Breaking news: The XC skiing around Telluride is just as good as the downhill

December 28, 8:11 PMMinneapolis Outdoor Recreation ExaminerMarie Malinowski

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The Telluride Valley Floor 

My plan for today was to teach my brother’s girlfriend how to XC ski in the morning at the Nordic Ski Center and on the Valley Floor, and then downhill ski in the afternoon.

The problem was that the half-day lift ticket—to ski three hours—was $82. What the…??? I nixed the downhill attempt and spent the afternoon XC skiing up at Trout Lake.

While the Nordic Ski Center and the Valley Floor were perfectly coifed, Trout Lake was wild, pristine, and semi-bushwhacked by snowshoers and skiers.

Trout Lake (9,710 ft), twenty minutes south of Telluride, is one of Colorado’s most scenic lakes. It used to be part of the route of the Rio Grande Southern Railroad, which once looped around the west side of the lake. The old water tank and trestle still stand as stately reminders of a bygone era.

The ski trail starts at the railroad trestle and follows the old rail bed, which is a double-track mountain bike trail in the summer. It took me through wooded forests and open meadows. The snow glistened in the sun, making it sparkle. Large mountains towered above me in every direction: Yellow Mountain to the north (12,713 ft), Sheep Mountain to the south (13,188 ft), and Vermillion Peak to the west (13,894 ft). Today was another one of those days where I questioned why I continue to live in Minnesota. Sure, Minnesota has great XC ski trails, but our highest peak, Eagle Mountain, is 2,301 feet.

If you come out here for a winter vacation, try to fit in a day or two of XC skiing on some of the great trails the area has to offer. Best of all, it won’t cost you $95 for a full-day ticket or $82 for a half-day. 

The Telluride Nordic Center: 

Railroad trestle at Trout Lake:

Yellow Mountain and San Miguel Peak:

Yellow Mountain:

I don't know the name of this one but it's pretty:

Yellow Mountain:

Although I'm not 100% sure, I think this is the Wilson Massiff:

Sheep Mountain:

Look! A mountain!

Mountains...

Yellow Mountain...

Creek that runs into Trout Lake:

Trout Lake:

Lizard Head Peak:

Remind me again why I live in Minnesota? Oh. Right. Because I have a job there.