Wolf Creek ski area
Encyclopedia
Wolf Creek Ski Area is a ski area in southwest Colorado
, located on the Wolf Creek Pass
between Pagosa Springs
and South Fork
. It is best known for receiving more average annual snowfall than any other resort in Colorado, at about 465 inches per year.
Wolf Creek's future as a local's resort has become less certain recently with developer Red McCombs
' proposed development of a village of over 10,000 people within the boundaries of the ski resort. McCombs acquired the land in 1987, and has been accused of having undue influence over the process of gaining Forest Service approval for the development. It has been stated by opponents that the development would destroy a vital wildlife corridor between wilderness areas along the continental divide, adversely affect businesses in nearby towns due to lost business, harm the ski area due to its location within the boundaries of the resort (some of the development is actually on ski runs), and place great stress on the available water of the region.
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, located on the Wolf Creek Pass
Wolf Creek Pass
Wolf Creek Pass is a high mountain pass on the Continental Divide, in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. It is the route through which U.S. Highway 160 passes from the San Luis Valley into southwest Colorado on its way to New Mexico and Arizona. The pass is notable as inspiration of a C. W....
between Pagosa Springs
Pagosa Springs, Colorado
Pagosa Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat of, and the only incorporated municipality in, Archuleta County, Colorado, United States. The population was 1,591 at the 2000 census...
and South Fork
South Fork, Colorado
South Fork is a Statutory Town in Rio Grande County, Colorado, United States. The population was 604 at the 2000 census.-Geography:South Fork is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land....
. It is best known for receiving more average annual snowfall than any other resort in Colorado, at about 465 inches per year.
Wolf Creek's future as a local's resort has become less certain recently with developer Red McCombs
Red McCombs
Billy Joe "Red" McCombs is the founder of the Red McCombs Automotive Group, a co-founder of Clear Channel Communications, a former owner of the San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets, and the Minnesota Vikings, and the namesake of the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin...
' proposed development of a village of over 10,000 people within the boundaries of the ski resort. McCombs acquired the land in 1987, and has been accused of having undue influence over the process of gaining Forest Service approval for the development. It has been stated by opponents that the development would destroy a vital wildlife corridor between wilderness areas along the continental divide, adversely affect businesses in nearby towns due to lost business, harm the ski area due to its location within the boundaries of the resort (some of the development is actually on ski runs), and place great stress on the available water of the region.
Elevation
- Base: 10300 ft (3,139.4 m)
- Summit: 11904 ft (3,628.3 m)
- Vertical Rise: 1604 ft (488.9 m)
Trails
- Skiable Area: 1600 acres (6.5 km²)
- Trails: 77 total (20% beginner, 35% intermediate, 45% advanced/expert)
- Longest Run: Navajo Trail - 2 miles (3.2 km)
- Average Annual Snowfall: 465 in (1,181.1 cm)
Lifts
- 7 total
- 1 quad chairlift
- 1 quad detachable chairlift
- 2 triple chairlifts
- 1 double chairlift
- 1 platter lift
- 1 magic carpet (ski lift)Magic carpet (ski lift)A magic carpet is a type of surface lift installed at ski areas to transport skiers and snowboarders up the hill...