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Skiing Ironton Park Ski Area

story and photos by Jan Nesset

If the drive to it doesn't ruffle your nerves, you're set for a pleasant day of skiing trails at the Ironton Park Cross-Country Ski Area. From whichever direction you approach Ironton Park (9 miles south of Ouray, 15 miles north of Silverton), the road is steep, windy and its unguarded drop-offs arresting.

But the anxiety of sliding off U.S. Hwy. 550 switches to that of excitement soon enough. In a fairly level valley at a point less than a mile north of mile marker 85, a wide spot plowed free of snow on the east side of the highway marks the parking lot and easiest access to the trails.

I've skied the Ironton trails several times, in conditions of deep powder to icy. The "green" groomed trails, loops of four clearly marked miles groomed with set Nordic track by the Ouray County Nordic Council (OCNC), trace valley contours of mostly moderate terrain. The trails are groomed as soon as enough snow covers the ground, usually sometime in November.

Several miles of more difficult "blue trails" are not groomed, and generally follow old roads and routes to mining claims on the mountainsides. If you have the skills and are looking for amazing views of mountain scenery, ascend these trails.

History buffs will opt for the groomed trails. The trail system is routed through the historic ghost town of Ironton, where several buildings still stand. They're open too, but take care while exploring within them because the stairways and floorboards are broken or of questionable strength.

Find a trail map and more park details at www.ouraytrails.org/trails.

According to Karen Risch, president of the Ouray Trail Group, of which the OCNC is a division, this season will show no changes to the trail system. While some improvements are under consideration, part of the trail system is under Forest Service permit. Proposed changes to the trails will be analyzed in a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) study, which is currently underway. "It'll be 2008 before anything is done," said Risch, depending on the results of the NEPA study.

The OCNC will hold a benefit at the Ouray Community Center on Nov. 8, 6:30 p.m., to raise funds for trail grooming of the park. In addition to a good dinner, prizes by local merchants can be won by dinner ticket-holders. For more information, call Risch at (970) 325-4205.

Jan Nesset is the editor of Inside/Outside Southwest magazine. See you on the trails!