Two of Colorado’s most beloved mountain retreats, YMCA of the Rockies Estes Park Center and Snow Mountain Ranch, located in Granby, offer some of the state’s best winter adventures and holiday traditions.
Both locations rest on either side of Rocky Mountain National Park, with year-round access to idyllic mountain adventures. They also both offer affordable lodging, ranging from hotel-style lodge rooms to multi-bedroom private and cozy cabins, perfect for families, couples, and group gatherings.
Many on-property activities are also included with a stay, making for the perfect winter getaway.
Below are some winter highlights from the Estes Park Center and Snow Mountain Ranch. For additional information and to book a reservation, visit www.ymcarockies.org.
Nestled on more than 850 acres bordered on three sides by Rocky Mountain National Park, YMCA of the Rockies Estes Park Center is an ideal destination for magical, affordable winter fun. Guests can enjoy a number of on-site, seasonal activities during the day – including sledding, snowshoeing, ice skating, roller skating, indoor swimming or rock climbing and more – and return to their cozy lodge room or private cabins at night.
Of course, the mountains bring the magic during the holiday season. Guests can visit with Santa, drive through thousands of holiday lights in the on-property Christmas village, and attend New Year’s Eve events, including a family-friendly dance party. And the town of Estes Park itself is a must-visit winter destination – with its annual Catch the Glow holiday festival, local boutique shops, and charming restaurants.
- Free Rentals at the Ice Skating Rink – Ice skating is a favorite winter tradition at the Estes Park Center. Guests can grab their free skate rentals and twirl, glide, and jump around the outdoor rink to their heart’s content.
- Free Guided Snowshoe Hikes + Private Bonfire Rings – YMCA of the Rockies is known for its guided hikes, included with a stay. Area experts will lead guests through the winter wonderland of Rocky Mountain National Park on snowshoe adventures that range from beginner to expert. At the end of the day, guests can relax and share stories of their day around a private bonfire with hot cocoa and s’mores.
- Santa Visits and Gift Deliveries – On Saturdays through December 28, guests can share their holiday wishes, visit with Santa and snap a photo at the Lula Dorsey Museum. Guests can also sign up for a time for a personal visit by the jolly old man on Christmas Eve at their cabin or lodge room – and he will even deliver gifts on guests’ behalf. Sign-ups are available on December 23rd and 24th until 3 PM. Visits will happen on December 24 from 6-9pm.
- Polar Express PJ Story Time at the Maude Jellison Library – The Maude Jellison Libraray will host a special Polar Express PJ story time for guests. Pajamas are encouraged for this sing-a-long and reading of the classic Polar Express story; and the library will also have a toy train village, treats, hot cocoa and more.
- Saturdays December 7, 14, 21, 6:30- 7:15 PM
- Monday December 23, 6:30 PM
- Estes Park Center Christmas Light Displays: View YMCA of the Rockies’ holiday light display on the property buildings and some cabins from late November to early January.
- 2nd Annual Winterfest Weekend, February 15-17 – Taking place over President’s Day Weekend, guests can experience a number of snowy fun activities, from guided snow ecology hikes to snowshoeing classes, winter-themed scavenger hunts, snowball capture the flag, snowman building contests and more.
Located in Granby, CO, between Winter Park Ski Resort and Rocky Mountain National Park, true to its name, YMCA of the Rockies Snow Mountain Ranch is the ultimate winter wonderland. The 5,100-acre property offers Nordic skiing and snowshoeing on nearly 100K of groomed, world-class terrain, private and group cross country ski lessons and rentals, dog sled experiences, winter horse drawn sleigh rides, ice skating, indoor archery and rock climbing, nostalgic roller skating, and much more.
Accommodations include hotel-style lodge rooms starting at $125 per night and Nordic ski-in and ski-out, pet-friendly cabins starting at $219 for a 2 bedroom. Winter activities include:
- Holiday Magic: From the treasured Christmas tree cutting experience, horse drawn holiday sleighrides for the family and well-behaved pups as well, Nordic ski and snowshoes through the forest, present deliveries by Santa to cozy cabins, warm bonfires with s’mores and cocoa, holiday crafts and gift wrapping at the craft center, to weekly roller skate discos, Snow Mountain Ranch offers the ultimate holiday experience in the mountains.
- Cut Down Your Own Christmas Tree: An annual pet-friendly tradition for many families and friends, Snow Mountain Ranch offers a festive Christmas Tree Cutting experience through December 18. Guests can purchase a tree-cutting ticket and they will receive hand saws and directions to head out on a winter adventure to find the perfect Christmas tree. Overnight guests can cut down a tree for free.
- Dog Sled With Huskies: Meet the team and tour the beautiful property on a dog sled adventure. Reservations are required for both the long and short sled dog rides.
- Nordic Ski Adventures: The Snow Mountain Ranch Nordic Center offers nearly 100K of groomed, world-class cross country ski terrain meandering through pine forest, wide meadows and along a mountain creek. For leisure skiers to experts, the Nordic Center, which serves as an official cross country gear testing site, offers classic and skate skiing as well as snowshoeing, lessons for guests and will host a range of competitions through the season. Additionally, the Snow Mountain Nordic Center also has a real-time grooming report called the Nordic Pulse.
For additional information and to book a reservation, visit www.ymcarockies.org.
