Although the Colorado Rockies are a winter paradise for skiers and snowboarders, some of us prefer to diversify our snowy activities. Fortunately, there are plenty of other fun winter activities in Colorado for all ages, abilities, and stamina levels. Here are five favorites that you can do in Colorado’s winter wonderland.

Horse Drawn Sleigh Rides

Snuggle down into warm blankets as a team of horses pulls your sleigh through the crisp winter air. The sound of jingling bells serenades you as you travel through still forests and open meadows painted white with drifting snow.

Rides may culminate with a warm fire and an elegant meal in a homestead cabin, hot cocoa and a marshmallow roast around a roaring bonfire, or a chuckwagon dinner and live music at a backcountry camp.

Perfect for a romantic evening or family fun, horse drawn sleigh rides are available in many Colorado ski areas. They are sure to create magical moments and vacation memories for a lifetime.

Dog Sledding Tours

For a novel approach to winter fun, discover the rush of the wind whipping your face as you shout “Mush!” to up to 12 barking dogs pulling you eagerly along a backcountry trail. As the powerful huskies settle into their paces, you glide smoothly through the Colorado aspen and pine forests under their power.

The dogs receive excellent care and you’ll appreciate the relationship between the canine teams and their owners in this time-honored mode of transportation. Some tour operators offer hands-on instruction to guide your own team or you can snuggle into blankets and ride with a trained guide. Either way, dog sledding is an exciting adventure experience.

Snowmobiling

Whether you want to blaze your own trail or stick to groomed trails, you can feel the power as you buzz across the powder on a snowmobile. This sport is unquestionably one of the most popular winter activities in Colorado beyond the ski slopes.

There are hundreds and hundreds of miles of groomed snowmobiling trails and expansive off-trail options across the state. You can get incomparable views of the Continental Divide, visit goldrush sites, climb steep hillsides, and fly through powdery meadows.

Ice Skating

If you long to get back to the basics, ice skating is a winter activity you can find in many Colorado ski towns. In fact, Denver International Airport even has its own rink. Many outdoor rinks offer scenic mountain vistas and others are set among shops and après-ski venues. You can also ice skate on the crystal-clear, smooth natural ice of Lake San Cristobal near Lake City when the lake freezes over.

You might get to join a pick-up game of hockey, practice your figure 8s, or skate hand-in-hand under twinkling nighttime lights. Ice skating is an old-fashioned pastime for all ages that never goes out of date.

Snow Tubing

It’s hard to not feel like a kid again as you sail down a snowy hill. You’ll be forgiven if you giggle as you spin and whoop when you catch a little air over a bump. Then when you get to the bottom, tow ropes or a magic carpet pull you and your tube back to the top of the hill so you can make another run.

The best part about snow tubing is that anyone can do it – all you need to do is sit and have fun!

Colorado is a wonderland of winter activities where you can enjoy the gorgeous scenery, get active with plenty of social distancing, and forge vacation memories that will be hard to top. To plan your winter vacation in Colorado, contact your Covington advisor.