Colorado’s newest ski area is set to open in the front range this season. Hoedown Hill, the highest point in Windsor, Colorado, is hoping to open its gates to skiing, snowboarding, and sledding this December, bringing accessible winter sports to just southeast of Fort Collins.
The area, managed by the Water Valley Group and adjacent to the RainDance National Resort & Golf, features multiple ski runs for all skill levels, and a 3′ snow pack that’s advertised as being groomed nightly. There are set to be 10 ski runs, ranging from green to black, and canopy-covered lift services. The trails will also feature two terrain parks with 20 total features. In total, it’s meant to feature 120 feet of elevation change.
So it’s small, yes, but that doesn’t mean it’s bad. Will you get the same experience at Hoedown Hill that you would at Copper, Vail, or Aspen? Absolutely not. Hoedown Hill is not going to be a classic Colorado ski resort. But, for the ~170,000 people who live in and around Fort Collins (and the ~33,000 students at CSU), the hill will offer much easier access to the slopes than the full blown skiing. Additionally, its ski and ride school makes Hoedown Hill a great place for beginners to strap on skis without having to spend multiple hours on the I-25 and I-70.
The hill will also feature a 10-lane, 1,200 foot tubing hill, opening up the winter sport access to those who don’t want to ski or ride (usually a bit more family friendly than sticking your four-year-old’s foot into a stiff and uncomfortable ski boot).
Water Valley Company
It’s all a part of the Water Valley Company, which owns and operates a bunch of fun activities throughout Windsor. As already mentioned, they run the RainDance National Golf Course, but they also run the RainDance River Resort, Pelican Lakes Resort and Golf, multiple restaurants, and the Colorado Eagles, a minor league hockey team in the AHL.
Pricing for the hill is yet to be released, but we do know their planned hours for the winter. Friday through Sunday, Hoedown Hill will operate from 9am-9pm offering morning, midday, and night skiing. On Mondays and Thursdays, they’ll operate with after-school hours, staying open between 2pm and 8pm. They’re closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Again, Hoedown Hill will not provide the stereotypical Colorado ski resort energy. It might even be a good bit boring for the more experienced skiers and riders. But it’s meant to provide accessible skiing close to Fort Collins, allowing people to dip their feet in the sport before actually committing to a full day pass/rental at a big-time resort. How many of us learned to ski at something like that? Something with two rinky-dink lifts that barely operate and 5-10 trails? I know I did.
Related: Rarely Open New York Ski Hill To Repair Chairlift & Add Snowmaking
Featured Image Credit: Hoedown Hill via Facebook