The area
Things to Do
Two million acres of national forest start at our back fence. Here is what people come for.
Warm months
Green season
From ice-out to first snow, South Fork is one of the most under-visited outdoor towns in Colorado. Free area trail maps are available in the office — ask us where the fish are.
Spring–Fall
Fishing
More than thirty miles of the Rio Grande are designated Gold Medal water, with thirteen-plus lakes and a tangle of streams inside twenty minutes of town. The river is a short walk from the property.
Spring–Fall
Hiking
More than twenty trails in the area, from valley-floor strolls to summit pushes. Our own Ute Bluff Nature Trail leaves straight from the property.
Summer–Fall
Four-wheeling & ATVs
Endless forest service roads and trails through two million acres of national forest. Check a current forest service map for open routes — we keep them in the office.
Summer
Rafting
Pick your speed on the Rio Grande, from a slow float to real whitewater. The views are the same either way.
Summer–Fall
Mountain biking
Twelve area trails plus thousands of miles of forest service road, from beginner doubletrack to genuinely advanced terrain.
Summer
Golf
The Rio Grande Club has an eighteen-hole championship course with a driving range, putting green, pro shop and fitness center, plus more courses in the valley.
Summer–Fall
Horseback riding
Hourly rides, day trips and overnight specialty trips with local guides. Worth doing at least once.
Aug–Nov
Hunting
Elk, deer, moose and bear in the surrounding mountains, with archery from August and rifle seasons from October. Game units 76, 79 and 80 are readily accessible from here.
All year
Bird watching & sightseeing
Sandhill cranes in the valley, raptors over the bluffs, and drives like the Silver Thread Scenic Byway right out the door.
Cold months
Snow season
Wolf Creek Ski Area advertises the most snow in Colorado, and it is not marketing. We are about twenty miles down Highway 160 from the lifts — close enough for first chair, far enough to be affordable.
Winter
Skiing & snowboarding
Wolf Creek Ski Area: 1,600 acres, five lifts, fifty trails, plus backcountry and tree skiing for the adventurous. Terrain for first-timers and for people who know exactly what they are doing.
Winter
Snowmobiling
More than 255 miles of groomed and marked trails maintained by two local clubs, plus open meadows and steep hill climbs. Rentals and guide services available in the area.
Winter
Cross-country & snowshoeing
Nordic tracks at the ski area and over a hundred miles of groomed cross-country trails, with snowshoeing anywhere you can park.
Winter
Ice fishing
Several area lakes freeze hard enough to fish. Quiet, cold, and surprisingly productive.
Winter
Ice climbing
A newer sport here, on frozen waterfalls and the ice walls that form on the rocks up Wolf Creek Pass.
Winter
Sledding & snowcat tours
Sleigh rides, sledding hills and backcountry snowcat tours round out the days you are not on the hill.
Local resources
Stop by the office for free area trail maps and current conditions. These are the sources we send guests to:
- southfork.org — area visitor information
- wolfcreekski.com — Wolf Creek Ski Area
- southforktrails.com — area trails
- fishtheupperrio.com — Rio Grande fishing
Build your trip around it
Tell us what you want to do and we will tell you the best week to come do it.