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Meadow Mountain - Line Shack (Dowds Junction)
Backcountry Skiing Route
Details
5.53 mi
1,936 ft
Meadow mountain offers a low angle option with wide-open slopes that are loads of fun after a storm.
This is a good backcountry touring option that is easily accessible from Vail, Minturn, or Avon. According to Mary Gilliand in The Vail Hiker, this mountain used to be a ski area so it offers a large amount of terrain that should suit most people. The skin track vaguely follows the old lift maintenance road up through open meadows and aspen groves. You can drop off the road or skin track at any point and meander through the meadows back to the parking lot.
The lower slopes are fairly popular so you will most likely find people sledding, snowshoeing and snowmobiling. To avoid the crowds, get there early and make laps higher up the route. The entire slope is very exposed and is thin during the early season and can get sun baked late in the season. It’s recommended to choose this route mid-winter after a decent snowfall so you have fresh soft turns. Some parts of the route can get windy and hard packed but it’s easy to avoid these and find soft snow.
The skin track starts a few feet away from the Dowds Junction bus stop making this a good option if you’re staying in Vail and don’t have a car. The route is fairly straightforward and an established trail should be present roughly following the road. Minturn is a fun alternative to the glitz and glam of Vail and is worth stopping at for a beer and food after your tour.
Written by Alex Markovich
This is a good backcountry touring option that is easily accessible from Vail, Minturn, or Avon. According to Mary Gilliand in The Vail Hiker, this mountain used to be a ski area so it offers a large amount of terrain that should suit most people. The skin track vaguely follows the old lift maintenance road up through open meadows and aspen groves. You can drop off the road or skin track at any point and meander through the meadows back to the parking lot.
The lower slopes are fairly popular so you will most likely find people sledding, snowshoeing and snowmobiling. To avoid the crowds, get there early and make laps higher up the route. The entire slope is very exposed and is thin during the early season and can get sun baked late in the season. It’s recommended to choose this route mid-winter after a decent snowfall so you have fresh soft turns. Some parts of the route can get windy and hard packed but it’s easy to avoid these and find soft snow.
The skin track starts a few feet away from the Dowds Junction bus stop making this a good option if you’re staying in Vail and don’t have a car. The route is fairly straightforward and an established trail should be present roughly following the road. Minturn is a fun alternative to the glitz and glam of Vail and is worth stopping at for a beer and food after your tour.
Written by Alex Markovich
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