Lower T-Bar (aka Lift Line)

Type: Backcountry or Sidecountry

This run is within Rocky Mountain National Park. It is at the old Hidden Valley ski area, which closed in 1991. It is a ski area no more, and is now being returned to the forest. RMNP has a great warming hut and restroom facility at the base, along with ample parking. This area is very popular for the sledding hill not far from the hut.

This is within Rocky Mountain National Park, so all park entrance fees will apply. There is a fence quite near the bottom of the slope. Just be on the lookout for that as you approach the bottom.

Beyond the sledding hill is where the old ski runs used to be cut through the trees. This run follows one of the old lift lines (the "Lower T-Bar" lift). I did this on a snowboard in deep powder and it was awesome!

The run is a bit tight, not very wide. So, there isn't much room to zig-zag your way down the hill. But, it's not too steep, so it isn't much of a problem.

From ColoradoSkiHistory.com: Hidden Valley opened for business in 1955, but the area was skied by area residents long before any lifts were installed. The area was run by the Estes Park Recreation District and backed by local businesses. It was eventually bought by the Park Service with the intent to phase out the ski operations. They removed the double chair in 1977 on the fact that it wasn't positioned correctly. In 1991, the area closed for good and has since undergone revegetation.