100% Natural Snow

At Monarch Mountain, we don’t make artificial snow. We don’t have to; Monarch is nestled right up under the continental divide where storms march in from the west and deposit their bounty in abundance throughout the winter. So we’re blessed with an average of more than 350 inches of pure, powdery goodness each season.

Further, we consider ourselves stewards of our environment. Snowmaking can have a multitude of adverse effects on water quality and wild habitats. In the summer, when we fish and float on fresh snowmelt, we take comfort in the fact that we’ve done our best to protect and preserve that resource which we hold dear.

Monarch Mountain is a unique, family friendly ski area. Founded in 1939, this is one of Colorado’s longest running ski areas. The mountain is just 20 miles from Salida and 40 miles from Buena Vista, near the top of Monarch Pass.