Hesperus Ski Area snow report
Hesperus Ski Area
Hesperus Ski Area, located near Durango, Colorado, is a small but charming ski resort offering 26 trails across 160 acres of skiable terrain. The best trails for intermediate and advanced skiers are the Hesperus Bowl and the Upper and Lower Ellie trails. A little-known fact about the resort is that it was the first ski area in the United States to implement a rope tow system. For beginners, the resort offers the Bunny Hill, a gentle slope ideal for learning the basics of skiing. After a day on the slopes, skiers can enjoy a relaxing apres ski at the Powderhouse Bar, known for its cozy atmosphere and delicious drinks.
Terrain mix: The pertinent mountain range for Hesperus Ski Area in Colorado is the La Plata Mountains. The ski area itself is located on the southern slope of Hesperus Mountain, which is part of the La Plata Mountains range. Hesperus Mountain has an elevation of 12,470 feet and offers a variety of terrain for skiers and snowboarders. The ski area has a vertical drop of 700 feet and features both beginner and intermediate runs.
Plan your day down to the hour
Same weather feed Snoflo's iOS app uses -- updated continuously from NOAA / yr.no. Watch the snow column the morning of a storm to know when to call in sick.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & snow
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks -- start of next storm cycle, end of last one.
Nearby SNOTEL stations
USDA NRCS SNOTEL stations within driving range. Cross-check whether the snow at Hesperus Ski Area is a one-off accumulation or a regional storm cycle.
| Station | Snowpack | View |
|---|---|---|
| Nohrsc Lone Cone | 1 in | → |
| Vallecito | 6 in | → |
| Monument | 1 in | → |
| Nohrsc Vallecito | 6 in | → |
| Nohrsc Red Mountain Pass | 1 in | → |
| Lizard Head Pass | 1 in | → |
| Lone Cone | 1 in | → |
Beyond the slopes
Other ski areas, basecamp options, alpine fishing, and scenic stops near Hesperus Ski Area -- worth knowing whether you're in for a day, a long weekend, or a season pass.
Other ski areas
Campgrounds
Mountain & avalanche safety
- Know before you go
- Check today's avalanche bulletin from the regional avalanche center before any off-piste / side-country / backcountry travel. Conditions can shift dramatically between morning and afternoon on storm days.
- Carry the gear, know how to use it
- Beacon, shovel, probe. Practice companion rescue on a calm day, not during a real burial.
- Mind the weather window
- Heavy snow + wind builds wind slabs at ridgelines. The day after a storm is often the riskiest in the backcountry, even if the resort itself is open.
- Respect closed terrain
- Ropes are there for a reason. Even in-bounds, ducking a closure can trigger a slide that catches you and others below.
Track Hesperus Ski Area in the Snoflo app
Save this resort as a favorite, set push alerts when snowfall crosses a threshold (e.g. "alert me when Hesperus Ski Area reports 6″ new"), and Snoflo's iOS app will push the moment the SNOTEL station crosses.
About Hesperus Ski Area
Where does the snow data for Hesperus Ski Area come from?
Snowpack, SWE, 24-hour snowfall, and air temperature come from the nearest USDA NRCS SNOTEL station. Forecast comes from the National Weather Service / yr.no feed that Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the snow report updated?
Snowpack and SNOTEL data are updated continuously by NRCS (typically hourly). The 15-day weather forecast is refreshed throughout the day. Snoflo caches and renders the most recent observation -- look for the "as of" timestamp on the snowpack hero.
What's the elevation at Hesperus Ski Area?
See the Resort Metrics panel above for base / summit / vertical drop. The summit elevation drives snowpack accumulation -- higher summits hold snow longer through spring.
How is "% of normal" calculated?
Today's snowpack is compared to the average snowpack on this calendar day across every recorded year at the nearest SNOTEL. 100% means right on average; 130% is a big year; 60% is thin.
What ski resorts are near Hesperus Ski Area?
See the Other Ski Areas pill grid at the bottom of the page for resorts within driving distance. The sister Other Ski Areas card in the Plan-a-longer-trip grid above shows the closest few.
Can I get alerts when fresh snow hits?
Yes -- snow alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this resort, set a snowfall threshold (e.g. "alert me when 6+ inches"), and you'll get a push the moment the SNOTEL crosses.
Other resorts near here
Snoflo-tracked ski areas within driving distance of Hesperus Ski Area.