Outdoor Sports

Horseback Riding

Colorado is horse country. New Castle offers opportunities to learn riding, take guided trail rides, ride in the wilderness, spend a vacation at a ranch with horses, or watch horse shows in an indoor arena. 4J Arena Riding lessons, show arenas, special events. 2101 CR 245 (970) 984-0767 Coulter Lake Guest Ranch Coulter Ranch offers cabins, horseback riding, fishing, boating, as well as winter recreation activities. Located in the Flat Tops. Take the Buford Road to Grass Valley Drive. Turn left and go north on CR 325 then 217. Turn right on 832 and left on 8322B. (970) 625-1475 or (800) 858-3046 Porter Ranch A working ranch in the Alkali Creek Valley just South of New Castle. Campers can enjoy horseback riding, fishing, biking, and hiking on thousands of acres. County Road 341 (970) 984-3269.

Hunting

The Flat Top Range, assessable from New Castle via the Buford Road (CR 245), is an exceptional region for hunters. The White River National Forest is open to hunting for elk, mule deer, wild turkeys, black bear and big horn sheep. Hunting licenses are available at City Market in New Castle, as are supplies for hunting trips. There are campgrounds near Meadow Lake, a prime hunting location, and dispersed camping is allowed throughout the Forest. Hunting information and regulations are available from Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

Skiing, Snowboarding, Cross Country Skiing And Snowshoeing

While New Castle does not have its own ski mountain, we are only an hour or less from family-friendly skiing at Sunlight Mountain (Glenwood Springs), and world-class skiing at Vail Mountain (Vail) and Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Snowmass and Buttermilk (Aspen area).

Buford Road The same parking lot gives access to a network of snowshoeing and cross country skiing trails to the east. The trails lead through meadows and aspen groves, leading to spectacular outlooks. These trails are maintained by a local volunteer group, West Elk Trails, Inc.  For more information or a map of this area visit West Elk Trails’ website. East Elk Creek Turn onto East Elk Creek Road just north of New Castle. The road follows the creek through farm and ranchlands to a parking lot. The road entering the White River forest is unplowed in the winter and provides a great 1 1/4 mile snowshoeing trail to bridge crossing the creek. Harvey Gap Does not maintain cross-country trails, but the entire park is open to skiers all winter. Lakota Canyon Ranch Golf Course Open to snowshoe-ers and skiers all winter.

Snowmobiling

Buford Road The Rifle Snowmobile Club maintains a network of Snowmobile trails on the Flat Tops. Take the Buford Road north of New Castle. Note that at West Elk Creek the Buford Road (CR 245) turns sharply to the right. The road is plowed as far as the large parking lot with restroom facilities. The snowmobiling trails are to the west of the parking lot. Snowmobiling on the unplowed section of the Buford Road is allowed from November 22 to May 20.