Beaver Creek, or affectionately known as “the Beav”, is situated just 10 miles outside of the ever-crowded Vail and only 100 miles west of Denver. If you’re looking for the luxury of a modern ski resort coupled with an intimate alpine village feel, then Beaver Creek is the place to visit on your next ski adventure.
Their motto, “Not Exactly Roughing It” certainly holds true as people tend to visit Beaver Creek more for the skiing and boarding experience, not for the scene or to be seen.
Beaver Creek is all about the little things. The slope-side valets will look after your gear and warm your boots for you while you peruse the shops and fine dining this quaint resort has to offer. The village also has a charming little ice skating rink, a must-see performing arts center, and some easygoing cantinas to enjoy a smooth cocktail. Thanks to some very well-thought-out escalators, going from the shops to the slopes is convenient and takes the hassle out of trudging around in your boots. Suddenly a day away from the slopes doesn’t sound so dreary.
The Creek
Considered to be a rather modest-sized resort, Beaver Creek has over 1,800 acres of skiable terrain and a vertical drop of about 3,600 feet. Regardless of its extent, because of the 25 well-placed lifts which include 2 gondolas and 10 high-speed quads, you can navigate most of the summits, long ridgelines, glades, and steep groomers with ease and excitement.
With widespread groomed trails, Beaver Creek is an ideal spot for beginners, those with a little more skill, or for skiers and boarders simply looking to test their carving skills on the mogul runs. Grooming occurs all day every day, resulting in a corduroy countryside spanning 805 gorgeous acres.
For The Thrill Seeker
Because of Beaver Creek’s upscale nature and complimentary cookies handed out every afternoon, it’s easy for the unfamiliar to assume that there are limited hardcore expert runs. However, this is certainly not the case. “The Beav” actually provides some of the most extensive steeps in all of Colorado.
The Stone Creek region of the mountain covers nearly 200 acres of extreme terrain and features plenty of cliff bands and chutes. Beaver Creek is also home to three terrain parks and a halfpipe if you have the itch to catch some Rocky Mountain air.
Beaver Fever
Although Beaver Creek has over 300 days of bright blue skies, it also receives approximately 325 inches of fresh powder per season. Most of the slopes are situated on the “north face” which helps protect the snow from the sunshine. However, if you’re still anxious about the snow, don’t fret. Beaver Creek can make incredible amounts of artificial snow. Nearly 40%, or 700 acres, of the resort has snow-making abilities making the term “never summer” more realistic.
Not Just for the Extreme
Beaver Creek has a rare configuration, offering plenty of terrain for skiers and boarders of any skill level. Most of the beginner trails are located near the Arrow Bahn Lift, which is just a short voyage from the main mountain. Some of the trails located here weave in and out of the tree lines which gives the novice rider a taste of what may be to come.
For the kids that are too small to fully enjoy the mountain, Beaver Creek has many kid-friendly adventure zones located across the mountain. The little ones can cruise down runs with names like Wild West Trail or Tombstone Territory, which were designed to hold their interest and improve their skiing skills in preparation for when they can handle all the mountain has to offer.