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The first snowfall does not always mean the trails are ready for the winter activities though. Snow conditions develop throughout the season and the right amount of coverage makes a difference for both the experience and the condition of the trails. Trails open until the minimum conditions and coverage are met.

Estes Park Center sits at approximately 8,010 feet above sea level, while Snow Mountain Ranch is around 8,700 feet. For visitors coming from Denver, the Midwest or other lower-elevation areas, that's a pretty big change.

The golden aspens of September give way to cooler mornings, shorter days and the possibility of the season's first real snow. But winter is no longer something far off on the horizon. At YMCA of the Rockies, October is a month for enjoying the final weeks of fall while beginning to look ahead to everything the snowy season brings.

At both Estes Park Center and Snow Mountain Ranch, September and October bring golden aspens, cooler mornings, changing wildlife activity and the first signs that winter is on its way. If you're planning a fall mountain getaway, the best approach is to come prepared for a little bit of everything.

At Snow Mountain Ranch, fall is also a great time to start preparing for Nordic skiing season. Mountain biking offers a fun way to build endurance, strength and confidence on the same kind of varied mountain terrain that makes Nordic skiing such a rewarding winter activity. Located about an hour and a half from Denver, Snow Mountain Ranch makes it easy to turn a fall weekend into an active mountain getaway.