Monarch Ski and Snowboard Area is an intimate, family-oriented ski area located in south central Colorado near Salida. Services include a ski and snowboarding school offering group and private lessons, a children's center, and a lodge with plenty of seating and a variety of food and drinks. Monarch relies on an annual average of 350private:// of snowfall to cover its 670 acres of terrain, with trails ranging in difficulty from beginner to expert. Monarch also offers guided snowcat tours on an additional 900 acres of backcountry. Lots to do here, including snowmobiling, ice fishing, and snowshoeing. A visit to Salida gives shop-a-holics a chance to do their worst. A new mountain village is in the works.

BASE: 10789ft
SUMMIT: 11952ft
VERTICAL DROP: 1162ft

NO. OF. LIFTS: 8
Gondolas: 0
Chairs: 5
Surface: 3