Colorado (Cont'd)
Devil's Thumb Ranch is a lovely x-country area, with over 60 miles of groomed trails for skiing, snowshoeing, and dog-friendly trails (leash required). New to Cross-Country? Devil's Thumb offers lessons, and seasoned skiers can attend advanced technique clinics to better improve their time on the snow. They even have a spa for when you come back from the trails. devilsthumbranch.com
Utah
Powder Mountain has over 7,000 acres of awesome terrain, from winding novice trails to steep double-black powder runs, and a large terrain park. Powder Mountain has the most ski-able terrain of any resort in the country. The resort gets over 500" of snowfall each year, which means lots of great powder runs, but it also means that the roads can get difficult to drive. It is advised that you check road conditions before attempting to drive in the mountains, and know your vehicle's limits. www.powdermountain.com
Snowbird is another great ski resort in Utah. Along with great alpine skiing, Snowbird offer snowshoe trails, snowmobile tours, and aerial tram rides to the top of 11,000' Hidden Peak. Snowbird is a great place for advanced skiers, with dozens of black trails, but also features a family area, with a ski-through miners' camp. There are not many green trails on this mountain outside of the family area, and there is an awesome basin on the backside of the mountain, with trails of all skill levels swooping down into the bowl. www.snowbird.com
The Mountain Dell Ski Track, near Salt Lake City is a nice smooth trail winding through the sparkling white mountains. Unlike some x-country tracks, leave your dog at home. Dogs are not even allowed in the parking lot, due to the SLC Watershed. www.utahnordic.com/skiing/locations/mountain-dell
Arizona
There are not many ski options in Arizona, but the Arizona Snowbowl is a nice place to hit the snow. Although it is a fairly small ski area, it has trails for everyone, with exhilarating double-black runs in the upper bowl. Even though it's not Colorado Skiing, I recommend a trip to the Snowbowl; you can tell your friends that you went skiing in Arizona! www.arizonasnowbowl.com
Sunrise Park Resort in eastern Arizona proclaims itself as "Arizona's Premier Ski Destination". The resort is situated on three peaks, with trails for every skier; they even have cross-country trails. The Resort is not always open due to weather, so call ahead before you visit. sunriseskiparkaz.com
19 Southwest Highways & Fields