Guides, Summer Guides

Top 10 MUST DOs in Winter Park summer

Winter Park is all winter in the winter, but we are all park in the summer! Our natural playground is why we were voted Colorado’s Top Adventure Town. You can find fun for every level of adventurer in your group. Here’s what we vote as our Top 10 Summer Experiences:

1. Ride The Gondola

summer experiences, Top 10 MUST DOs in Winter Park summer

The newest addition to Winter Park Resort, The Gondola is the best way to experience the beauty of this incredible area. Take in the breathtaking views with nine of your friends all from the comfort of an enclosed gondola cabin. Waiting for you at the top is Sunspot Lodge, guided hikes, and bike trips, as well as delicious eats perfect for any time of day. This is a ride you won’t want to miss!

2. Experience a Sunset from Sunspot

A view-filled ride on The Gondola will take you to one of the best alpine lodges around. Featuring an expansive deck, refreshing drinks, and an unmatched view of Rocky Mountain sunsets, Sunspot Mountaintop Lodge is your summertime mountaintop destination. Spend an afternoon enjoying lunch on the patio, or stop by for a cold beer after a hike. How you choose to Sunspot is up to you!

3. Ride the Alpine Slide

summer experiences, Top 10 MUST DOs in Winter Park summer

Not all alpine slides are created equal. The Winter Park Resort Alpine Slide is Colorado’s longest, and with two tracks to choose from, you’ll have a blast cruising down to the base. The ride is a thrill for all ages and should be on your summer experiences bucket list.

4. Take a Bike Ride

summer experiences, Top 10 MUST DOs in Winter Park summer

Whether you’re a first-time rider or an adrenaline junkie, Winter Park has cycling options perfect for every member of your summer adventure crew.

Join a Winter Park guide for the Summit to Base tour, a mellow downhill ride featuring a variety of stunning views as you cruise your way from the summit down to the base. If sightseeing is more your speed, take The Gondola up to Sunspot Lodge to join in on a guided e-bike tour. Coast and pedal your way from Sunspot Lodge to Lunch Rock. This unique tour will provide majestic  views the mountains from beginning to end. Trestle Bike Park, one of the world’s premier downhill bike parks, features over 40 miles of lift-serviced downhill trails with options for every skill level.

5. Go on a Guided Hike

summer experiences, Top 10 MUST DOs in Winter Park summer

Join an Adventure Concierge guide for one of the most unforgettable Colorado summer experiences. Hike your way from Lunch Rock to the Cirque where 360 degree views of the Continental Divide, the Fraser Valley, and adjacent mountain ranges will be sure to leave you breathless. Or, for a more serene and accessible hiking adventure, hike alongside your guide out to Fantasy Meadow to experience peace and tranquility high in the Rockies.

6. Attend Village Uncorked

Every weekend in the summer is buzzing with activity, but the weekend of Fourth of July, Winter Park Resort hosts Village Uncorked – a day to drink wine in the mountains. We promise that after attending this event, you’ll realize why it’s on our favorite list!

summer experiences, Top 10 MUST DOs in Winter Park summer

Village Uncorked also typically falls on the same day as the Run for Independence. You can get a 5 mile run in on the morning and then indulge in wine tasting throughout the afternoon. Be sure to check out the full calendar of events happening in Winter Park and Fraser this summer!

7. Explore the Fraser River Trail

summer experiences, Top 10 MUST DOs in Winter Park summer

As the name implies, the paved trail follows the Fraser River from Winter Park Resort to the adjacent town. The trail offers an easy route right through downtown Winter Park, with beautiful scenic spots or areas to stop and play in the river! This trail makes getting into nature really easily accessible for anyone, given its gentle slope and multiple stopping points. It also lends itself to wildlife viewings. Keep your eyes peeled for moose, foxes, deer, and whatever else you might be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of. *Pro tip* – walk or ride your bike to High Note Thursdays in the park for live music!

8. Enjoy a Cocktail Outdoors

Drinks are always best when drank outside, right?? When it comes to summer in Colorado the answer is an obvious “yes”! No matter if you’re staying at the resort or exploring the town of Winter Park, the Fraser Valley has a number of tremendous settings for enjoying a drink out on a patio. Here are a few of our fav’s:

  • Vertical: Delicious cocktails, a dog-friendly deck, and walking distance from all of the fun at the base of Winter Park.
  • Hideaway Brewery: A rotating tap list always sure to impress paired with a lively porch out front.
  • Sunspot Mountaintop Lodge: Mountaintop drinks, stunning sunsets, and delicious food all accessed by a view-filled ride on The Gondola.

9. See a Concert at Hideaway Park

summer experiences, Top 10 MUST DOs in Winter Park summer

You’ll have many opportunities to enjoy music at Hideaway Park. High Note Thursdays offer weekly fun with a local crowd and true mountain town vibes. Throughout the summer, you’ll also find Hideaway Park host to weekend music festivals. From Jazz to Blues to Folk, this venue is a great place to catch live music and a true local favorite!

10. Catch a Fish

summer experiences, Top 10 MUST DOs in Winter Park summer

Grand County has 1,000 miles of streams and rivers, almost 1,000 acres of high mountain lakes, 11,000 acres of reservoirs, as well as stocked ponds. Fishing near Winter Park means you’ll find Cutthroat, Brown, Rainbow, and Brook Trout, depending on location upriver. Whether it’s your first time testing the waters, or you are a lifetime angler, there’s a perfect fishing hole for you in our backyard.

From extreme adrenaline junkies to laid-back nature enthusiasts, we have summer experiences for everyone to get hyped about.  Come spend a week with us this summer! You’ll see why they say, people come for the winter and stay for the summer!

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