Trip
Backcountry Nordic Skiing – Brainard Lake Rec Area - Red Rock TH - CMC Ski Trail 814.2
Starting from the Brainard Gateway TH, we'll ski up the CMC Trail to the end and either return the same way (if it's windy) or continue to the Little Raven Trail and complete the loop with a fun downhill section.
Contacts
- Fri, Feb 28, 2025
- Denver
- Backcountry Nordic Skiing
- Adults
- Moderate
- Mileage: 5.6
- Elevation Gain: 700 ft
- High Point Elevation: 10,900 ft
- Pace: 2.0 - 2.2 mph
- 4 (6 capacity)
- FULL (2 capacity)
- Cancellation & Refund Policy
Participants will arrange their own carpool and meet the leader at the trailhead by 9:00.
There is a $10 parking fee per car. Free with a federal lands pass (America the Beautiful, etc) displayed on dashboard.
Guidebook authors Alan Apt and Kay Turnbaugh rate the difficulty of this tour as "Moderate" requiring an "intermediate to advanced" skill level. This depends on snow conditions, which the leader will verify a couple of days before the trip.
Though moderate, this route is more challenging than the mileage implies. It's hilly with some steep ups and downs. You should be comfortable skiing downhill on nordic skis. Uphill requires herringbone or side-stepping technique. Your skis must have metal edges.
Questions? Feel free to contact the leader.
Required Equipment
Typical backcountry nordic ski gear, with NNN-BC, 3-pin, or cable bindings. Alpine touring gear with skins is also OK.