Monarch Mountain

Monarch Mountain located in South Central Colorado is what you expect from a real Colorado ski area.  Abundant natural snow (350 + in.) and friendly people are two of its strongest attributes.  You can walk from your car right to the lifts, prices are reasonable, and the runs flow naturally back to the base area.  At Monarch you'll lose the crowds but not your friends.

The mountain is very user friendly for all levels of skiers and riders, with a great blend of terrain for everyone.  You can ski a black diamond run while your friend goes down a blue intermediate run and still meet at the bottom.  With 350 inches of all natural snowfall annually Monarch is known for powder skiing.  Five chairlifts and two surface lifts serve 63 runs covering 800 acres.  For those looking for more adventure Monarch Snowcat Tours is rated as the top Snowcat operation in North America.

Inside the base lodge the ambience is warm and friendly, stoked by an honest to goodness wood burning hearth right in the center of the seating area-it's sure nice to see a crackling fire every once in awhile. The Cafeteria serves ski area standards; burgers, fries, chili, pizza, etc.  For a sit down full service meal the Sidewinder Restaurant and Saloon has great food, a selection of Colorado microbrews and old ski memorabilia.

Only 45 minutes away is the town of Gunnison where you will find everything you need to make your visit to Monarch complete.  Gunnison has an airport with flights arriving from all over the US on a daily basis.  There are all types of lodging options in Gunnison and many offer discounted lift passes with your stay.