"As we wrap up the season, I want to thank our loyal guests who showed up smiling day in and day out to support their local hill. I also want to thank our dedicated staff whose immense efforts and pride in their work kept Eldora running all season long. We hope everyone comes to celebrate the season with us this weekend." - Andrew Gast, Eldora's president and general manager.
The 2025-26 winter saw extreme weather, with the eastern half experiencing consistent cold and heavy snowfall, while the western half endured record warmth and a lack of snowfall.
Many of them were built for purposes that no longer exist - cattle drives, mining prospecting, early U.S. Forest Service fire patrols - while others were packed by the footprints of the Chumash people well before the colonization of North America. Sections of trail cling to steep slopes that seem to barely resist gravity, shedding soil and stone with each winter storm.
Whether you're hoping to see the wildflowers or planning to drive the scenic Going-to-the-Sun Road, there's something here for every kind of traveler, style, and budget. If you're looking to fully immerse yourself in this spectacular environment, there are a ton of campgrounds in and around the national park, plus a few glamping sites and RV parks nearby if you prefer not to rough it as much.
For Colorado skiers and snowboarders, the 2026/2027 Ikon Base Pass now provides unlimited access to Arapahoe Basin in addition to 5 days of skiing or snowboarding at Snowmass. Plus, Ikon Pass holders will no longer be required to make reservations at the four mountains of Aspen Snowmass.
I trekked it in December 2023 with plans and a permit to camp at Bright Angel Campground, a scenic cottonwood-shaded hideaway just near the famed Phantom Ranch (the only lodging on the world wonder's floor). Then, two days before my trip, a miracle happened: One last-minute reservation became available for Phantom Ranch. The ranch digs typically book out over a year in advance, but if you're lucky, you can either get in via the lottery or a last-minute opening. This made the grueling but gorgeous hike down and up the steep South Kaibab Trail even more memorable.
Mt. Baker is the PNW's snow vacuum. It's close enough to the Pacific to get storm after storm, and the North Cascades do what they do best: force moist air straight up, wring it out, and bury everything in sight. Maritime storms roll in wet and heavy, then pile up fast when they hit terrain.
AllTrails, a hiking app with trail maps and reviews, dug into insights from their 90 million-plus members and team of trail experts to spotlight lesser-known places where the trail alone is worth planning a trip around. Their guide, Travel-Worthy Trails for 2026, spotlights eight unexpected destinations around the world where the trail is the destination.
Deer Valley's expansion may be the largest ski area expansion in history. Prior to the expansion, Deer Valley was the 15th largest resort in the United States, boasting over 2,000 acres. The expansion, aptly named "Expanded Excellence," more than doubled Deer Valley's size, bringing the total to 5,700 skiable acres.
Colorado National Monument in Grand Junction, Colo., is an awe-inspiring canyon boasting scenery any traveler would be lucky to soak in. It's also, bafflingly, crowd-free. "People tend to head straight for the Grand Canyon, or maybe Arches or Zion national parks," says Adam Kinsey, owner and founder of Grand Junction's Handlebar Tap House as well as the new WestCo Brewing. The canyon boasts a serenity you simply won't find at the Grand Canyon, with its steady flow of tourists.
The Bridgeport Winter Trail System is a new winter recreation area in the region. Anyone hoping to explore scenic new routes and possibly take a dip underneath a natural thermal waterfall should add this groomed winter trail to their list.
This quaint little town, surrounded by green pastures and granite cliffs, is the northern gateway to the High Sierra. Bridgeport always evokes nostalgia and is one of my favorite views of the Eastern Sierra. In my younger years, it was all about the resorts, and Bridgeport was a place to stretch the legs on the way to Mammoth Mountain. Now, I look more to the backcountry trailheads, and Bridgeport has become an alluring area along the 395 corridor.
As we approach the midway point of January, it's evident that Colorado is behind on snowfall not just in the numbers, but in the way skiers are spending their time on the mountain. Ski patrol and mountain operations teams all over the state have had their hands full, to say the least. Opening new terrain and creating space on the mountain is directly correlated to guest experience, but more importantly, guest safety. To put it lightly, it has been a madhouse out there.
The province of Alberta is home to several iconic international ski destinations, including Lake Louise, Banff Sunshine Village, and Marmot Basin. But one resort seems to fly under the radar: Castle Mountain, which sits at the southern end of the Canadian Rockies. It often gets overlooked when booking a ski vacation, as this old-school mountain is not the easiest resort to get to-but it is definitely worth the trip.
When winter takes hold in the Eastern Sierra, the Bridgeport Winter Recreation Area (BWRA) becomes a popular destination for backcountry enthusiasts. Powderhounds flock to this area during the cold winter months, usually with snowmobiles. Shortly after you turn onto Highway 108 (Sonora Pass), the snow starts, and the journey begins. Located seven miles up the snow-covered highway, the BWRA is the gateway to remote and technical terrain in the heart of the Sierra.
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