A growing number of people are discovering the joys of exploring Rocky Mountain National Park on cross-country skis and snowshoes. Snow conditions are often best from January through March. Snowshoeing has become especially popular in recent years. Made of lightweight materials with antislip surfaces, modern snowshoes have come a long way from those big, awkward "tennis rackets" some of us remember, and are a great way to explore the outdoors in winter. Snowshoes are conveniently available for rent at area sporting-goods stores. Among shops that rent snowshoes is Estes Park Mountain Shop, 2050 Big Thompson Ave. (tel. 866/303-6548 or 970/586-6548; www.estesparkmountainshop.com). Daily rental costs about $6 per pair.
If you're headed into the backcountry for cross-country skiing or snowshoeing, stop by park headquarters for maps, information on snow conditions, and a free backcountry permit if you plan to stay out overnight. Keep in mind that trails are not groomed. On winter weekends, rangers often lead guided snowshoe walks on the east side of the park and guided cross-country ski trips on the west side. Participants must supply their own equipment.
One popular winter recreation area for both skiing and snowshoeing is Bear Lake because of its numerous connecting trails. It's a good idea to be prepared to spend the night out if you are going any distance at all from the road. Check at visitor centers for current conditions, particularly avalanche danger areas. Ice-skating on Bear Lake is not prohibited, but the ice is not particularly good for skating -- it's bumpy and usually covered with snow.
South of the park's east entrances, off Colo. 7 about 1 mile north of the community of Allenspark, is the Wild Basin Area. Cross-country skiing along the trails in this area is becoming increasingly popular. A 2-mile road -- the last mile is closed to motor vehicles in winter -- winds through a subalpine forest to the Wild Basin Trailhead, where you can follow the 2.7-mile Ouzel Falls Trail. Your chances for spotting birds, such as Clark's nutcrackers, Steller's jays, and the American dipper, along the trail are good. On winter weekends, the Colorado Mountain Club often opens a warming hut at the Wild Basin Ranger Station.
