Granby Ranch

The Rocky Mountains house more than the continental divide, the range is are also home to some of the best winter venues in North America. In Colorado, the Ski Granby Ranch provides a family-oriented experience with casual skiing and riding. Many snow hounds consider the ski area one of Colorado's better learning venues because of its terrain.

Interstate travel gets motorists close if they use I-70. Exiting near Empire will put them on US Route 40, which provides access to the ski area just south of the town of Granby. The largest airfield will be Denver International Airport, which sits right off of I-70 on the east side of Denver.

Family-Owned and Family-Friendly

The Ski Granby Ranch winter venue is a smaller ski resort that is family-owned. Plenty of ski bums prefer the relaxed "bro" atmosphere here over the corporate vibe found across the state's ski industry. That does not mean that guests will not have access to the basics. A lodge at the base area provides visitors with drinks, food, along with a rental shop that offers demos and tune-ups as well.

Dining options are available on-site at the Ski Granby Ranch resort, including both grab-and-go or sit-down dining. Ski bums staying overnight can rent ski-in/ski-out lodging at the base area or find accommodations five minutes away in Granby. The town also offers shopping and dining options off-mountain.

The terrain is beginner-friendly at Ski Granby Ranch, and so is the staff. Anyone new to alpine skiing, riding, Nordic skiing, or snowshoeing will find the winter venue welcoming. Anyone wanting to learn has half-day group lessons or private lessons for up to five people available to them out of the main building. Instruction is not limited to first-timers, as classes will help lifetime skiers and snowboarders learn a trick or two as well.

The Rocky Mountain Way

Joe Walsh wrote and sang about the Rocky Mountain Way, but winter venues like Ski Granby Ranch offer individuals, families, and groups a chance to ski it. The base elevation here is at 8,202 feet, with the east mountain topping off at 9,202 feet. That provides visitors a 1,000-foot vertical drop to challenge them as they carve the slopes.

Ski Granby Ranch spreads across 400 acres, with over 40 runs between the east and west mountains. East has lots of gentle groomers, with most trails rated for beginners or intermediates. West is steeper with more bumps, creating the intermediate and advanced runs at the ski area. Ratings at Ski Granby Ranch break down evenly between green-rated easy runs, blue-rated trails that require some experience and black diamond-rated terrain that requires advanced skiing or riding skills.

Four chairs and a carpet move guests around Ski Granby Ranch, which does not receive the foot traffic that larger corporate resorts will. Annual average snowfall amounts are near 220 inches, with snowmaking capabilities found on parts of the slopes. Groomed tracks are also available for Nordic skiing, and once the sun goes down, skiers and riders can enjoy the pow under the stars.