Monarch is the valley's home hill, about 20 miles west of Salida on US 50. It runs on natural snow only, averages around 350 inches a year and still feels like a local mountain: short lift lines, a laid-back lodge and powder that lasts.

• The numbers: base 10,727 feet, summit 11,952 feet, 1,225 feet of vertical, about 1,146 skiable acres, 9 lifts, 80 trails and 3 terrain parks.
• No Name Basin: opened January 29, 2026. Served by the new Tomichi Lift with terrain on both sides of the Continental Divide.
• Mirkwood Basin: 129 acres of ungroomed double-black terrain, about a 15-minute hike from the lift. It closes at 2:30 p.m., and Monarch recommends a beacon, shovel, probe, helmet and partner.
• Cat skiing: about 1,635 acres of guided terrain for strong skiers and riders.
• Snow tubing: Monarch's tubing park runs 90-minute sessions on Fridays through Sundays and holidays. Riders must be at least 36 inches tall.
• Uphill skinning: uphill access opens once the mountain does. You need an uphill pass, which is free for season pass holders. Stick to marked routes and times, and no dogs.

Stop by the shop the night before a powder day for a wax. We're on your way out of town.