Breck has a classic downtown mainstreet that has the old buildings and charm to make it the favorite of many, despite its oversubscription of T-shirt shops. Main Street will see crowds, too, so plan your meals ahead and try not to drive into the heart of the beast looking for parkting. Without a doubt, this mountain and town share one of the cooler names in skiing.
Anything crested has to be good. It's also a good place that should be of particular interest to Epic Pass skiers, as it's one of the least-crowded options available to those holding the Epic Pass. The mountain's distance to Denver keeps away the kind of crowds that descend on Breck, Winter Park, Vail and others, but determined Denver drivers can still make a weekend out of it.
Crested Butte possesses some of the most technical terrain in Colorado, which makes it a great pick for those seeking out steeps in February and March. Lodging saw an expanded building boom in the late s that created a lot of inventory and moderate prices for skiers.
This is one of the better towns in Colorado; only Telluride is demonstrably ahead of it in our book Aspen's streets run right to the slopes of Aspen Mountain, unlike Crested Butte, which is a short distance away from the hill, but the ambiance of Crested Butte is better overall.
The resort has developed something of a cult-following in Denver and Summit Counties, not dissimilar from the adoration that Alta gathers on a larger scale from the North American ski community. A-Basin is a more spartan mountain than other resorts nearby, also similar to Alta, which focuses the experience on skiing.
Unlike Alta, A-Basin doesn't get the prolific snow amounts and snowboards are permitted on its pistes. But make no mistake: this is a skier's mountain, with many wide-open bowls that bump up after snows and some of the better in-bounds boot-packing trails in the state.
Skiers and riders can pick from a wide selection of expert terrain hairy high-elevation nooks put A-Basin in the class of Crested Butte and Telluride when it comes to steep skiing. The best thing about A-Basin is its spring season, where its high elevations and north-facing terrain make it the premier place to ski in Colorado in late March and April. The rocky terrain requires large amounts of snow for good coverage, which can be an issue in the early season, but one that's usually solved by March.
Sitting in Summit county not too far from the town of Frisco, Copper has been a destination resort for decades. Not being owned by Vail or Alterra puts it in an awkward position as a mainline resort close to the Front Range. Copper doesn't have the cult following that A-Basin, also in Summit County, enjoys. To draw Front Range skiers, Copper needs to be on a multi-resort pass full-time—and it is.
Nearly everybody skiing at Copper does so on the Ikon Pass. As a full-time Ikon destination sitting right on I Copper will see crowds on the weekends, but they're generally sparser than those at Breckenridge, a Vail Resorts destination in Summit County. The terrain is varied, offering something for everybody. Experts will find good stashes high up—over 12, feet in Copper's case. One of Copper's strongest characteristics is its ability to preserve snow.
Wolf Creek embodies what many of us wish skiing had more of: family-oriented resorts with solid facilities and a noticeable lack of commercialization. Wolf Creek is effectively a fairly raw mountain ridge in Southern Colorado that happens to have ski lifts installed on it.
No hotels, no spas, no billionaire seven-story holes in the ground awaiting a steel superstructure , What there is, however, is snow—a lot of it. More than anywhere else in Colorado, in fact. Little weather disturbances that cross Colorado become big ones thanks to the geography of Wolf Creek's mountain faces.
Total Resorts in Region: Largest Resort by acreage: Vail Ski Resort - 5, acres. Our rankings are about four main things, none of which are lodging: Snow quality Terrain Crowds Town Snow: Winter precipitation quality consists of many things, mainly: quantity, density most snow that falls in Colorado is very light and excellent for skiing , the characteristics of the mountain in holding and preserving snow slope aspects, elevation and latitude , and snow consistency high standard deviations are bad, low standard deviations are good.
Best Colorado Ski Resorts:. Telluride Ski Resort CO. Visually, Telluride is the most striking ski town in North America. The richness of scenery created by 14,foot peaks and an old mining town that backs into a box canyon can't be overstated. The town is, by our judgement, the best in skiing, with venerable buildings that have been carefully restored making up the majority of the main drag Colorado Ave. It has more to offer than any other mountain town, with great intermediate terrain mixing with steeps that are among the best on the continent.
Town is connected via a free gondola to Mountain Village, where much of the newer lodging is. The gondola runs from 7 a. The dining scene is among the best in skiing. Pros: No crowds.
Waiting for a chair here is a rarity; of the major ski resorts in Colorado, it's the farthest from Denver. Terrain: Some of the best steeps in the state, including a 2,foot couloir that is in-bounds , and bootpacks that cover up to 1, vertical feet reaching beyond 13, feet. The steep runs leading to town are the stuff of dreams. The Town: Steamboat Springs is set off on its own, well off the I corridor and a fair distance from the other major ski resorts in Colorado.
The town has a strong Western heritage and cowboy culture, which gives the area a casual and Wild West feel. Festivals and events are often based around this theme. Steamboat Springs is a three-hour drive from Denver, but it has an airport with direct flights from several of the major airports around the USA. Accommodation: Where to Stay in Steamboat Springs. Copper Mountain. The Mountain: Copper Mountain is a popular family-focused resort a little more than an hours' drive from Denver.
As you are driving along Interstate 70 towards Vail, you can see the runs trailing down the mountainside. With 23 lifts spread across 2, acres, there is plenty of terrain for skiers and boarders to explore, and good carrying capacity.
It has a decent mix of runs for all levels, including advanced skiers. Ski conditions are generally on par with the rest of the ski resorts in this area. Copper is high , with a base elevation of 9, feet and a summit elevation of 12, feet. You can sometimes see feet of fresh powder after a storm, but the mountain has plenty of grooming capacity to ensure everyone gets their fair share of morning corduroy.
The Town: The mountain empties onto an adorable little village, with shops and restaurants. Places like the City Pop, serving gourmet popcorn and candy, are fun stops for families, but you'll find plenty of adult restaurants and entertainment options as well. The village is divided into East Village, Center Village, and West Village, each of which has chairlifts, but these areas are all very close together. Center Village, where all the action is, centers around the main plaza at the base of the lift, and West Lake is tucked in behind.
Accommodation: Where to Stay in Copper Mountain. Located on Loveland Pass, the summit elevation reaches 13, feet and the base elevation is 10, feet. This allows the resort to stay open into June and sometimes even later, well beyond the April closing dates of the surrounding mountains.
Arapahoe is one of the best places in Colorado for spring skiing. At Arapahoe, you can expect to find beautiful open runs, some steep, and others designed for beginners. Runs flow down two sides of a ridge, meaning you can usually find good conditions regardless of the day.
This can be a windy mountain, but usually one side or the other is sheltered on any given day. The resort has traditionally not been known for having an excessive amount of terrain, especially compared to the surrounding Vail Resorts, but that's all changing. The resort is in the process of a multi-year expansion, which includes the Beavers and Steep Gullies expansion for "hike-to" skiing.
This new area has proved to be very popular with advanced skiers. The relaxed, fun, and old-school atmosphere at Arapahoe is also one of the mountain's big attractions. On warm spring days, people set up their barbecues on picnic tables at the edge of the parking lot at the base of the mountain and watch the skiers make their way down the runs. Kids, dogs, and the whole family come out to enjoy the day, whether they are skiing or not. Arapahoe Basin is easy to reach from Denver , good value, and included on several of the multi-resort and multi-day passes.
They also offer many of their own specials , which can be excellent deals if they correspond with your ski plans. Even if you don't plan a full vacation to A-Basin, it's definitely worth checking out if you are skiing some of the surrounding resorts. Opening and Closing: Arapahoe's opening and closing is based on snow conditions. They usually open in October and close in June. Nearby Towns and Accommodation Options: Since Arapahoe Basin does not have a town at the base, you'll need to find accommodation in the surrounding area.
From Arapahoe, it is a minute drive to Keystone and a minute drive to Breckenridge. If you are looking for reasonably priced hotels, it's best to look in Silverthorne , about a minute drive from the mountain. Just slightly farther away, but with a more lively atmosphere and good selection of hotels, is the town of Frisco. Accommodation: Where to stay in Frisco.
No article on skiing or snowboarding in Colorado is complete without a mention of Silverton Ski Resort. This mountain is not for everyone but it does offer a completely unique experience that many people dream about. This resort was featured in the recent Warren Miller ski movie, Timeless. The Mountain: A lone, old, double chairlift takes skiers and boarders up the mountain to hike-to terrain.
It's essentially backcountry skiing with a lift. This resort is only for advanced and expert skiers and snowboarders , and people come here specifically for the powder. The area gets an exceptionally high level of snowfall, with annual totals of about inches, and there are no groomed runs. Everyone is outfitted with avalanche gear before they head up the mountain. Old school buses pick up guests where they come off the runs, a kilometer or so down the road from the lodge, and shuttle them back to the base.
The base "lodge" is little more than a home-built, tent-covered yurt. This is not a resort that screams posh. What it does have is great skiing, a strong following of skiers that live for this type of terrain and experience, and an atmosphere like no other ski hill in Colorado. Everyone here is pumped up for a great day of skiing, and the rustic ambience is embraced.
If it all seems a bit overwhelming, don't be dismayed. Silverton has a program that will pair you up with a local for a fee who will ski with you all day and show you the best snow on the mountain.
Silverton Mountain also offers heli-skiing and heli-boarding. This includes six runs in areas reserved for heli-tours. Silverton in spring Photo Copyright: Lana Law. The Town: Silverton Mountain is just outside of the tiny town of Silverton.
This former mining town is today a largely summer-focused tourist town and many of the establishments here close in winter. It sits at over 9, feet and in winter is piled deep with snow.
In winter, much of the accommodation here is motels, but a couple of small historic inns offer a bit of boutique luxury. Nearby Towns and Accommodation: In good driving conditions, Durango is a little over an hour's drive from Silverton. In snowy conditions, plan on much longer.
If you are looking for a little more action than Silverton, Durango is the place to base yourself. There is also much more accommodation here. Accommodation: Where to Stay in Silverton. The Mountain: This is one of the best places to ski in Colorado if you're looking for epic powder skiing! It receives a mind-boggling inches over 35 feet of snow annually and proudly claims to have "the most snow in Colorado.
When snow storms roll through this area, you can expect to be floating down feet of snow at Wolf Creek. The ski area has a base elevation of 10, feet and a summit elevation of over 11, feet. The mountain offers a mix of beginner and intermediate runs, but advanced and expert terrain makes up almost half of the runs.
The mountain offers 1, acres of skiable terrain and 1, feet of vertical. The Town: There isn't one. Wolf Creek Ski Area is set on a high mountain pass. A day lodge at the base of the mountain serves good food, but you will have to look elsewhere for accommodation. On the west side of the pass, the nearest place to stay is at Pagosa Springs , about 35 minutes away. On the east side of Wolf Creek is South Fork , about 25 minutes away, where you will also find a decent assortment of hotels.
Accommodation: Where to Stay in Pagosa Springs. The key is plan ahead—passes for the upcoming season usually go on sale at the end of winter or early spring. The earlier you buy, the lower the price will be, according to Leigh Hierholzer, the director of marketing at Arapahoe Basin. Based on past trends, the cheapest time to buy is when the passes go on sale as most resorts raise their prices as the year progresses. Be patient with yourself. There are a lot of variables for how long it takes for someone to feel comfortable on the slopes.
They will be able to ride the chairlift, turn, and navigate mountain greens with confidence. At five years old, I took my first ski lesson and was so bad I got kicked out of it and put on the mortifyingly embarrassing magic carpet.
Things improved from there. The ski slopes are just a 10 minute drive away. Many hotels also offer their own shuttle service to take guests to and from the slopes. Telluride stands out for its stunning scenery and Wild West town. Although the terrain is varied, its intense chutes and bowls are worth noting for the advanced.
Exploring the shops and eateries in the former mining town are also a key part of the experience. The resort is difficult to reach from Denver, but this means there are fewer crowds.
The main areas to stay are on-mountain in Mountain Village or at the base of the mountain in the town of Telluride. Mountain Village can be a convenient choice for families. There are restaurants and shops but the options are limited compared to the town of Telluride. Stay in town to enjoy the bustling Western atmosphere and its restaurants, bars, shops and nightlife. The free gondola operates between Mountain Village and the town of Telluride, from am to midnight. The ride takes 13 minutes one way.
The town is easy to walk around, but there is also a free shuttle service called the Galloping Goose which operates a loop. Copper Mountain is ideal for those looking to ski a big name resort in Colorado on a more affordable budget. The terrain is well-distributed, with the mountain naturally split into three sections, advanced, intermediate and beginner terrain.
Outside of skiing, there are a plethora of family activities available - a four laned tubing hill, the Rocky Mountain Coaster and an indoor training facility with trampolines and foam pits to keep the kids busy. The ski school is also based here, making it ideal for beginners and families.
To travel between the villages, the Village Shuttle operates a number of routes in a continuous loop. Alternatively, the Copper Coach is a free, on-demand ride service for overnight guests. You can catch the free Summit Stage bus to get to and from nearby towns and resorts including Frisco, Silverthorne, Breckenridge and Keystone. A-Basin is all about extreme skiing rather than the amenities.
Known for having some of the highest skiable terrain in North America, it typically stays open from October to June. The closest locations to A-Basin are Keystone Resort, just a 10 minute drive away and the town of Silverthorne, a 20 minute drive away. Walking around A-Basin itself is easy, thanks to the compact base area.
To get to the resort, you can catch the free Summit Stage bus from nearby destinations including Keystone, Breckenridge, Silverthorne or Frisco. The 10 Best Colorado Ski Resorts. Map View. Known for Most popular resort in Colorado, voted one of the best ski towns in the US. Highlights Vibrant ski town with great nightlife Diverse range of lodgings from affordable to lavishly high end Tons of activities Big crowds are a pain. Closest airports Denver Intl. Airport - mi 2. Breck in a snapshot Why Breckenridge With trails spread across 5 peaks, Breckenridge has some of the best slopes in Colorado.
Where to stay There are two key areas, at the base of the peaks or in the Historic District, essentially the town of Breckenridge. View Breckenridge Ski Packages. Highlights Largest ski area in Colorado Charming pedestrianized ski town with endless dining and shopping Luxurious ski vacation experience Crowds and expensive. Closest airports Eagle County Regional Airport - 34 mi 50 minute drive.
Vail is as much about the mountain as it is the town Why Vail Often touted as the crowning glory of Colorado ski resorts, Vail is one of the rare ski destinations that has it all; enormous terrain and a world-class ski village.
0コメント