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

Uncover Colorado Logo

  • Blog
  • Activities
  • Events
  • Towns
  • Lodging
  • Dining
  • Transport
  • Shop
  • Search
  • Blog
  • Activities
  • Events
  • Towns
  • Lodging
  • Dining
  • Transport
  • Shop
  • Search
Telluride Fire Festival Fire on the Mountain
Fire on the mountain at Telluride Fire Festival. Photo: Matt Brooks

Winter Fun in Southwestern Colorado

December 9, 2019 By //  by Erica Olsen

22
SHARES
FacebookTwitter

{Fire on the mountain at Telluride Fire Festival. Photo: Matt Brooks} Celebrate winter, Colorado style! Embrace the cold and snow—or seek out warmth—with these ideas for midwinter fun the southwest, including Telluride, Durango, Silverton, and Pagosa Springs.

Here are some of the best winter events in Southwest Colorado:

Telluride Fire Festival

Telluride Fire Festival
Telluride Fire Festival. Photo: Ryan Bonneau

Festivarians, take note: Telluride is heating up winter with its Fire Festival. This newer festival, which began in 2015, offers both free and ticketed events. It takes place throughout town and on the slopes of its famous ski resort.

Fire artists and performers light up the winter nights, with fiery outdoor sculptures and art cars inspired by Burning Man. If you’re in the area, check out the pre-festival workshops, which include glass blowing and welding for beginners. December 6-8, 2019

Winter Warrior 5K/10K Snowshoe Race

Winter Warrior Snowshoe Race Durango
Winter Warrior Snowshoe Race. Photo: 4cornerstv.com

Runner’s World magazine named Durango’s Winter Warrior one of the country’s top snowshoe races. The course consists of groomed trails and singletrack at the Durango Nordic Center, located just north of the entrance to Purgatory on US Highway 550.

Registration opens at 9 am; the race begins at 10 am. The course meets U.S. Snowshoe Association standards. TBD, 2020

Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad

Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Train Winter
Durango Train 473 Eastbound in Cascade Canyon. Photo: Durango Tourism Office

This beloved historic steam train offers several winter excursions. The snowy festivities kick off on the Polar Express train from November 15, 2019 to January 2, 2020. You’ll take a roundtrip journey to the North Pole for a chance to meet Santa Caluse. It’s based on the book and later movie.

However, it’s not the only winter train departing from Durango. There’s also the Christmas Tree Train, which allows you to chop down a tree and take it home. Plus there’s other Christmas train rides throughout Colorado to check out.

On February 1, board the Snowdown Balloon Rally Train for a scenic trip that includes a viewing of the hot-air balloon ascension in the Animas Valley—it’s part of Snowdown, Durango’s winter festival and “cabin fever reliever.” A week later, on February 15, the Romance on the Rails Brunch Train combines San Juan Mountains scenery with a brunch buffet and live music. Both trips head up to Cascade Canyon, then return to Durango.

Silverton Skijoring

Silverton Skijoring
Silverton skijoring. Photo: Jerry Lyle

Rodeo meets winter Olympics in the Nordic sport of skijoring. It’s where a horse and rider pull a skier, whom then flies through the air navigating jumps and obstacles. According to the Silverton Skijoring rules are: “Skier must cross finish line in upright position and on at least one ski, with rope in hand …”

One imagines it doesn’t always turn out that way. Silverton’s winter races take place at noon on historic Blair Street during President’s Day Weekend. In years past more than 2,500 spectators turned out to watch. February 15-16, 2020

Pagosa Hot Springs

Pagosa Springs Resort Winter
The Springs Resort. Photo: visitpagosasprings.com

While it’s not an annual event, it should be for you. Snow and frigid temperatures got you down? Immerse yourself in one of the 23 pools at Pagosa’s The Springs Resort. It’s located in downtown Pagosa Springs, walking distance to all the shops and restaurants. Plus there’s a a great hotel on-site to spend the night by the hot springs pools.

The pools are on terraces just above the San Juan River, so you can gaze at the icy currents as you contemplate the miracle that is geothermal energy. It’s one of the larger resorts in the state, which coincidentally taps into the world’s deepest hot springs aquifer.

Thanks for checking out these fantastic events and activities in Southwest Colorado! Take your time discovering the cooler season of Durango, Silverton, Pagosa Springs and Telluride.

Related Posts

13 Haunting Halloween Costume Stores in Denver
Upcoming Spring Festivals in Colorado
Colorado Craft Beer Week
Things to do in July in Colorado
Erica Olsen

About Erica Olsen

Erica Olsen lives in southwestern Colorado. She writes about travel and the outdoors, and she's especially interested in the history behind Colorado's amazing places.

22
SHARES
FacebookTwitter

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.

Previous Post: «image of art mural in denver international airport Astounding Artwork at the Denver Airport
Next Post: Catch a Trophy at these 2020 Ice Fishing Tournaments in Colorado Colorado Ice Fishing Eleven Mile Reservoir Girl Catches Trout»

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

  • 7 Captivating Hiking Trails around Cortez
  • 11 Scenic Hiking Trails near Carbondale
  • 13 Amazing Hiking Trails near Delta
  • 11 Beautiful Hiking Trails by Boulder
  • The Tallest Buildings in Colorado Springs
  • 7 Great Hiking Trails around Alamosa 

Footer

Get In Touch

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Write For Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Resources
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

Visit Mile High Happy Hour for Denver neighborhoods' restaurant happy hours.

Winter Activities

  • Camping
  • Cross Country Skiing
  • Federal Lands
  • Hot Springs
  • Ice Skating
  • Skiing and Snowboarding
  • Snow Tubing
  • State Parks

Vacation like a VIP! Leisurely Lifestyle shares life and travel hacks, as well as cheap luxury travel.

Copyright © 2021 · Uncover Colorado - Vacations, Travel & Tourism | Sitemap | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer