Conditions Report
Report from Sunday, April 14, 2024
After extending its season twice, Monarch Mountain, Colorado, will close this coming Sunday, April 21, 2024. With the snowpack at 126% of the average, this season has been incredible compared to the rest of the USA.
Driving up towards Monarch Pass from Salida, it was apparent that the snow quality was incredible for April in southern Colorado. The parking lot is paved, which keeps dirt off of wet skis and boots at the end of the day—a blessing in disguise compared to other resorts in the region.
Monarch has a fixed grip four-seater and a beginner lift for a great experience with the whole family. From the summit, there are green trails to the base, meaning no one in the group will get left out.
The other three two-seater lifts are the highlight for intermediate to advanced skiers. They give the resort a classic feel, perfect for enjoying with a buddy or meeting the eccentric locals.
I started on the Garfield lift from the lowest lift accessible point at the mountain. It takes riders below Pioneer to a peak just higher. I skied a few laps in the soft spring snow below the lift, then traversed my way over to Gunbarrel.
The run goes directly into the parking lot, which is the site of the famous Gunbarrel Challenge on closing day, April 21. Find more information about the event here.
I then continued to the Panorama Lift to reach the summit of the mountain. The views were incredible, especially being located so close to the continental divide. The lift starts slightly higher on the mountain, which would keep the line shorter on busy mid-season weekends.
From here, locals have been working on a snake under the 60° sun without a cloud in the sky. Snake skiing is always a highlight of spring skiing, so if you haven’t skied one yet, put it on your bucket list. Once they get deep enough, it’s a fun challenge to see if you can ski fast enough to spray yourself on your next turn!
After tiring myself out on the snake, I continued to the Breezeway Chair and hiked into the Mirkwood zone. From the top, there is a large bowl one ridge over lookers right where tracks are much more limited than traditional lift-accessed terrain.
This area has some excitement coming with a proposal to add a chair off the back side into “No Name Basin,” which will add 377 acres of skiable terrain with a target of the 2025-26 season.
Monarch Mountain has terrain for every type of skier, a perfect layout for a spring skiing destination, and an exciting list of events, including the Gunbarrel Challenge this coming Sunday.
The Resort
Monarch Mountain is located three hours southwest of Denver and 30 minutes from the local town of Salida, CO. A 1,162 vertical drop, 800 skiable acres, and seven lifts make Monarch a mountain to add to your bucket list. For any Denver locals who don’t like I-70 traffic, the route from Denver avoids the highway completely!
Current Conditions
With one week left in the season, the snow is skiing incredibly fast. The mountain is spring slush. Most mountains in spring require warm weather wax to get moving, but I am still on cold weather wax and was sliding like mid-season 20-degree weather.
The snow is still clean and not dirty as many spring ski areas become towards the end of the season. The mountain is exposed, which makes for warm sunny days with exceptional conditions.
With one week left and many ski areas already closed for the season, get out there and enjoy the sunny laps while you still can for one more week!
Snow Numbers
Forecast
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