Nestled between South Fork and Pagosa Springs, Colorado is the beautiful, family-run resort, Wolf Creek Ski Area. With a slogan including the well-earned title of having “The Most Snow in Colorado”, the resort is a unique gem that has something for everyone.

As one of the final resorts in Colorado that has not been bought out by a large corporation (yes, we are talking about you Vail) or pillaged by short-term rentals, it is an incredible place that has family-friendly vibes and a “kick back and relax” attitude.

Of, and of course, TONS OF SNOW!

#icebeard

Perhaps, one of the best attributes of the mountain resort is the lack of lift lines – even to the point of often riding a quad chair by yourself. Even a powder day during the busy season could give you a wait of less than a few minutes.

Here is an overview of what we like and what we don’t like from Wolf Creek Ski Area.

 

Pros of Wolf Creek Ski Resort

• Most Snow in Colorado averaging at 430 inches a year!
• Incredibly short lift lines (even on busy/powder days).
• Lack of crowds in advanced/expert terrain.
• Amazing Tree Skiing
• Low-Cost Lift Tickets ($82 for a full day).

 

Cons of Wolf Creek Ski Resort

• Lacks steep terrain (with only 1,604 ft. vertical drop)
• Small mountain compared to larger ski resorts in Colorado (1,600 skiable acres).
• Not many choices for expert features (rocks, cliffs, steeps).

 

In fact, the location of Wolf Creek makes for an interesting crowd compared to other ski resorts. With being 5 ½ hours away from Denver, it does not bring many people from the front range. Most of the visitors arrive from Texas, New Mexico, and the Midwest, which keeps the lifts servicing advanced/expert terrain fairly empty.

Regardless of if you are a complete beginner or an expert rider, here is what you can expect from this beautiful mountain resort.

 

What to Expect when Visiting Wolf Creek Ski Resort

 

There is a catch to the uncrowded ski resort:

• It has less skiable acreage compared to other Colorado ski resorts.
• The mountain is not as accessible to heavily populated areas.
• Wolf Creek is not very steep – only 1,604 feet in vertical drop.

As a much smaller ski area compared to other Colorado resorts, most groomers at Wolf Creek Ski Area are tailored to beginners and intermediate riders. There is only one groomer labeled as a black “Most Difficult” run at the Alberta lift, while the rest of the groomers are either green or blue runs.

 

Wolf Creek Ski Area is Great for Beginners and Intermediate Riders

As a beginner or intermediate, you will have plenty of options in any condition – especially the runs from Raven Chair, Bonanza, and Treasure Stoke.

If you are just learning the sport, then you will likely start off at the short Nova chair, which is a great area to learn your first turns (and quickly move up to one of the main lifts).

For the beginner/intermediate rider who has down their turns, we recommend Tranquility or Silver Streak from Treasure Stoke or Thumper from Raven Chair for some of the finest groomer runs.

If you are lucky to get out there on a fresh powder day, then Treasure Falls from the Treasure Stoke lift or Star Wars from the Bonanza Chair will surely put your legs to the test.

If you are visiting and want to avoid advanced and expert terrain, we recommend keeping to those lifts as the runs on the Alberta lift side of the mountain are more suitable for advanced riders looking for ungroomed runs through the forest.

** NOTE: Especially as a beginner or intermediate rider, it is crucial to ride with a partner when skiing through tree runs or in deep powder. Tree wells and deep snow can be a real danger and accidents happen all the time. Injury can often be avoided by riding with a partner. **

 

Deep Pow and Lush Forests for the Expert and Advanced Rider

If you are an advanced skier or snowboarder that has a knack for deep powder, tree runs, and expert terrain, then the Alberta lift and associated runs are going to be a real treat for you.

Don’t get me wrong, there are incredible pockets of snow to grab across the mountain, but the Alberta lift is specifically tailored to those ready for a fun forest adventure without having to know any “secret stashes”.

It is difficult to recommend any specific named run on this area of the mountain as it is basically one big forest ready for you to carve your own tree run. You can simply ride down the catwalk and enter the trees at any point and you will have a blast.

 

Know Before You Go

While Wolf Creek Ski Area is known for its exceptional tree skiing and deep powder, it has many flats that can (and will) get you stuck. Yes, I am talking about you – snowboarders.

It is good to be aware of which areas will flatten out on the terrain so you can follow other tracks to avoid being stuck. If riding down from the Alberta lift, there is one specific area (known as Venus Fly Trap) that will hold you down if you don’t keep your speed and power through it.

 

Hiking Terrain at Wolf Creek

Wolf Creek Ski Area has some fantastic hike-to terrain. From either Alberta or Treasure Stoke lifts, you can hike toward Alberta Peak, which offers so fantastic powder runs – even days after a fresh storm.

From the Alberta lift, you can hike skiers right to the Knife Ridge Staircase, which is literally a metal staircase on the edge of a cliff. After hiking the stairs, you end up opening many different runs all the way to the Horseshoe bowl. They even sometimes run a CAT that will transport riders across the ridgeline, cutting down on the hike time.

 

First Timers and Long Time Ski Warriors Welcome at Wolf Creek

From beginners to experts, Wolf Creek truly has something for everyone. If it is your first time visiting this wonderful mountain, make sure to check the weather at COTRIP.ORG to see the road conditions. Wolf Creek Pass can be one of the most challenging passes when it comes to winter weather and it is common to see people unprepared for the road.

If there is snow or ice on the road, make sure that you are either chained up or in 4-wheel drive and stocked up on windshield wiper fluid.

Whether you find yourself basking in the Colorado sun or blazing down the mountain in a snowstorm, you will without a doubt have an amazing time at Wolf Creek Ski Resort.