Please return your seasonal rentals!
Drop off 10-6 Monday thru Friday
Drop off 10-6 Monday thru Friday
Longtime customers may still know our shop as Mt. Shavano Ski & Snowboard Shop, the name it carried for years before current ownership took over in December, 2021. We became Bluebird Mountain Sports to bring our New Mexico and Colorado shops under a single roof.
A day at Monarch should start on the mountain, and not in a rental line. Many of the people at our counter are Salida locals heading up for the morning, or travelers driving US 50 who want their gear sorted out, before they climb the pass.
We're not a base-area counter working a first-chair rush. Bluebird Mountain Sports is the last stop before Monarch Pass and the first one on the way back down, so we can fit your boots before you drive up, and tune your skis or board after you come down.
We're built for people who ski Monarch Mountain
Our shop has been fitting Monarch skiers from this building through every kind of season the pass throws at it. That's the useful thing about a shop that doesn't move: we know how the mountain skis in a January storm cycle and how it skis in April, and we can tell you which one you're about to get.
Not everyone driving up this highway is heading for a chairlift. The country on either side of the pass is used for nordic skiing, snowshoeing, and touring, and our shop has long carried and rented well beyond alpine.
A shop on the highway can do things a base-area counter can't. Get fitted before you ever reach the parking lot, and drop your skis for a tune on your way home rather than making a separate trip. If your trip carries on to Crested Butte, Copper, or Vail, your rental goes with you.
Adult and kids' ski, snowboard, and boot packages, with damage insurance included. Season packages are a good fit for anyone skiing the pass regularly.
We offer full-service bench work, with most jobs ready by 5 PM the day after drop-off. Buy a new boot, binding, ski, or board from us, and we'll mount the bindings free of charge.
Our team provides full custom bootfitting, from footbeds through liner and shell work, on boots bought here or anywhere else. Footbeds made here don't stop being useful in April, and plenty end up in hiking boots and cycling shoes.
Our Salida shop serves skiers, snowboarders, and mountain travelers preparing for central Colorado conditions. Whether you are renting for a weekend trip, buying past-season or demo equipment, getting your setup tuned, or asking about the right gear for the day, our team can help.
16101 W US Hwy 50,
Salida, CO 81201
Open daily, 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM, all ski season long
We have a free, easily accessible storefront parking lot, right off Highway 50, for easy gear pickups, drop-offs, and prep.
Monarch runs from 10,790' at the base to nearly 12,000' at the summit, across 800 acres on the Continental Divide. It has one of the highest base elevations in North America, and the terrain leans toward advanced and expert, with a smaller share set aside for beginners and intermediates.The mountain has no snowmaking at all and never has, which is unusual in Colorado. It runs on roughly 350 inches of natural snow a year and works with whatever the weather delivers. That's worth knowing before you pick gear, because the mountain skis very differently in a storm cycle than it does in late-season corn.Monarch is about 10 miles west of us on US 50, at the top of the pass. Conditions on that stretch can change fast and the highway does close in heavy storms, so check CDOT before you set out. If you pick your gear up from Bluebird Mountain Sports the evening before (we're open til 6 PM), then the drive up is the only thing left to do in the morning.
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Reviews from our Google Business Profile
Salida, CO
My custom Bluebird Mountain Sports insoles have helped bring my plantar fasciitis under control. I use one pair for stationary sports like skiing and biking, and another cushioned pair for hiking and running. They fit comfortably, transfer easily between shoes, and have improved my comfort and control. The team was prompt, personable, and professional throughout the fitting process.
2 months ago
Salida, CO
Blue Bird Ski Rental went above and beyond for our family. They stayed open late when we arrived so everyone could get set up, and every staff member was friendly and helpful. When we worried about returning gear on our last day, they arranged an easy return so we could enjoy every minute on the mountain. Truly excellent service from start to finish.
a year ago
Salida, CO
Great little shop with helpful, kind, and enthusiastic employees. Jesse especially went out of his way to talk snowboards and bindings with us, both in the shop and on demo day at Monarch. While the snowboard selection is focused, the team was knowledgeable and welcoming. I really enjoyed the experience and will definitely return when I am in the Monarch area.
7 months ago
Reserve online and save 10% today, or stop by to get fitted in person.