Colorado Winter Fun Beyond the Slopes

Colorado is well known for its ski slopes, but have you ever witnessed Skijoring? Here are some alternative winter activities to try or to watch in Denver and beyond.

Breckenridge International Snow Sculpting Championships

Breckenridge hosts ice sculpting teams from around the world for the International Snow Sculpture Championships every January toward the end of the month, but the competition starts well before then. A selection committee send 250 invites, and then pares down the competitors to 12 teams. Those teams are given a 25 ton block of snow, and have 5 days to hand carve said block into a piece of art - no power tools allowed.

The annual snow sculpture competition in Breck

Ouray Ice Festival

Ouray is known as the Switzerland of Colorado, and in late January each year, you can watch brave souls embark upon the sport of ice climbing during the annual Ouray Ice Festival. At night the city of Ouray transforms into ‘Snowdance,’ at least that’s what we’re calling it. Visitors can see movie screenings and attend the infamous Ice Festival dance party called the Petzl Party.

Goldens in Golden

If crabcakes and football are what Maryland does, perhaps golden retrievers and…Subarus? are what Colorado does. The City of Golden hosts an annual celebration of the state’s unofficial state dog, the Golden Retriever, with a large gathering in downtown Golden. Goldens in Golden happens every year in the beginning of February.

Pond Hockey

Pond hockey may be a risky activity to seek out in a ‘back country’ kinda way, but luckily Colorado hosts the nation’s best pond hockey tournament every February. Sponsored by Pabst Blue Ribbon, the Georgetown Pond Hockey Tournament takes place President’s Day Weekend and is a fun event for amateur hockey players and spectators alike.

Go Karting on Ice

Many people have lived out their Mario Kart dreams on go kart tracks, but how many have taken it to the next level on ice? In Colorado you can go kart on ice in a little place called Aspen. Aspen Ice Karting is a seasonal go kart track on a frozen lake near Aspen. The track is open from Christmas to late February and open from 9am - 2pm daily weather permitting.

Skijoring

Skijoring is a sport in which a skier is pulled by a horse and rider over a series of jumps and obstacles. The skier is timed, and loses points for missing jumps or gates, or dropping batons or rings. In 2025, you can check out Skijoring in Silverton Feb 15 & 16, and in Leadville March 1st and 2nd. At the Leadville Skijoring competition, there is a kids’ Skijoring division where aspiring Skijorers can Skijor behind a snowmobile instead of a horse.

Winter Wine and Chocolate Tasting

The beautiful scenery of a vineyard is certainly part of the ambiance of wine tasting, but when it’s cold outside, a nice glass of red might sound equally beautiful. Especially when chocolate enters the conversation. Blanchard Family Wines has a vineyard in Napa Valley in the city of Healdsburg, and has two tasting rooms in the Denver area. The larger and more well known Denver location is in downtown Denver at the Milk Market. The lesser known location is in Golden, and this cozy little tasting room is where we recommend having a winter wine and chocolate pairing experience. The location is also conveniently on the way to or from mountain activities.

Frozen Dead Guy Days

The Frozen Dead Guy ‘Freeze-tival’ happens every March around St. Patrick’s Day (March 14-16 in 2025) in Estes Park. This winter festival has a unique signature event - coffin races. Expect costumes, live music, and folklore.