Outdoors and wildfire - Western Slope
The Grand Mesa is its own avalanche forecast zone in winter
The Colorado Avalanche Information Center forecasts the Grand Mesa as its own backcountry zone, so winter snowmobilers and skiers should check it before heading up.
Published June 10, 2026 - Last verified June 15, 2026
In winter the Grand Mesa turns into snow country, popular for snowmobiling, skiing, and snowshoeing. With deep snow on steep slopes comes a real hazard: avalanches.
The Colorado Avalanche Information Center, the state’s avalanche center within the Department of Natural Resources, treats the Grand Mesa as its own backcountry forecast zone. That means there is a forecast written specifically for this terrain, not just a general statewide note. Conditions on the mesa can differ from the high peaks elsewhere in the state, so the local forecast is the one to read.
Why this matters: people sometimes think of avalanches as only a high-peak problem, but slopes on the Grand Mesa can slide too. A quick check of the day’s forecast, plus carrying the right gear and knowing how to use it, is part of a safe winter trip here. Most slides that catch people are triggered by the victim or someone in their own group.
Before a winter day on the Grand Mesa, read the current Grand Mesa zone forecast from the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.