Wolf Creek Skiing & Snowboarding Resort Guide
Wolf Creek is a small ski area by Colorado’s standards. It doesn’t have a huge base area village like Vail, it doesn’t have escalators that bring skiers and snowboarders to the lifts like Beaver Creek, but it does have some of deepest snow and best powder riding in Colorado. Located in southern Colorado, Wolf Creek receives a huge amount of snowfall every winter on the 1,600 acres of skiable terrain. The snow is no the only remarkable quality, however, Wolf Creek is laid back ski and snowboard area with a great small community feel that is not often found across the state. With plenty of terrain options for experts and beginners alike, Wolf Creek is an awesome stop on a southern Colorado ski and snowboard trip.
The layout of Wolf Creek Ski and Snowboard area is simple, the skier’s left side of the mountain has five chairlifts and a magic carpet that serve beginner, intermediate and some advanced terrain, while the skier’s right side of the mountain has two chairs that serve the wide array of advanced and expert terrain. The beginner and intermediate areas are nice for learning, few crowds also mean plenty of room to hone those skills.
The crown jewel for powder hounds is the Alberta Lift. This lift brings skiers and snowboarders to the base of the Knife Ridge, which is chock-full of steep bowls, chutes, glades and natural features. This experts-only playground is accessed by hiking along the metal Knife Ridge staircase and down the ridge that goes all the way to Horseshoe Bowl and the ski area boundary. These runs are relatively short, but what they lack in length they make up for in pure fun. The longer skiers and snowboarders are willing to hike, the more fresh tracks they’re rewarded with; the hike to Horseshoe Bowl takes about 30 minutes. Wolf Creek doesn’t see a ton of crowds, so the powder can last for days out here. Snowboarders beware, accessing this terrain does require some traversing.
A typical powder day for the expert skier at Wolf Creek will look kind of like this: head up the Treasure Chair and drop into the Alberta Face and head towards the Waterfall area on the way to the Alberta Lift. Be careful in the Waterfall Area, as some of the lines have mandatory cliffs. Once on top of the Alberta Lift there are tons of options. Skiers and snowboarders can hike the Knife Ridge, sample the Numbered Chutes, or head back to Waterfall. It’s not necessary to hike for fresh turns the morning after a storm, the terrain off of the Knife Ridge holds powder stashes for a long time. Take as many laps as your legs can handle off of the Knife Ridge, then think about heading up to Alberta Peak, to catch some nice views on your way back down to the car.
Wolf Creek ski and snowboard area is located in southern Colorado, just north of the New Mexico Border. Driving, Wolf Creek is four and a half hours from Denver, 30 minutes from the nearby town of Pagosa Springs, and four hours from Albuquerque.
Travel Resources:
Travel Directions to Wolf Creek
Wolf Creek ski and snowboard area is located in southern Colorado, just north of the New Mexico Border. Driving, Wolf Creek is four and a half hours from Denver, 30 minutes from the nearby town of Pagosa Springs, and four hours from Albuquerque.
Travel Directions to Wolf Creek
Pagosa Springs is the best place to stay while visiting Wolf Creek. The small town is 30 minutes to the west, and has a nice selection of lodging, food, and some great hot springs. The town isn’t a glamorous destination resort like Vail, but it has some nice mountain town charm and plenty of comforts to keep powder hounds charged up and ready to get after it on the mountain. It’s hard to beat a good soak in some hot springs after a long day of shredding. The Overlook Hot Springs have indoor baths as well as some rooftop baths that overlook Pagosa Springs.
Pagosa Springs Hotels
Overlook Hot Springs
Overlook Hot Springs
Our Favorite Snowboards For Wolf Creek
Local Food Picks
Pagosa Springs has some tasty eats and drinks in town. Riff Raff Brewing is an awesome place to get an apres ski beer, and is powered by geothermal energy from the local hot springs. The local goat meat Cabrito burger is the special not to be missed. The Peak Deli has tasty breakfast burritos. Grab one on the way to the slopes and you won’t be disappointed.Riff Raff Brewing
The Peak Deli
Our Favorite Skis For Wolf Creek
Where to Find Lift Tickets to Wolf Creek?
One of the most compelling reasons to plan a visit to Wolf Creek is the lift ticket prices. Wolf Creek has some of the cheapest skiing and snowboarding lift tickets in Colorado. Seniors and children receive discounted Wolf Creek lift tickets, too. Tickets are not available online and must be purchased at the base area.Wolf Creek Weather Information
Wolf Creek receives some of the most snow of any ski and snowboard area in Colorado. Over 430” fall every year on the slopes. Many storms that bring only a couple of inches to central Colorado resorts dump more than a foot at Wolf Creek. This location is somewhat remote, so the crowds that afflict other Colorado ski and snowboard resorts don’t often venture down south. This keeps the powder fresh for days.Wolf Creek Ski Report
No crowds, steep terrain, and deep powder make Wolf Creek an awesome Colorado ski and snowboard destination. The small ski area feel, and awesome terrain off of the Alberta lift make for really fun skiing and snowboarding. The lack of a developed base area and somewhat remote location mean that Wolf Creek is often overlooked, however, this small resort is definitely worth a stop on a southern Colorado ski trip, or even a destination in itself.
