• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Uncover Colorado Logo

  • Blog
  • Activities
    • Year-round
      • Brewery Tours
      • Casinos & Gaming
      • Colorado Brands
      • Federal Lands
      • Food & Dining
      • Ghost Towns
      • Gondola & Chairlifts
      • Hot Springs
      • Mine Tours
      • Museums
      • Paintball
      • Public Parks
      • Scenic Drives
      • Shopping
      • Sports Teams
      • State Parks
      • Train Rides
      • Transportation
      • Wildlife
      • Zip Lines & Aerial Parks
    • Spring, Summer & Fall
      • Amusement Parks
      • ATV Rentals
      • Biking
      • Boating
      • Camping
      • Drive-In Theaters
      • Fishing
      • Golf Courses
      • Hiking
      • Horseback Riding
      • Rock Climbing
      • Tubing & Paddling
      • Waterfalls
      • Whitewater Rafting
    • Winter
      • Cross Country Skiing
      • Dog Sledding
      • Ice Climbing
      • Ice Fishing
      • Ice Skating
      • Skiing & Snowboarding
      • Sleigh Rides
      • Snow Tubing
      • Snowmobiling
      • Snowshoeing
  • Events
    • January
    • February
    • March
    • April
    • May
    • June
    • July
    • August
    • September
    • October
    • November
    • December
  • Lodging
    • Budget Hotels
    • Historic Hotels
    • Luxury Hotels
    • Bed & Breakfasts
    • Cabins & Glamping
    • Casinos with Lodging
    • Dude Ranches
    • Hot Spring with Lodging
    • Wineries with Lodging
    • Campgrounds
  • Towns
  • Trip Planner
  • Search
  • Blog
  • Activities
  • Events
  • Lodging
  • Towns
  • Trip Planner
Monarch Mountain Ski Area
Monarch Mountain near Salida.

Monarch Mountain Ski Resort – Salida

1
SHARES
FacebookTwitter

Monarch Mountain is one of the oldest Colorado ski areas, which opened in 1939. It’s located in the central Rocky Mountains near Salida and receives over 350 inches of snow each year.

The Continental Divide actually runs through Monarch Mountain, giving you a chance to ski along the range. Monarch is one of the closest mountains to Colorado Springs, at just over 2 hours, along with Breck. It’s about a twenty-minute drive east to the beautiful mountain town of Salida.

Terrain

Monarch Mountain Ski Resort Chairlift Intersection
Chairlift intersection at Monarch Mountain.

Monarch Mountain offers a good mix of terrain for all ages and abilities. You’ll find plenty of beginner and intermediate trails throughout the mountain. On top of that, Monarch offers steeps, bumps, tree skiing, hike access, and bowl skiing. There are 63 total trails.

Experts should take a short ten-minute hike up to Mirkwood Bowl, the highest point on Monarch Mountain. The 360-degree views are fantastic. After soaking in the scenery, ride down into Mirkwood for bowl, tree, and bump skiing.

For powder hounds, Monarch offers snowcat tours. They will take you to some of the best bowl skiing in Colorado. You’ll have access to 1000 acres of expert terrain: bowls, steeps, chutes, cliffs, and trees. Get in about 900 ft vertical per run and between ten to twelve epic runs.

For more expert skiing, consider the local Monarch Cat Skiing, which accesses fresh lines throughout Monarch Pass.

Village

Monarch Mountain Ski Resort Base Lodge
Base Lodge at Monarch Mountain.

At the base of Monarch is the central lodge which includes a gift shop, cafeteria, and a bar. There is outdoor seating at the base of the slopes, great for enjoying the views on warm days. Around Monarch, there are a few lodging options in the village of Monarch, about 4 miles east on Highway 50.

The Monarch Mountain Lodge is your closest large accommodation, offering 90 rooms, with a few choices of size. Otherwise, your best bet for accommodations, shopping, and dining would be nearby Salida. You do pass Poncha Springs first, a small town located at the crossroads of Highway 285 and Highway 50. However, you’re basically at Salida by that point.

There are a few choices in Poncha Springs, but Salida is the closest considerable town to Monarch, 17 miles away total. A nice mountain town, Salida offers plenty of lodging, restaurants, shopping, and attractions. The Arkansas River runs right through this scenic art town.

Ski chairs at base of Monarch.
Looking down at the base.
Hike up to the Mirkwood Bowl for fresh lines.
Snow rafting.
Snow kayaking.

Details

Address: 23715 West U.S. Highway 50, Salida, CO

Phone: 719-530-5000

Season: November – April

Lift Hours: 9am – 4pm

Mountain Stats:

  • Elevation: 10,790 ft (3289 m) – 11,952 ft (3643 m)
  • Vertical – 1,652 ft (354 m)
  • Ski Area: 800 acres
  • Average Snowfall: 350 in (889 cm)

Trail Map: Monarch Mountain (PNG)

Website: skimonarch.com

Monarch Mountain Logo

Latest in Monarch Mountain

Copper Mountain Ski Resort Colorado

20 Best Colorado Ski Resorts for Powder

When you say Colorado, people think of snow-capped peaks and epic skiing. And they’re right. The…

20 Best Colorado Ski Resorts for PowderRead More

Silverton Mountain Ski Resort

Shred West to 7 Secluded Colorado Ski Slopes

With Western Colorado’s abundance of mountains and dry, fresh powder, you may have a difficult time…

Shred West to 7 Secluded Colorado Ski SlopesRead More

Colorado Ski Resorts by Size Vail

Got Vertical? Colorado Ski Resorts by Size

Colorado’s world class ski resorts feature a myriad of skiable acres and vertical drops, all waiting…

Got Vertical? Colorado Ski Resorts by SizeRead More

Keystone Resort, Colorado

11 Best Colorado Family Ski Resorts

Millions of enthusiastic skiers flock to Colorado yearly because of its good elevation, bright skies, and…

11 Best Colorado Family Ski ResortsRead More

Primary Sidebar

Join our Colorado travel community

Enter your email below and grab our free locals' guide and monthly what's up designed to help you live your Colorado life and uncover fun things to do. —and never miss out again.

Recent Posts

  • Upcoming Spring Festivals in Colorado
  • 8 Great Springtime Colorado Festivals
  • 9 Colorado Ski & Snowboard Companies
  • Brief Timeline of Colorado’s Ski and Snowboard History
  • Fly Directly to these Colorado Ski Resorts with Airports Nearby

Footer

Get In Touch

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Resources
  • Disclaimer
Facebook Instagram Pinterest Twitter

Disclosure: Uncover Colorado is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Things To Do

  • Travel Blog
  • Colorado Activities
  • Colorado Events
  • Colorado Towns
  • Colorado Hotels
  • Colorado Restaurants
  • Colorado Transportation
  • Made in Colorado

Cheers! Mile High Happy Hour shares showcases Denver neighborhoods' restaurant happy hours.

Winter Activities

  • Federal Lands
  • Ghost Towns
  • Hot Springs
  • Ice Skating
  • Ski Resorts
  • Snow Tubing
  • State Parks
  • Train Rides

Copyright © 2023 · Uncover Colorado | Sitemap | Advertise