COLORADO SKI SEASON IS IN FULL SWING
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Telluride Ski Resort under a full moon - Photo courtesy of Marketing Telluride
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Read About:
Arapahoe Basin,
Aspen Highlands,
Aspen Mountain,
Beaver Creek,
Breckenridge,
Buttermilk,
Copper Mountain,
Crested Butte,
Durango,
Echo Mountain,
Eldora,
Howelsen Hill,
Keystone,
Loveland,
Monarch,
Powderhorn,
Silverton Mountain,
Ski Cooper,
Snowmass,
Sol Vista,
Steamboat Ski Resort,
Sunlight Mountain,
Telluride,
Vail,
Winter Park,
Wolf Creek,
Colorado Snow Report
Arapahoe Basin
Opening day (October 10, 2007) marked A-Basin's earliest opening in its 61 years of operation, and made it the first resort to open for the 2007–2008 Colorado ski season. Arapahoe Basin's close proximity to Denver ensures its popularity with city dwellers who are looking for an easy way to experience one of the steepest descents in the state.
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Aspen Highlands
For skiers who collect black diamond runs like scout patches, Aspen Highlands is their mountain. Only a few seasons ago, this mountain added the Deep Temerity chair lift, the fastest triple chair lift in the state. This high-speed conveyance carries skiers and boarders up 1,700 feet in slightly more than seven minutes. In addition to getting people to the top quicker, during the 2005–2006 ski season, Aspen Highlands opened more than 200 acres of advanced and expert terrain.
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Aspen Mountain
Of the four mountains in Aspen/Snowmass, Aspen Mountain is the poster boy. Now in its 61st year of operation, this ski resort has seen a number of improvements made to its already award-winning location. Its workhorse gondola, the Silver Queen, has undergone a major renovation. This enclosed gondola has 147 Swiss-made cabins, with windows reaching nearly floor to ceiling, allowing skiers and boarders to take in breathtaking views of the Rocky Mountains before they disembark and bomb down the slopes. And for those who don't ski, downtown Aspen is a boutique shopper's paradise.
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Beaver Creek
Beaver Creek caters to those seeking an unforgettable Colorado ski vacation. Plush accommodations complement challenging mountain runs. Visitors to this resort find every whim anticipated and every request answered. World-class spas, restaurants and shopping add up to a perfect extended getaway. The mountain itself is incessantly groomed, ensuring each of its 148 trails provides the best on-mountain terrain you've ever experienced.
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Breckenridge
A name synonymous with the luxury lifestyle, Breckenridge caters to movie stars and moguls, but also has ample opportunities for us regular folk. Ski-in/ski-out condos abound in this idyllic town, where the streets are lined in white lights, and boutiques and restaurants experience an unhurried existence. The ski area itself offers 29 lifts, taking skiers and boarders to a nearly even split among easy (15 percent), novice (33 percent), intermediate (20 percent) and expert terrain (32 percent).
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Buttermilk
Buttermilk ski area has been receiving national attention as the home to the Winter X-Games through the 2010 ski season. While pros will be returning to this mountain for some time, the locals know it as a place to test their beginner and intermediate skills. None of the runs at Buttermilk are marked expert, meaning double black diamond. Instead, the runs are either beginner, intermediate or advanced. This ski area is ideal for moving up the ladder of skiing ability.
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Copper Mountain
For locals, one of the top spots is Copper Mountain. This ski resort is located relatively close to most major cities and sports a staff that has a true respect for the winter-sport lifestyle. For those who want to have fun in the snow without strapping boots on, consider the tubing hill near the base of the SuperBee lift. The smile-inducing tubing hill is extremely popular, so be sure to call ahead to make reservations. But if you've come to Colorado to challenge the runs, Copper's 22 lifts and 125 trails will more than satiate your urge to fly down the mountain on skis or a snowboard.
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Crested Butte
Some people like the hustle and bustle associated with large resorts, while others prefer serenity and overwhelming beauty in a laid-back area. For those who prefer a slower pace, Crested Butte, situated in one of the most beautiful corners of Colorado, is ideal. Bed and breakfasts and mountain condos are the norm here, where hospitality and comfort are the foundations of your stay. When not cozying up to a fire or carving down the slopes, consider visiting the newly opened, $200 million Mountaineer Square, where a lodge and shops accent the town's new slope-side centerpiece.
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Durango Mountain Resort
Formerly known as Purgatory, this mountain proves to be nothing less than heavenly. The ski area is tucked tightly into the Southwest corner of Colorado. Durango Mountain Resort offers an exceptional experience for everyone from the first-time skier to the I-eat-black-diamonds-for-breakfast veteran. Found within the park's 1,200 terraced acres are 85 trails, two terrain parks, a racing course and even a play park for the kids. This ski area also has one of the largest snowcat operations in the United States, providing access to 35,000 acres of backcountry skiing and snowboarding.
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Echo Mountain
With long rails, high walls and deep pipes to challenge your imagination, this ski area is 100 percent freestyle country. It's where locals go to showcase their trick list and hone their skills. Only 35 miles from Denver, it is the closest ski area to Colorado's capital. So if you're based out of the Mile-High City and you need a quick snow fix, head to the park. And if the hankerin' for a ride strikes after dark, you can still head on up — the whole area is lit for night skiing.
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Eldora
Eldora, the closest ski resort to Denver and Boulder, is now open. Having made a name for itself as a family-friendly affair, this ski area offers a variety of classes and slopes for beginners and novices. In fact, 50 percent of Eldora's runs are designated blue and 20 percent are green, meaning that a total of 70 percent of the mountain is best suited for intermediate and beginner skiers. Along with its family appeal, this ski area boasts 300 inches of snow a year. But should there be a few dry spells, it is also considered to have the best snowmaking capabilities in the state.
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Howelsen Hill
Ski a piece of history. Established in 1914, Howelsen Hill is the longest continuously operating ski area in the state. Because of its long ski jumps and superb snow conditions, Howelsen Hill has fostered more Olympians than any other ski area in North America. Its designation by the International Skiing History Association as a Pioneer Ski Resort is a testament to this nearly 100-year-old gem's lasting impact on the sport.
While historic, Howelsen Hill is still in touch with today — this ski area is one of the few resorts in Colorado to offer night skiing. And from 6–8pm every Tuesday, any average Joe can give the ski area's Olympic ski jump a try. Runs are included in your ski pass.
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Keystone
Trees, bowls, moguls and straightforward downhill runs are the bread and butter of Keystone. This down-to-earth resort town is warm and welcoming, with a heavy dose of polished charm providing visitors with a world-class experience. Small shops, larger restaurants and a robust nightlife make Keystone the perfect escape. Parts of the mountain are open to night skiing, where skiers and boarders ride under an eerie and invigorating glow. And with Keystone's five high-speed quads, among the 15 other lifts, you'll be able to spend more time on the slopes and less time waiting to get to the top.
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Loveland
At 13,010 feet, Loveland has one of the nation's highest lift-served areas. For a thrill, jump off the cornice of The Ridge and plunge down through perfect powder far above timberline. At the resort's high-elevation hideaways, the snow seems to never melt, and the action never ends. When Loveland closes its lifts in May, it still has more snow than some areas have in January.
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Monarch Mountain
You'll be hard pressed to find better snow than Monarch's. Powder gets piled high at this resort perched atop the Continental Divide in South Central Colorado. Monarch Snowcat Tours let skiers take full advantage of their snow by whisking powder enthusiasts up to snowy crests in the backcountry. While Monarch is hardly ever crowded, skiers and boarders in search of their own slice of mountain take the short hike to Mirkwood Basin, where 1,100 vertical feet await their descent.
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Powderhorn
A bit removed from other ski areas, Powderhorn sits on the edge of the Grand Mesa and offers virtually no lift lines. This family-friendly ski area has been providing memorable ski holidays since the 1940s, and has made numerous upgrades and additions to its facilities to ensure the comfort and enjoyment of its guests. This year, they've added a bit of extra fun to their winter season. Powderhorn is holding a photo contest, called the "Shoot Out," where winners win a variety of prizes for taking shots of people having fun on the mountain.
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Silverton Mountain
This isn't your cozy skiing experience with numerous high-speed quads and perfectly manicured slopes. This is the gritty, hardcore, let-nature-rule type of skiing. This expert-only mountain has just one ski lift to take you to the top. Skiers and boarders hike to their drop-in point and shred down the face of the mountain through waist-high powder. Guides are always available for skiers, and having one is like a ticket to a new experience. These guides are experts on the mountain and can show you the best lines to take down, as well as provide access to areas where unguided skiers aren't allowed.
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Ski Cooper
Ski Cooper is famous as the training site for the 10th Mountain Division, the legendary World War II ski troops. Cooper's sweeping runs follow some of the same snow paths used by the soldiers who skied the lofty battlefields of Europe. Today, the ski area is popular with families looking for a cheerful and low-stress skiing holiday. While smaller than other resorts, there's still plenty of room to roam on the 11,700-foot-high mountain. In fact, for the more daring, Ski Cooper offers backcountry skiing and snowboarding tours throughout 2,400 acres of bowls, trees and open slopes.
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Snowmass
The mountain itself is enormous, in both height and breadth. In fact, the resort touts that 36 Disneylands could fit within the ski-area boundaries, and four Eiffel Towers would still not make it to the top of the resort's 4,406 vertical feet. New to Snowmass in 2007–2008 is the Treehouse Kids' Adventure Center. This base camp for family fun caters to the kids and provides winter-long activities before and after a day on the mountain.
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SolVista Basin at Granby Ranch
This four-season resort really shines when the snow falls. Its 5,400 acres become a winter playground where families revel in fun. SolVista has set up a variety of runs on its two mountains to draw skiers of various abilities. The majority of the West Mountain's runs are intermediate to advanced, while the East Mountain is popular with skiers in need of a little slow-paced practice. For added convenience, SolVista has ski-in/ski-out facilities, where all you need to do to start your day is to strap on your gear and ski from your front door to the lift. And after a hard day of carving powder, just ski on back to your front door.
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Steamboat Ski Resort
Ever wonder from where the term "Champagne powder" derived? Well, wonder no longer. Steamboat Springs averages 334 inches of the driest, lightest Champagne powder you've ever sunk your skis into. Think 3,668-foot vertical drop plus adult and children freestyle terrain parks. Think three peaks and more than 150 trails to swoosh down. Think if there's anywhere you'd rather be. Steamboat is perfect for adrenaline seekers as well as fun-loving families. The cozy western town of Steamboat Springs is a mere three miles from the base of the behemoth mountain and offers warm hospitality to all who settle in for a quick weekend or a long winter's break.
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Sunlight Mountain Resort
Cruise down one of the longest runs in Colorado at Sunlight Mountain Resort. The 2.5-mile Ute run is a beginner slope that seems to never end. It's perfect for practicing your budding skills before taking on more challenging terrain. If you're comfortable with your abilities, consider the Heathen; at 52 degrees it's one of the steepest trails in the state.
Sunlight's base camp is Glenwood Springs, home to the largest improved hot springs pool in the world. So after a session slope side, a soak in these mineral baths is just what the doctor ordered.
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Telluride
Nestled deep in the San Juan Mountains is picturesque Telluride. Standing at the top and looking down from that 3,522-foot vertical drop, even the most adventurous soul feels an ever-so-slight tremble of anticipation. With new lifts, including state-of-the-art high-speed quads and a triple, the most challenging steeps and bumps are even more easily accessed. Seventy-nine percent of Telluride's runs are either intermediate or expert advanced level.
With more than 80 snowboarding trails and the southwest's largest snowboard park offering 20 acres and 1,000 vertical feet of berms, gaps, hits and tabletops, shredders can test their daring and skill to the max.
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Vail
Vail Ski Resort is one of the most famous ski areas in the world. Mega-stars and elite skiers and boarders all congregate here to see and be seen. And for those who don't fit into any of the previous categories, Vail is great for stargazing and autograph grabbing. In fact, you don't have to be interested in skiing at all to enjoy yourself in Vail. Events are held all winter long and range from professional competitions to nighttime, on-slope concerts. When most of us envision our ideal ski resort, we picture Vail.
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Winter Park
Less than 70 miles from Denver lies the Winter Park/Mary Jane Ski Area, which boasts more than 3,000 acres spread out over five mountains. If those numbers aren't enough to get you excited, consider Winter Park's 30-foot average of annual snowfall — a depth that would cover more than four SUVs, stacked one on top of the other. Speed junkies will love their 3,000 vertical feet of terrain. After all, it's just more room to open up the throttle, lay off the brakes and experience as much speed as you can handle.
In addition to impressive on-mountain numbers, Winter Park/Mary Jane has become synonymous with family-friendly fun and affordable prices. And if you fly into Denver, as most people do, you can forgo the rental car. The Ski Train out of Denver's Union Station leaves every morning and will put you slope side in just a few hours.
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Wolf Creek
Wolf Creek Ski Area is notorious for getting the most snow of any resort in Colorado. If you're a skier or boarder who likes floating through powder, this is your destination. For a long, uninterrupted run, hit up Wolf Creek Ski Area's Navajo Trail run; it's two miles of skiing and boarding bliss. Wolf Creek is known for more than just its perfect Colorado snow and long runs. Nearby Pagosa Springs offers world-famous hot spring pools, ideal for relaxing sore bodies after a long day in the snow.
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Colorado Snow Report
Interested in where, when and how much snow has fallen in Colorado? Check out the
Colorado Snow Report.
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