Mountain Village: Winter Playground

Mountain Village: Winter Playground

In winter, Mountain Village is all about soft white powder and endless runs with only heart-stopping views to keep you company. But should you need a break from on-mountain adventures, here are fun some alternatives, all against the same memorable backdrop.

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Mountain Village boasts about its winter trail system for good reason.

Using a Piston Bully 100 Snowcat, the town grooms almost eight miles of Nordic and snowshoe trails to create a quality surface for as many users as possible: cross-country skiers, hikers, snowshoers, and bikers, as well as dogs (accompanied by responsible owners). Each trail is interconnected, starting at the Telluride Valley Floor via the Boomerang Trail and continuing up to Mountain Village trails, located on the Telluride Ski & Golf Company’s golf course. This trail network is extensive, reaching into Mountain Village center and extending out to the Mountain Village entrance.

Another option that may be new to many is platform tennis.

A slight variation on the traditional game of tennis, the platform version covers less of the court and is played with a paddle instead of a racquet. Mountain Village offers two heated, well-lighted courts open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. They are located 100 yards south of the Telluride Ski & Golf Club House at The Peaks Resort & Spa. A small clubhouse with equipment, lockers and restrooms is available for your convenience on site. In the winter, guests access the platform tennis court from The Peaks ski trail, 200 yards from the top of Lift 1. Reservations are not required, but a code is necessary for access so call first. For additional platform tennis rules, visit the official American Platform Tennis Association website.

And then there is ice skating.

After a day on the slopes, reconnect with family and friends at the full-service Mountain Village Ice Rink, now operated by Madeline Hotel and Residences. Located in Reflection Plaza, the rink offers daily open skating, special events, team-building, and skate instruction on the European-style plaza from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. daily, with a free skate hour between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. In addition, Madeline Hotel rents hockey and figure skates of all sizes and offers punch cards and season passes. For information about daily rates or to book a special event, contact Madeline Hotel and Residences at (970) 369-0880.Hotel Mad

And finally – drumroll please – Mountain Village features Frozen Fun.

A recent addition to Mountain Village, Frozen Fun on Village Pond is the pet name of yet another winter venue. True, Frozen Fun is  smaller than the Mountain Village Ice Rink at Madeline, but you can play just about anything you can imagine for free –  with or without skates – on this well-maintained frozen pond of fun. The site, which is unsupervised, is open to the public during daylight hours seven days a week. To find this hidden gem, follow the plazas until you reach Conference Center Plaza and Village Park Plaza.

And when you are literally frozen from too much outdoor fun and games and needing to refuel, Mountain Village is home to a wide variety of watering holes, from white-table-cloth to casual dining.

Free parking is available near or adjacent to all winter activities and dining options.

ABOUT MOUNTAIN VILLAGE:

Situated in the heart of the breathtaking San Juan Mountains, Mountain Village was incorporated in 1995 as a home rule municipality. Its founders envisioned a European-style ski-in/ski-out, pedestrian-friendly destination resort that would complement the historic mining town of Telluride. A three-stage gondola transportation system connects the Town of Mountain Village with the Town of Telluride. Situated at 9,500 feet, Mountain Village is comparably a world apart from other resorts: it is innately spectacular, beautifully orchestrated and planned, and overflowing with style, charm and sophistication.

For more information, please visit us on the Web at townofmountainvillage.com.

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