Monarch Travel Guide, Colorado

Located in central Colorado on the Continental Divide, on scenic U.S. Highway 50, Monarch Mountain is so easy to get to provided that you take 285 south to U.S. Highway 50.

It nests in the pine and aspen trees at San Isabel National Forest and has some of the best tree skiing in the state with all natural snow.

At a base elevation of 10,790 feet, Monarch can be seen as a quick getaway escape for anyone and you don’t have to worry about the hassles of traffic to and from the ski area. Monarch has a lot to offer: there are over fifteen areas of affordable lodging around the ski area and the neighboring town of Salida, inexpensive restaurants and great activities the most sought of which are of course alpine, telemark and backcountry skiing. Snowboarding is also an attraction.

With friendly staff on and off the mountain the resort has gained the reputation of being friendly and laid back. There’s also a continuous desire to make things better and improvements on the sight have not ceased to come. One of the recent ones is about providing new, challenging terrain so they have been on to widening some trails and adding 130 acres of awesome backcountry (extreme) skiing in Mirkwood Basin to the already existing 770 backcountry acres accessed by Monarch Snowcat Tours.

One of the greatest things about the resort is the abundant, natural snowfall. They only use Mother Nature’s snow to ski and ride on which makes skiing and boarding an amazing experience.

Monarch has 54 trails on 800 skiable acres fit for skiers of all levels, be it intermediate looking for an ever-more challenging run or the expert looking for fresh and untracked deep powder. Beginners and children have a place of their own here in Monarch as it is a family-oriented resort with on-site day care facility, well-trained professional staff expert in early childhood development. Check out the special programs for women and children!

Family vacations are all about making memories, whether it’s watching your child try skiing for the first time, or remembering your childhood attempt on the slopes and here at Monarch you can get all that. All of the runs at Monarch flow naturally to the base area so you will always be able to meet up with your friends and family.

For the Ski & Ride School classes the meeting point is right at the base of the mountain but children and adults meet in different areas and are taught with other similar age students. You will get the fastest learning curve for individuals or families and instructors are sure to make your mountain experience the ultimate. There will be only some few steps from learning to put on your gear to getting on the slopes and glide down a gentle ramp. You will turn into a skier or snowboarder in no time. Children are sure to have great fun and they will be well looked after with breaks and lunch being included in the Children’s programs.

Monarch also has spectacular views and plenty of snowcat skiing terrain, around 900 acres. It is steep, expert terrain with varying conditions to be expected.

Other fun activities are also around the corner. Great shopping for gifts and skiing equipment, live music, fine dining, colorful art galleries and there’s the Boatercross" event (kayaks racing on snow). Being a year-round resort Monarch Mountain has a lot to offer in summer, too.

The friendly welcome and the complete range of cultural and sporting events will make any stay an experience. Go to Monarch and be prepared for one of the best snow days you've ever had!