Colorado's Best Kept Secret Sports Come Alive in Winter

DENVER, Dec. 13, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Colorado is renowned for its winter season, and each year skiers and riders flock to Colorado's 26 ski areas and resorts. Yet, there's another side to Colorado's winter season and it doesn't involve skis. Following are seven Colorado adventures that showcase the other side of Colorado's winter season to visitors seeking a different snow experience.

• Jeep Ice Racing.  For the past 35 years, Our Gang Ice Racing has been holding Jeep ice races on Georgetown Lake. On weekends in January and February, the lake is transformed into a race track for Jeeps and other 4WD vehicles.  www.ourgangiceracing.com
• Ice Climbing. Ouray, known as the "Switzerland of America," is transformed into the ice climbing capital of the world each winter. The season begins each January with the Ouray Ice Festival, the premier ice climbing event. The Ice Festival also includes ice climbing clinics, demos, etc. www.ourayicepark.com
• Snowshoeing Under Moonlight. There's nothing quite like a snowshoe trek under a full moon. The Crested Butte Nordic Center boasts a network of 95,000 groomed trail systems and offers Midnight Snowshoe Tours ($15 per person). www.cbnordic.org. Rocky Mountain National Park is also home to Ranger-led snowshoe tours. www.nps.gov/romo
• Ice Sailing Across Frozen Lakes. One of the most extreme winter sports in Colorado is ice sailing: harnessing wind power via sail, propelling a manned sled across a frozen body of water. It is one of the most adrenaline-pumping winter activities in Colorado. For more information and resources on Colorado ice sailing, visit www.windisfun.com.
• Backcountry Dog Sledding. Dog sledding tours offer a unique way to experience Colorado's amazing backcountry. The Durango Dog Ranch has several tours beginning at $125 per person for ages 11+ and $50 for children 10 and under. www.durangodogranch.com
• Winter Mountain Biking, Minus the Snow. From October-March, the mild weather in eastern Colorado is perfect for mountain biking. Picketwire Canyon, on the Comanche National Grasslands, is popular with bikers and is home to Native American rock art and the largest known set of dinosaur tracks in North America. www.secoloradoheritage.com

For more information or a copy of the 2011 Colorado Official State Vacation Guide, visit www.COLORADO.com or call 800-COLORADO.

SOURCE Colorado Tourism Office

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