Hibernating during the winter months is not what most people in Colorado choose to do. There are many fun activities available, both indoor and outdoor, that people can participate in. Some activities can be costly, but all are great experiences. Colorado is famous for its beautiful scenery, and its mountains provide many outdoor winter activities. Colorado is well-known for its downhill skiing and snowboarding.
Skiing or snowboarding through deep powder down a giant mountain is one of the most popular Colorado winter activities. Colorado is famous for its more than 25 excellent ski resorts. Which resort you choose truly depends on the kind of ski terrain you seek. For example, Arapahoe Basin (arapahoebasin.com) offers very steep slopes while Winter Park Resort (winterparkresort.com) is famous for its moguls. If you like to explore backcountry skiing, try Silverton Mountain (silvertonmountain.com). It also offers heli-skiing, where you are dropped via helicopter on an ungroomed, expert-only mountain peak.
Relaxing in a hot spring with steam rising all around is a truly one-of-a-kind experience. Colorado is filled with both "improved" and "unimproved" hot springs. An unimproved hot spring is one that has not been altered by man, whereas an improved hot spring has been altered in some manner to better the bather's experience. Glenwood Springs (hotspringspool.com) is "one of the largest improved hot spring pools in the world," according to Colorado Tourism. It is enjoyed by visitors year-round. The Strawberry Park Natural Hot Springs (strawberryhotsprings.com) in Steamboat is an unimproved hot spring that is only accessible in winter by a four-wheel-drive vehicle or a vehicle with chains.
Speeding on skis or a snowboard up and down hills or across the flats while harnessing the power of wind is the newer sport of snow kiting. This exciting activity is said to be relatively easy to learn, and you can travel, under the right conditions, up to 60 mph. Many places in Colorado offer snow kiting. For example, Telluride (telluridesnowkite.com) has a snow-kite school where you can learn to do it in as little as two three-hour lessons, or one lesson if you are an experienced kite boarder.
Dog sledding is a fun and unique way to tour Colorado while bonding with beautiful animals. The dogs are typically huskies, which are bred to be work dogs and pull the sleds. While on your tour, an experienced musher will point out places or things of interest such as animal tracks, and can answer any questions you may have. You do not leave the sled at all during the ride, so you must dress warmly.
