Winter Park Year-Round Bucket List

Some bucket lists can be accomplished in just a few days, while others take a bit longer. Recently voted Colorado's Top Adventure Town, Winter Park has enough unique things to do to last you from January to December!

Here are some of our must-dos when you visit Colorado’s favorite® Playground in 2018.

January: Hit the Slopes on a Bike

How about starting the year with something new? Ski biking combines the best of skiing and downhill mountain biking into one fun contraption, and Winter Park Resort offers classes and guided tours to get you started. After you successfully complete one, you’ll get a photo license that allows you to rent a ski bike and ride the slopes to your heart’s content.

February: Experience the Thrill of Dogsledding

Looking for an exciting winter adventure? Try dogsledding at Snow Mountain Ranch - YMCA of the Rockies or Dog Sled Rides of Winter Park you won't be disappointed when a wonderful pack of huskies whisks you along their beautiful snow-packed trails with an experienced musher.

March: Ski Under the Stars

Skiing under the stars is not to be missed, but you can’t do it just anywhere. To go night skiing during your stay in Winter Park, head to Ski Granby Ranch, where the smaller crowds and shorter lines at night mean maximum runs in a truly magical setting.

April: Experience Even Higher Altitude

 Scenic Mountain Flights, LLC offers year-round flying fun for all ages. Explore the wonders of Grand County from the air during a scenic introductory flight with an experienced flight instructor; obtain any number of pilot certifications and training from mountain flying to tailwheel transition.

May: Sample Our Local Beers and Spirits

May is the perfect time o year to stay indoors and taste our Rocky Mountain libations. Check out Hideaway Park Brewery and The Peak Bistro & Brewery for the best of the Winter Park microbrew scene. Plus, Winter Park is home to Idlewild Spirits Distillery where they create high quality and intriguing new-age spirits and killer cocktails. Our drinks are more potent at altitude so make sure to pace yourself, hydrate and eat a big meal before bar hopping.

June: Cruise Down Colorado’s Longest Alpine Slide

With 600 vertical feet of track, the alpine slide at Winter Park Resort is reminiscent of an Olympic bobsledding run. But this is one bucket-list worthy activity that even kids as young as 2 can take part in (when accompanied by an adult). And it’s just one of the many activities that make Winter Park Resort a must for families in the summer.

July: Get Your Groove On at 9,000 Feet

Summer is music festival season in Winter Park, and whether you prefer Blues, Jazz or Jam bands, we’ve got you covered. Highlights on the summer calendar include the Blues from the Top festival in June, the Winter Park Jazz Festival in July and the infamous High-Note Thursdays concert series every Thursday at Rendezvous Event Center in Hideaway Park (July-August). But whenever you visit, make sure to check out the local gig calendar we've got live music year-round!

August: Discover Your New Favorite Mountain Biking Trail

Between Trestle Bike Park, Bike Granby Ranch and all of the other mountain biking trails in and around Winter Park, we’ve got more than 600 miles for bikers to explore. But how many have you ridden? Discover your new favorite trail this year at Mountain Bike Capital USA™.

September: See the Fall Colors from a Hot Air Balloon

What’s the only thing better than seeing the fall foliage in Winter Park? Seeing it from the sky. Grand Adventure Balloon Tours offer morning flights from Fraser, where you can see Winter Park, the Fraser Valley and the rugged mountains beyond in all their golden glory.

October: Reel in a Trophy-Sized Trout

For Grand County anglers, fly fishing in October might be one of the area’s best-kept secrets. The month brings crisp weather, beautiful fall colors and hungry trout looking to bulk up before winter. Plus, the crowds have already left and you might even have your favorite fishing hole to yourself. Put that together and your chances of catching a monster trout just got a lot better.

November: Ski Opening Day at Winter Park Resort

Still have some sick days left this year? Save one for opening day of ski season at Winter Park Resort. Not only will you get to leave the first tracks of the season on the resort’s slopes, you’ll also get to take part in the opening day celebrations and have a chance to win prizes. Can’t get enough of opening day festivities? Head to Ski Granby Ranch in December for the start of the season there.

December: Watch the Christmas Eve Torchlight Parade

To celebrate Christmas Winter Park-style, head to Winter Park Resort on December 24^th for the annual Christmas Eve Torchlight Parade. The event kicks off with Christmas carols around a bonfire followed by a torch-lit ski parade, a visit from Santa, fireworks and a slope-side Christmas tree made of snowcats adorned with Christmas lights. Then after the show, head to a downtown pub or restaurant to warm up with a hot cocoa or a spiked eggnog.