off to the side of the main route down. Instead, you'll be encountering very steep, chute-like, mogul, tree runs that collect together in an open area at the bottom and run you back to the Alberta Lift on a calming blue. From there, you can take the Alberta Lift up to hit Knife Ridge or go back to the base area.
Knife Ridge would be absolutely fantastic if it lasted for another 500 vertical feet! As it is, you get maybe 4-5 fast paced turns before you run into the cat-track at the bottom. However, the 55 degree slope is still definitely worth the 10 minute hike to hit waist-deep, powder stashes with the occasional cliff drop. Plus, the entire slope is tree-free until you hit the Dog Chutes further down the ridge, giving you an unlimited number of lines.
I haven't had the chance to really explore the area below the cat track between Knife Ridge and Horseshoe Bowl. However, from my one experience skiing back from horseshoe bowl, the trails here are never tracked out and can be a lot of fun if you don't loose your speed on the flats. If you lose your speed, you won't have a good time. Horseshoe Bowl is worth the hike once for the experience, but I felt the more easily accessible terrain was just as good, if not better, and didn't require an hour hike. If the Cat is running along the ridge, definitely take the opportunity to ride over there for free.
As for the rest of the mountain, the mogul runs are fun, but without the monster moguls you'll find at popular resorts. The blues and greens, while there aren't a lot of them, are well groomed and a lot of fun. In addition, Wolf Creek regularly hosts fun races on Charisma for free! So, if you feel like pitting yourself against some Colorado Locals in a GS race down the mountain, this is your chance! If you like groomed runs, do your best to stay on the lookers-right side of the mountain. There's only one route down from the Alberta Lift that's groomed and it's a long, semi-flat cat track. However, Wolf Creek eliminated some of this by introducing the new Elma Lift this year (not pictured below)! The new Elma Lift runs from the base of the Alberta Lift up to the Navajo Trail on the far right edge of the Waterfall Area. In addition, the staff is friendly, the food is great and reasonably priced, and the lift ticket prices on college and local appreciation days can not be beat!
Wolf Creek Ski Area is one of the small, hidden gems that remains uncrowded in Colorado despite its great variety of terrain, friendly staff, and unbeatable snowfall. Wolf Creek consistently gets 500+ inches of snowfall per year, making it one of the premier powder destinations for southern resorts. The only thing holding Wolf Creek back is its lack long-run expert terrain. While there are several huckable cliffs, steeps, and chutes, they tend to be very short lived. The most exciting of this expert terrain can be found on Alberta Peak, Knife Ridge, and the Waterfall Area. However, this isn't to say that Bonanza, Montezuma, and Horseshoe Bowl don't have their fair share of adrenaline inducing drops and steeps!
Alberta Peak gives you access to some of Wolf Creek's best terrain and longest, continuous vertical. However, be wary of the Alberta Peak Chutes! They aren't so much chutes as they are a slanted wall of jagged rocks. They only give you one way down without hitting a 30-40 ft drop with a large amount of speed to clear the outcrops unless you decide to traverse around the area. On the way down from Alberta Peak you'll most likely run into the Waterfall Chutes, which contains one of the largest cliff drops in the area - a 40 foot drop on the skiers left when you enter Waterfall Gate 3. Not to worry though, none of these gates require a cliff drop if you don't want one. Most of the drops are planned off to the side of the main route down. Instead, you'll be encountering very steep, chute-like, mogul, tree runs that collect together in an open area at the bottom and run you back to the Alberta Lift on a calming blue. From there, you can take the Alberta Lift up to hit Knife Ridge or go back to the base area.
Knife Ridge would be absolutely fantastic if it lasted for another 500 vertical feet! As it is, you get maybe 4-5 fast paced turns before you run into the cat-track at the bottom. However, the 55 degree slope is still definitely worth the 10 minute hike to hit waist-deep, powder stashes with the occasional cliff drop. Plus, the entire slope is tree-free until you hit the Dog Chutes further down the ridge, giving you an unlimited number of lines.
I haven't had the chance to really explore the area below the cat track between Knife Ridge and Horseshoe Bowl. However, from my one experience skiing back from horseshoe bowl, the trails here are never tracked out and can be a lot of fun if you don't loose your speed on the flats. If you lose your speed, you won't have a good time. Horseshoe Bowl is worth the hike once for the experience, but I felt the more easily accessible terrain was just as good, if not better, and didn't require an hour hike. If the Cat is running along the ridge, definitely take the opportunity to ride over there for free.
As for the rest of the mountain, the mogul runs are fun, but without the monster moguls you'll find at popular resorts. The blues and greens, while there aren't a lot of them, are well groomed and a lot of fun. In addition, Wolf Creek regularly hosts fun races on Charisma for free! So, if you feel like pitting yourself against some Colorado Locals in a GS race down the mountain, this is your chance! If you like groomed runs, do your best to stay on the lookers-right side of the mountain. There's only one route down from the Alberta Lift that's groomed and it's a long, semi-flat cat track. However, Wolf Creek eliminated some of this by introducing the new Elma Lift this year (not pictured below)! The new Elma Lift runs from the base of the Alberta Lift up to the Navajo Trail on the far right edge of the Waterfall Area. In addition, the staff is friendly, the food is great and reasonably priced, and the lift ticket prices on college and local appreciation days can not be beat!
Trail Map:
Mountain Stats: Important Events:
WOLF CREEK SKI AREA FUN RACES December 13 January 3, 10, 25 February 8, 28 March 7, 21, 28 LOCAL APPRECIATION DAYS NO ID REQUIRED $41 Adult lift ticket $24 Children/Seniors November 12, 19, 30 December 3, 10 January 7, 21, 25 February 1, 11, 25 March 4, 29 April 1, 5 $41 Adult lift ticket with valid college photo ID November 9, 16, 23 December 7 January 4, 11 February 22 March 22, 28 April 4 |
Lift Ticket Prices:
Travel Route, Time, and Distance:
Useful Links:
Ski Resort Homepage
6-Day Forecast
Claimmyrun - Videos From Resort
Snow Report
Grooming Report
Ski Resort Homepage
6-Day Forecast
Claimmyrun - Videos From Resort
Snow Report
Grooming Report
Lodging:
For lodging in Wolf Creek, we almost always stay at the same location: First Inn in Pagosa Springs, CO. Wolf Creek Ski Area does not currently have any lodging at the mountain so you either have to stay in Pagos Springs or South Fork and commute to the resort in the morning. On the bright side, the drive up from Pagosa Springs is absolutely gorgeous! We routinely stay at the First Inn because the staff is very friendly, they offer lodging discounts with the purchase of lift tickets, have a continental breakfast, hot tub, and a dry sauna. It's not the fanciest lodging in town, but for a weekend ski trip for college students or those on a budget, this place is perfect! Oh, and it's one of the closest hotels to the ski resort and is right off the intersection of 84 and 160 as you come into town. For rates, reviews, ratings, etc... I've included a link to the Inn's tripadvisor page if you would like to do more digging!
First Inn of Pagosa Springs
For lodging in Wolf Creek, we almost always stay at the same location: First Inn in Pagosa Springs, CO. Wolf Creek Ski Area does not currently have any lodging at the mountain so you either have to stay in Pagos Springs or South Fork and commute to the resort in the morning. On the bright side, the drive up from Pagosa Springs is absolutely gorgeous! We routinely stay at the First Inn because the staff is very friendly, they offer lodging discounts with the purchase of lift tickets, have a continental breakfast, hot tub, and a dry sauna. It's not the fanciest lodging in town, but for a weekend ski trip for college students or those on a budget, this place is perfect! Oh, and it's one of the closest hotels to the ski resort and is right off the intersection of 84 and 160 as you come into town. For rates, reviews, ratings, etc... I've included a link to the Inn's tripadvisor page if you would like to do more digging!
First Inn of Pagosa Springs