Winter Activities

Winter at our luxury guest ranch offers a different, but equally refreshing variety of activities.

Nearby Discovery Ski Area (about 25 minutes from the Ranch), has seven lifts, 67 runs and a vertical drop of 2,350 feet. This low-key, family-friendly resort offers a great mix of beginner to expert terrain, consistently great snow, and uncrowded slopes. The Discovery Ski School offers instruction for children and adults. 

The same hiking and mountain biking trails available during the summer turn into myriad cross-country ski opportunities when there’s snow on the ground. From the Paradise Trailhead (a short shuttle from the main Ranch) over twenty miles—and five different loops—of groomed cross-country trails through mountain meadows and pine forests provide sprawling vistas of the valley floor. The Ranch stocks an array of boots and skis for our guests’ use.

Prefer trekking to sliding? Check-out a pair of snowshoes from The Rod & Gun Club and explore at will. Lightweight, state-of-the-art snowshoes allow you to move freely and easily across the snow, exploring the miles of groomed trails or heading off trail into our 6,800 acres of undisturbed powder.

We have ice skates and hockey equipment in a variety of sizes. Our wilderness “rink with a view” is located just steps from The Granite Lodge, with a rink-side warming hut where you can warm your toes and sip your hot chocolate by the campfire. There is also an outdoor stereo and lights for night-time outings.

What would winter be without sledding? A shuttle to Elk Ridge brings you to a perfectly angled sledding hill with a generous run-out for slowing down. Cottontail Hill, closer to the main Ranch, is a great slope for our younger guests.

Sleigh rides are a great way to enjoy the winter scenery. Let us hitch up our Belgian mares for an old-fashioned sleigh ride through this winter wonderland. We won’t forget to bring along the blankets and the thermos of hot chocolate or hot buttered rum.  You can also enjoy the winter splendor by horseback, snowmobile or our Snowcat.

Or, let us pamper you in the spa.  Treat yourself to a Rock Creek Ritual or other soothing treatment.  We offer quiet rituals where you can experience relaxation, beauty or intuitive pampering.

The Mercantile, our gift shop filled with cowboy couture merchandise, is open from 9am - 5pm, 7 days per week.  Appointments are available if you would like to shop outside business hours.