Tag: Hot Springs

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Monarch Mountain and Great Sand Dunes National Park

A view from chair lift at Monarch Mountain, Colorado

“My favorite thing about this mountain is the accessable powder stashes in Mirkwood.”

Sangre De Cristo MountainsGreat Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve

Monarch Mountain and Great Sand Dunes National Park

Snow-laden mountains and sand, this must be Colorado.  Monarch Mountain is a lesser-known ski area just west of Salida, Colorado. We got to it on a 10″ powder day.  The terrain is varied from fun double diamond steeps and glades to groomed cruisers. A hike-to-area called Mirkwood offers the best advanced level skiing. 

The Great Sand Dunes National Park is an hour and a half south of Salida, it’s like going to another world when you hike out onto the dunes. Well worth the trip. Wear shoes that are easy to empty out and if sand gets between the outer of the shoe and a Gore-Tex membrane it will ruin the shoes. Wear a shoe that is not Gore-tex or something similar. Wear a buff over your face if it is windy, sand can kick up quite a bit. Old sunglasses can keep the new ones from getting sand damage.

Once you are done, grab a soak. The San Luis Valley has a number of hot springs options.

Local hot springs:

Salida Hot Spring Aquatic Center

Joyful Journey Hot Springs

Sand Dunes Recreation Area

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Wolf Creek – My recent powder chasing

Alberta Peak Hike

“Great snow, friendly locals.”

Wolf Creek Ski Resort

Near the southern border of Colorado, on the south side of the mountains, Wolf Creek Ski Area averages 430 inches of snow each season. That is the most in the state. On the western side of Wolf Creek Pass, where the ski area is located, is Pagosa Springs. It’s a great place to stay with hot springs and decent food, just 30 minutes away. On the eastern side, South Fork is about the same distance. It is a less expensive and more typical Colorado small-town experience.

I was lucky this past Wednesday. Wolf Creek had received a recent 24″ on top of an 80″ base, and an area called Horseshoe Basin had been closed for most of the recent snowfall. The nights remained very cold, so the snow quality was excellent. I had some great runs on untouched powder.

When describing a ski area, my perspective is that of a better skier that spends his time going from one good shot to the next and less about trails. Call it skiing areas rather than skiing trails. If you are reading this, I guess that you view skiable terrain like this as well. Wolf Creek has two main sections, in my opinion, the upper areas that require hiking and the lower trails that are all lift accessed. The one notable exception is the Waterfall Area with its cliffs, trees, and steeps. Hiking Alberta Peak gives excellent views and accesses some fun terrain. A hike up and out along the Knife Ridge will give you access to a ton of shortish chutes and shots. Keep going on the Ridge, and there is a snowcat that will take you to Horseshoe Bowl. To check and see if the cat is running, they post information at the bottom of the lifts and the Ridge on the patrol shack.
I’ve found the best skiing to be just skier left and skier right of the bowl. One great thing about the mountain is the locals’ willingness to share beta on what is skiing well. The place is very friendly.

Bonus: Go skiing on a Locals Appreciation Day for a 20/21 Season $58!

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Verde Hot Springs

“A high clearance road, perfect for a loaded KLR. The trip ends at a free dispersed camping area. The hot springs are a little over a mile up river on the opposite bank.”

The springs are funky. Built-in the 1920s, the resort burned in the 1960s. If you bring some paint to leave your mark, you wouldn’t be alone. You will meet a lot of locals there.

This is a good description of the hot springs. Verde Hot Springs Guide

Ride to Verde Hot Springs

I started my ride in Camp Verde, AZ, a convenient town to get gas or supplies. From State Route 260, it was about an hour of riding to the campground on FR 708 (Fossil Creek Raod). I stopped a lot to look around, so the time is an estimate. I also ride pretty slow. Along the way, there are a few hot springs signs to help you with the turns. Right now, FR 708 from the intersection of FR 502 to the Town of Strawberry is closed due to road damage. Google Maps showed that it open. To get to Payson, you will have to retrace your route back to State Route 260.

Keep in mind, it’s a high desert and can get hot. It was 85 degrees at the end of October when I rode in. The road can be loose, rutted, and muddy. My tires are Shinko 705s and did just fine most of the time, but I can see how wet conditions might make it a challenging ride in some sections.

You will see signs telling you that you need a permit. You don’t need a permit. The permit system is for Fossil Creek Road, and you will pass the permitted parking areas. FR 502 is a bad road, so be ready for a more challenging ride from the intersection down to Childs Power Plant.

I was there on a busy Saturday, and there was no problem finding a camping spot. It was more crowded than I’d prefer so on busy days go early. If staying late, make sure you have a decent headlamp for the hike. It is rough, with no real good markings, and you should wear sturdy shoes or sandals. You will get wet crossing the river to the springs. The amount of wet varies with the season and can be cold and have high water.