West Elk Trails

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West Elk Trails

The West Elk Trails group in cooperation with the White River National Forest provides groomed winter recreation trails.

About West Elk Trails

West Elk Trails Inc is a non-profit 501(c)3, all volunteer organization that grooms and maintains winter trails for cross-country skiers and snowshoers. Trail users provide support through membership and volunteering. Trail users’ donations are needed to help with expenses such as insurance and trail maintenance cover the costs of grooming operations during the winter ski se

ason. Thanks for stopping by and hope to see you on the trails! Learn more here: https://wemuc.wordpress.com/about/

03/20/2026

🩵 We love seeing this 👏
At West Elk Trails, this is exactly what it’s all about — creating opportunities for the next generation to step outside, try something new, and build those lifelong “core memories” in the mountains.
Watching Riverside students explore the West Elk Trails wilderness on snowshoes, gaining confidence, teamwork, and a connection to the outdoors—it doesn’t get much better than that. These are the moments that stick, the ones that turn into a lifelong love for winter, trails, and wild places.
We’re proud to help provide the landscape for these experiences right here in our backyard. Here’s to more adventures, more smiles, and more future trail users discovering the magic of West Elk Trails ❄️🏔️

03/14/2026

West Elk Groomer Report - Friday, March 13, 2026☀️ Warm weather ate the snow!

At 2:30 today, the temp at the trailhead was 48 degrees, with full sun and windy conditions. No grooming was done as now there are large areas on Kay's Loop and Eric's Loop without snow. Tomorrow the trail markers and intersection signs will be pulled and grooming operations have come to an end for this season. Over 80% of the trails are still usable, but we can no longer run the equipment on the trails.
Thanks to all who helped make the best use of the little snow we received this year and thanks to those who financially support the operations.

03/10/2026

West Elk Trails Groomer Report – Monday, March 9, 2026 ❄️🎿 Get it while it’s hot. 🥵 😎
As of 3:30 PM, it was 44°F, sunny, and breezy at the trailhead. Groomers were able to set classic track on Kay’s Loop, Highway 819, and the East Cutoff, and groom Eric’s Loop. On Eric’s, the groomer hit some dirt and it got spread onto the trail surface, so we did not make additional passes over that section.
Crews also hauled and dumped six sled loads of snow onto Dorothy’s View to help coverage, though a few rocks are still being contacted in that area. Zeus’s Cutoff was not groomed today, as snow is thinning around brush and melting back quickly.
Overall, snow is melting fast and with a sunny week forecasted, this could be one of the final weeks of grooming. Expect frozen, firm conditions in the morning, with trails softening quickly once the sun hits.
We’ll reassess conditions again Friday and share another update. So get it while it’s hot 😄🎿

03/06/2026

West Elk Trails Update – March 6, 2026 ❄️🎿
We got more snow! 3.5 inches more.

As of 1:30 PM today, the West Elk Trails trailhead was 25°F with overcast skies, light snow, and a wind from an unusual direction — the east.
A much-needed 3.5 inches of fresh snow fell overnight across the trail system. Groomers took full advantage of it, re-covering thin spots and re-leveling the trails to deliver some of the best skiing conditions of the season.
Right now there’s approximately 3–6 inches of base on the groomed trails. A few areas around Dorothy’s View are still a bit thin, but the system is 100% covered and skiing really well.
With brilliant sunshine lined up for the weekend, come enjoy some outstanding Colorado West Slope Nordic Skiing. 😎❄️🎿

03/02/2026

West Elk Trails Groomer Report – Monday, March 2, 2026 ❄️🎿 👙 Spring skiing is here 🌞

As of 2:00 PM today, the West Elk Trails trailhead was 45°F with partly cloudy skies and little to no wind. The trails are looking great after Saturday night’s surprise inch of snow. Only a few small spots of earth were showing, and crews shoveled snow onto those areas to keep coverage consistent.
Right now there’s approximately 2–4 inches of base on the groomed trails. A few patchy areas are starting to show up near Dorothy’s View/Overlook, but overall the system is about 99.9% covered and skiing smooth and level.
Put on sunscreen, grab a hat and sunglasses, and come enjoy some classic spring skiing — T-shirt laps fully encouraged. 😎🎿❄️

03/01/2026

West Elk Trails Snow Report – Sunday, March 1, 2026 ❄️🎿 We got Snow!

As of 10:00 AM this morning, the West Elk Trails trailhead was 30°F with cloudy skies and up to 1 inch of new snow that fell overnight.
By 2:00 PM, temperatures climbed to 45°F, and much of that new snow was starting to turn to slush in the warmer, sun-exposed areas.
Groomers will be out tomorrow to fine-tune what Mother Nature provided and get the trails back into great shape. ❄️🎿

02/27/2026

West Elk Trails Groom Report – Friday, February 27, 2026 ❄️🎿 Get it while the gittin’s good.

As of 2:00 PM today, the West Elk Trails trailhead was 45°F with sunny skies, a few clouds, and no wind. The trails looked great when groomers arrived this morning and were manicured back into beautiful form.
Right now there’s approximately 2–5 inches of base on the groomed trails. With the warm, sunny stretch ahead, we expect a few rocks and dirt patches to start exposing in places by Sunday, March 1.
That said, the trails are currently 100% covered and skiing is fabulous — smooth, fast, and fun. Come out and enjoy it… while the gittin’s good. ❄️🎿

02/24/2026

West Elk Trails Groom Report – Monday, February 23, 2026 ❄️🎿 Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger!

As of 4:00 PM today, the West Elk Trails parking lot was 38°F with overcast skies and little to no wind. After an awesome Trail User Appreciation Day, the trails were well-compressed, and the groom crew focused on widening and re-leveling the system to improve the overall ski surface.

Today’s goal was to get trails smoother, more consistent, and about two feet wider — more room for that comfortable stride, better passing, and an all-around wider glide.

Crews finished with a smooth corduroy groom and classic track set on Highway 819, Kay’s Loop, Eric’s Loop, East Cutoff, and Zeus’s Cutoff.

Conditions are fast and firm until about 1:00 PM, then the sunny spots start turning into mashed potatoes as the day warms up. Early laps are your friend. ❄️🎿

02/22/2026

Great time at User Appreciation Day
Saturday, February 21, 2026
A perfect day for a get together at the trailhead. Great snow and sunny weather greeted the 70 people that stopped by to enjoy some refreshments, a warm fire and good conversation. Trail conditions were superb and some people took advantage of the free demo equipment provided by Defiance Cyclery. Also, thanks to Down Valley Brewery for the coffee.

Address

New Castle, CO

Website

https://wemuc.wordpress.com/

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