At Monarch Ski and Snowboard Area, Mother Nature beat man in the snow-making battle. With about 350 inches of snow a year and absolutely no snow-making equipment, loyal Monarch skiers and riders claim that the area's 100% natural snow makes all the difference. The ski area, located 20 miles west of the central Colorado city of Salida, is nestled among aspen and pine trees in the San Isabel Forest. From fine dining along the Arkansas River to whimsical art galleries and live music, Salida serves as a base camp for the backcountry enthusiasts that flock to Monarch's slopes, providing a historic feel and budding arts community. The scenery is striking, and the blissful backcountry skiing, short lines, friendly staff and laid-back atmosphere all make this small resort a great option for a quick family getaway.
Monarch has trails for every skill level and is quite well-rounded in its distribution. The backcountry skiing and riding that Monarch is known for is available on Monarch Mountain at Mirkwood Basin or via Snowcat tour. Mirkwood Basin recently added an additional 130 acres of backcountry skiing and riding, available via the Breezeway lift and a 15-minute hike along a cat-track. The basin offers 1,100 vertical feet of extreme double-black diamond terrain, allowing access to steep expert chutes, glades, rock cliffs, open bowls and tree skiing. Beware, "extreme" means slopes in the Basin have a minimum 50-degree average pitch over a 100-foot run and are truly only for the experienced skier or snowboarder. Monarch Mountain also has two terrain parks featuring rails, fun boxes and large hits.
5 lifts including 5 chair lifts.
54 runs - 21% beginner, 37% intermediate, 42% expert. Longest run is 5,280 feet.
Mountain Statistics: 1,170 feet vertical drop, 11,961 feet summit elevation, 670 acres, average annual accumulation 350 inches.
What you expect from a real Colorado ski area. Abundant natural snow (350 + in.) and friendly people are two of our strongest attributes.