On December 12, Cuchara Mountain Park – which is located about 35 miles northwest of Trinidad in southern Colorado – announced some major news related to a situation that’s be ticking along for years. The ski area’s ‘Chair 4’ has completed state-required tests, with the spot reporting that this lift will be open to the public by New Year’s. It’s set to be the first operational lift at the spot in many years.

“It’s been a long road to get here, and we want to express our heartfelt thanks to the Huerfano County Commissioners, the Department of Local Affairs, and the many supporters who have been with us for years,” read a statement from the spot. “We truly could not have reached this milestone without you.”

The opening of the lift means a checkmark on one of Cuchara’s last remaining hurdles in their goal to bring lift-powered skiing to southern Colorado. The ski area opened in 1981 and operated most seasons until its closure in 2000.

While there hasn’t been a lift at the spot in recent seasons, the ski area has been operational, utilizing what they call a ‘ski bus’ to haul people up the mountain to the top of where Chair 4 is set to be.

The peak elevation of Cuchara Mountain Park is 10,810 feet and its got a vertical drop of 1,562 feet to the base. When the lift opens, the ski area will span roughly 50 acres.

Learn more about the history of Cuchara Mountain Park here.

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