Very few are lucky enough to call Wolf Creek, Colorado, home. Nestled between the vast San Juan mountains and the arid San Luis Valley, this ski area finds itself in a very unique location. Wolf Creek is a full 5-hour drive from Denver, has no onsite lodging, and is 20+ miles from the nearest towns of Pagosa Springs to the west and South Fork to the east. It would be hard to call this your hometown hill unless you live in one of these two towns, yet this family-operated ski area has achieved plenty of success and community recognition since the slopes first opened in 1939.
North Texans, locals who haven’t graduated to the backcountry, and people like myself often call Wolf Creek home. Growing up in Florida, I was only introduced to the great sport of skiing in my late teenage years, but it was love at first turn. When my family first moved to the Front Range during my junior year of high school, I quickly became determined to enjoy every inch of snow, ridge, and trail that this incredible state has to offer. I skied 64 days at 14 different ski areas this past season, and I can certainly say that my audacious 24-hour trips down past the Tenmile Range, through the quaint towns of the valley, and onto the continental divide at Wolf Creek Pass were some of my greatest memories of an incredible year. I met Pagosa locals, long-timer Texans, and a woman from Alaska, all with huge grins on their faces and an insatiable hunger for pow.
“The Most Snow in Colorado”
With an average annual snowfall of 430 inches, this place sees frequent 2+ foot storms and can hold powder for days, if not weeks. With a vertical drop of 1,604 feet, a lift-served area barely exceeding 1,000 acres, and only 3/8 lifts being high-speed quads, this spot is no mega-resort. Instead, the remote location, unique ride, and local vibe make this a must-visit destination for any true powderchaser. Although small on paper, this mountain has incredible, varied terrain, and there is nothing more rewarding than first tracks in the Horseshoe Bowl after a gorgeous ride on the snowcat. The Knife Ridge and its chutes are such an interesting challenge for expert skiers, and the Alberta Peak zone offers an additional above-treeline experience. As mentioned, though, most of the advanced/expert terrain and interesting features are not lift-served and require a moderate hike or snowcat ride when conditions allow.
While the Indigenous Peoples are of course the rightful custodians of the land, it is the spiritual home of brave and stoked — me included. This is the place where you sleep in the car with some buddies in the parking lot to drown in snow in the morning. It’s the place where you learn what hiking really is and it’s the place you may have to convince yourself to visit, but it will be worth it every time.
