Winter Park Snow Stake Webcam — Watch Live Online

What a snow stake is and why it's needed

A snow stake is a vertical pole with a graduated scale, mounted on a special snow measurement board. The device shows the thickness of snow cover that has accumulated on the board since the last measurement. After each reading, the board is cleared so that the next measurement reflects only fresh precipitation. At large resorts, stakes are made tall and bright — they can be seen from afar, allowing skiers and snowboarders to quickly assess conditions on the slope.

The Winter Park webcam is mounted on exactly this type of stake — at mid-mountain, in a location sheltered from strong winds. This ensures representative readings for the entire resort. The scale is graduated in inches — from 2 to 28, which corresponds to approximately 5–71 centimeters of snow cover.

How to read the snow stake scale

Reading the scale is intuitive: simply visually determine the snow level against the markings on the stake. Each division corresponds to one inch (2.54 cm). If the snow reaches the 10 mark — that's 25 centimeters of fresh cover. At large resorts, stakes are made high-contrast — white numbers on a dark background or vice versa — so readings are visible even in poor visibility conditions.

Professional ski resorts use not just one stake, but an entire network — on sunny and shaded sections, on the slope and at the base. Measurements are averaged every morning, and the snow on the measurement board is cleared after each reading. This provides an objective picture of precipitation distribution across the area.

History of Winter Park Resort

Winter Park Resort opened January 28, 1940 and is Colorado's longest continuously operating ski resort — more than 80 years of history. Over that time, it has transformed from a modest ski base into one of the largest ski centers in the Rocky Mountains.

The first snow stakes at US ski resorts began to be used as the industry grew in the mid-20th century. Modern electronic systems (such as SNOWsat) have been in use for over 10 years, but classic stakes remain the visual standard — they require no power and work in any conditions.

Art Installation "There Is Snow On the Ground"

The new Winter Park snow stake is not just a measuring tool, but a full-fledged art object. It is part of the installation "There Is Snow On the Ground" (in Arapaho — "Heniiniini'"), created in partnership with Indigenous communities to strengthen the presence of Native peoples on the mountain.

The stake is located at an elevation of 3,353 m above sea level and is one of many signs and art objects that mark not only snow levels but also the cultural heritage of the region. This is a unique example of how a functional tool becomes an element of public art.

Skiing conditions and weather on the slope

Mid-mountain is a strategic point for assessing conditions. There is usually less wind here than on the ridges, and more snow than at the base. The camera on the snow stake allows you to see the current snow depth in real time and assess whether it's worth going higher or better to ski at middle elevations.

Conditions at different elevations can differ radically from the readings of a single stake. More snow accumulates in cirques, while on open ridges it is blown away by the wind. That's why professional resorts use a network of stakes — but the mid-mountain one provides the most representative picture for most runs.

How to get to Winter Park

Winter Park is located in Colorado, USA, approximately 100 kilometers west of Denver. You can drive via US-40 highway through Berthoud Pass, or take the Amtrak Winter Park Express train, which runs directly from Denver during the winter season. This is one of the few ski resorts in the US that can be reached by train directly from a major city.

What the camera shows

The online camera shows a snow stake with a numerical scale from 2 to 28 inches, mounted on a circular base. Above the stake is a wooden frame with an information sign and logo. In the background is a mixed forest with birch trees (characteristic white trunks) and conifers. On the ground, green and yellowed vegetation and traces of fallen leaves are visible.

There is no snow on the stake or around it — the camera is broadcasting a summer landscape. During the winter season, the picture changes: the stake becomes covered with snow, from which you can determine the current snow depth. The live stream operates around the clock, allowing you to observe changing conditions in real time — from morning readings to evening lighting.