When you think of Colorado skiing, the first resorts that come to mind are usually those along the I-70 corridor, from Loveland all the way to Vail. Then there are the more distant, iconic destinations like the fashion-forward Aspen, the scenic box canyon of Telluride, or the challenging steeps of Crested Butte. Some might even mention Wolf Creek, known for being the snowiest spot in Colorado. However, there’s one resort that often goes unnoticed, even by me: Monarch. And with the breaking news of the Monarch expansion getting approval from the USFS to add another 376 acres of terrain, I had to take a closer look.
How Did I Not Know About Monarch?
I consider it my personal mission to discover ski areas that few people know about—places like Turner Mountain in Montana, Red River in New Mexico, and even Hickory in upstate New York. I thought I knew all the ski areas in Colorado, but somehow Monarch had escaped my notice.
Hidden In Plain Sight
Crested Butte casts a mighty big shadow in Central Colorado, and rightly so. Its extreme inbounds terrain will make any expert skier or snowboarder froth at the mouth. However, to get there from Denver, you have to drive on US-50 and pass right by Monarch.
At first glance, Monarch might seem modest with just a handful of lifts and only 800 acres. But when you look beyond the trail map, you realize there’s something more about this place among Colorado’s renowned resorts. It’s far enough from Denver to avoid city crowds, yet close enough to Crested Butte to not be considered a major destination.
Uses Every Acre And Snowflake Well
Monarch averages 350 inches of classic dry Colorado snow and has a base elevation just shy of 11,000 feet. This high elevation and consistent snowfall have allowed them to never use snow machines—it’s 100% Mother Nature delivered. Combine that with terrain diversity that offers everything from mellow cruisers to steep, technical terrain, along with some of the best tree skiing in Central Colorado, it has everything you’d want in a ski area.
Secret’s Out
Despite the common belief that small, family-owned ski resorts are a thing of the past, skiers and snowboarders are increasingly tired of the challenges posed by mega resorts. People are fed up with long lift lines, crowded parking lots, and the overall rat race. It’s why the Indy Pass is the fastest growing pass in the industry. And this shift is reflected in Monarch’s visitation numbers. They’ve grown from 140,000 when the current owners purchased it in 2002 to over 210,000 visitors in the 2022-23 season. In addition, pass sales more than doubled in the past three seasons.
Ensuring The Product Stays Good
People visit Monarch for its ease, nonexistent lift lines, and the powder stashes that can be found days after a storm. To maintain this experience, the first thing the owners did was address the parking issue. They purchased the Monarch Crest tram and restaurant atop Monarch Pass, just a short drive from the ski area, adding more than 500 parking spots. This was in addition to them expanding existing parking lots and upgrading base area facilities as well.
Up Next More Skiing
With more visitors, Monarch needed to provide more skiing terrain. They did this by securing approval from the Forest Service to expand into an area called “No Name Basin,” adding about 377 acres of north-facing slopes.
What Will The New Zone Entail
This expansion, previously accessed by Monarch’s cat-skiing operation, will feature 10 cut trails and an additional 75 acres of gladed terrain for skiers and snowboarders to explore. A fixed-grip triple chairlift, rising nearly 1,000 vertical feet, will serve the mostly intermediate and advanced terrain. The bottom terminal will also include a warming house and restrooms.
What Makes It Special
There are over 120 ski areas in the United States on Forest Service land. While more than a dozen ski area terrain expansions have occurred in Colorado in recent years, Monarch’s expansion is notable as the first in 15 years to seek Forest Service permission to expand beyond the resort’s special-use permit boundary. And Monarch’s proposal was approved!
Last Time Was A Strict NO!
In the mid-2000s, Crested Butte attempted to expand beyond its special-use permit boundary. Their plan was to add 276 acres of new ski terrain on neighboring Snodgrass Mountain. This would then connect to a new village on private land in the valley floor. But that time after five years of intense study, the Forest Service rejected the plan due to geological concerns.
With Monarch’s expansion approved and underway this summer, it’s yet another reason we need to visit this lesser-known ski resort.
Monarch is a classic Colorado land mark. Just up hill from Salida you can often drive by over the pass and miss it. But drive down at 3-4pm and you’ll encounter the day skiers heading back to Salida. There is no on mountain or even off mountain lodging. The one hotel that was nearby closed. Probably was condemned but who knows. The town of Salida is a not so hidden gem. A few years back it was noticed by “big money.” The near by Arkansas River and open land meant development. We drove through town just a few weeks ago to grab some ice cream at a local favorite. The river side is now packed with everything from full zero lots homes to mini houses. The town has a great history and lots to see and experience. Plenty of food choices with a great restaurant over looking the river. Summer it’s a good place to mountain bike and rafting or kayaking. You can stroll the downtown area where there are lots of fun shops to explore. Lodging varies from fun bujee boutique motels to condos. Prices vary depending on the time of year. The fishing on the Arkansas is first rate. Lots of place to camp or glamp! Once winter arrives and Monarch opens the town seem less crowded. Monarch has great terrain and if the area that the Forest Serves has allowed to be incorporated into Monarch the fun has just begun. The former cat skiing was from what I’ve heard a put your big panties on. Will see what happens this winter when we visit. Hoping for some face shots and lots of whooping it up. Salida is always a great place to stop. The locals are nice and welcoming. Lots of things to do besides the outdoor activities. They have a first rate medical facility that is state of the art.