If there’s one state that has it all for skiers, it’s Colorado: the arid climate that produces perfect, powdery-light snow and 300 days of sunshine per year; the plethora of resorts that cater to every budget and sensibility; the varied terrain; and the free spirit of adventure that pervades the entire state—it’s a skier’s paradise! Even in the off-season, Colorado is one of the most gorgeous examples of nature’s creation in the world.
Along with top-notch skiing and snowboarding, Colorado towns and resorts offer plenty of other enticements, from family entertainment to fine dining and non-stop nightlife. If you’re planning a ski trip to Colorado, you have the enviable job of narrowing down exactly what boxes to check on your Wants list because there are a number of places that will offer everything you’re looking for.
Our guide to Colorado skiing can help you figure out where to most effectively spend your time and money to achieve the ideal ski weekend or vacation.
#1 Ski Destination in North America
Colorado remains the top ski destination in North America because there is just so much to choose from. In addition to the snow quality, you can find any type of terrain as well as resorts and towns that cater to every age and family situation.
Other reasons Colorado ranks at the top for favorite skiing destination include:
- The longest ski season
- Resorts at the highest altitudes with the most lift-served high-altitude terrain
- The greatest variety of large and small resorts
- The most non-skiing entertainment located at resorts: sledding, skating, horseback riding and horse-drawn sleigh riding, shopping, dining, and more.
Vail
The name “Vail” is like the name “Tiffany’s”—you might not have visited the place, but you know exactly what it is, and you respect its quality. Vail Ski Resort is one of most well-known resorts in the world. Vail is located about 100 miles (160km) west of Denver along Interstate 70.
Vail is the name of the both the ski resort and the town over which it is situated. The town of Vail has its own small regional airport, which means you can avoid Denver’s busy international airport and the long drive along a sometimes icy and treacherous pass to the town on I-70. The pedestrian village of Vail Town lies at the base of the ski mountain. Its three bases (Lionshead, Vail Village, and Golden Peak) are linked by the country’s largest free transportion system, so getting around is easy. Each base contains lodging, dining, and shopping, and strolling, eating, or shopping along the heated streets is the perfect après ski activity for families or couples.
The Largest Resort in the Country
The resort is massive. Its 5,289 acres (2,140 ha) makes it the largest ski resort in the country. Skiers will find every type of terrain there is within the borders of the resort, including beautifully groomed beginning and intermediate runs and three terrain parks on the front side of the mountain, and seven bowls of wide, tree-free swaths on the back side.
It is the back bowls that truly define Vail’s appeal and cement its reputation, although the front side of the resort has plenty to make anyone happy. The back bowls encompass around 3,000 acres of vast, open slopes, and it is here that a skier can easily spend an entire, adventurous day. Each of the bowls offers different types of terrain, and beginners, intermediate skiers, and experts can all find runs where they feel both comfortable and challenged. The back bowls include Sun Down, Sun Up, China, Tea Cup, Siberia, Inner Mongolia, and Outer Mongolia.
Vail Dining Options
You’ll find any kind of dining experience you are seeking both on the mountain and below the mountain in Vail Village.
Bistro Fourteen is located at the top of the Eagle Bahn Gondola (#19) and serves up casual American options for the whole family.
Game Creek is the place to go for a gourmet five-star evening meal (the restaurant serves dinner only) after a long day of skiing. Located just below Eagle’s Nest and just above the Game Creek chair lift, you can access the European-style chalet restaurant by snowcat in winter or by hiking or 4-wheel drive shuttle in summer.
Grab a meal to fuel up between runs at Buffalo’s Restaurant (located above Patrol Headquarters at the top of Northwoods Express Lift, #11, Mountaintop Express Lift, #4, and High Noon Lift, #5), Golden Peak Grill (find it at the bottom of Riva Bahn Express Lift, #6, on the lower floor of the Golden Peak Building), or the Mid-Vail Restaurants‘ multiple food offerings of American deli, Asian, and BBQ (located at the base of Mountaintop Express Lift, #4, and Wildwood Express Lift, #3).
The town of Vail offers even more options, from familiar fast-food joints to elegant fine dining at places such as Elway’s, Matsuhisa, Sweet Basil, Flame, or any of a large number of other outstanding choices.
Other Things to Do in Vail
Whether you ski or not, Vail has plenty of non-skiing activities to round out your stay. From on-mountain fun to the entertainment down in the town of Vail, you’ll need to deliberately carve out the hours you need for sleep.
On the mountain, kids and adults can enjoy non-skiing activities at Adventure Ridge, including tubing, ski biking, kids’ snowmobiling, and snowshoeing. The Nature Discovery Center offers snowshoe tours and teaches youngsters and adults alike how to spot local wildlife.
Down at the base, in the town of Vail, things heat up for the après-ski and night-loving crowd. After an enjoyably exhausting day on the slopes, enjoy food and drinks at one of the town’s overwhelming number of inviting, social hotspots such as Tavern on the Square or Cucina. When the sun sets, Vail lights up and the party starts. Vail Village and Lionshead are the best places to go for the non-stop party during the wee hours. Drinks, music, and food are readily available, and because tourists are the main source of income for the area, you’ll be treated well.
Love to shop? Vail boasts hundreds of boutiques, galleries, and stores where you can find anything from ski equipment to handmade cowboy boots, from handmade jewelry and crafts to exquisite fine art. Many of the items you find in Vail can be found nowhere else, so there will be plenty of interesting offerings to inspect and purchase.
Aspen
Once a sleepy little mining town, Aspen is now a culture for education, the arts, and (of course) skiing. Real estate is so expensive that only the rich can afford to buy a home or condo here, but the town is still welcoming to ski vacationers and tourists throughout the year.
Aspen skiing is located on Aspen Mountain (often called “Ajax” by locals) and nearby at Snowmass, Buttermilk, and Aspen Highlands, which make up The Power of Four ski resorts. While the Snowmass resorts are not right next to each other, they are located within a 15km radius of each other. You can access all of them with the same lift ticket. Just catch the free shuttle that runs between Aspen and the other ski resorts to experience all four mountains.
You’ll find the exhilarating varied terrain and fresh powder here at Aspen that makes Colorado one of the best places to ski.
A Place for Celebrities
Aspen took off as a hotspot for celebrities back in the 1960s, when the Kennedy clan descended on the town for a family retreat. Once the Kennedys put Aspen on the map, the famous and the wealthy began to follow. Today, Aspen is famous for its frequent celebrity sightings, with many entertainment figures, business tycoons, and entrepreneurs snapping up multi-million dollar homes as getaways from busy schedules. Other celebrities jet in and stay at one of the beautiful five-star hotels or boutique hotels, some of which offer ski in/ski out access to the slopes.
Restaurants and Nightlife
Whether you want après drinks or to dance the night away, Aspen does not lack for entertainment. As a hub for the arts, you’ll find plenty of bars, taverns, and clubs that satisfy your need for quality, danceable music, interesting people, and great food. Check out Belly Up or Escobar Lounge.
Restaurants, too, come in a wide range of choices—from familiar fast food joints to the most luxurious of fine dining. Don’t miss some of the most famous: Ajax Tavern at The Little Nell hotel that caters to the après ski crowd; The Red Onion, Aspen’s oldest bar and restaurant, established in 1892; or Matsuhisa Aspen.
Breckenridge
Breckinridge, or “Breck,” as locals and frequent visitors affectionately call it, is the site of yet another old mining town turned cosmopolitan. But while Aspen has become outrageously pricey and Vail was built with European elegance in mind, Breckinridge is still pretty affordable. Charming and full of atmosphere, both the town and the ski resort have a lot to offer. The one drawback is that Breckinridge Ski Resort is far smaller than either Vail or Aspen, so crowds are more abundant because they can’t spread out as much. Still, you’ll find plenty to love in both the town and the resort.
Closer to Denver
At 80 miles (129km) from Denver and 104 miles (66km) from the Denver International Airport, Breckinridge is closer to Denver than either Vail or Aspen. A shuttle service runs from the airport to Breckinridge, and Free Ride buses within the town of Breckinridge will get you into the pedestrian-friendly downtown and out to the chair lifts. Alternatively, you can easily rent a car at the airport and enjoy the 1.5-hour trip along I-70, although traffic can be a nightmare at peak skiing times.
Other Things to Do in Breckenridge
There is plenty of fun to be had in Breck, and with prices more reasonable here than at Vail or Aspen, your dollars will stretch further. Enjoy dog sledding or snowmobiling, or ditch the downhill skiing and visit the Nordic Center to cross-country ski in the White River National Forest. Mine tours are available even in winter at The Country Boy Mine.
You can also find good shopping and dining along Breck’s quaint and historic Main Street. Browse fine art or boutique apparel stores, and grab a bite at both fast-food and upscale cuisine to suit any taste. Plenty of pubs and bars slopeside and within Breck’s downtown area foster a vibrant nightlife scene.
The Lesser-Known Resorts in Colorado
We’ve covered the three biggest names in Colorado skiing: Vail, Aspen, and Breckinridge; but there is a lot of snow on a lot of mountains within the state. Just because they don’t have iconic names doesn’t mean that visiting one of Colorado’s lesser-known resorts will give you a less-than-amazing ski experience. Check out some gems that will have you coming back year after year.
Purgatory
Named the Best Value Ski Resort in North America by TripAdvisor, Purgatory is located 25 miles (40km) north of the old mining town of Durango in the San Juan Mountains. This resort is a great family-friendly place, but it’s also lots of fun for singles and couples. The resort boasts 1,360 skiable acres, five terrain parks, and a kids’ play area along with breathtaking scenery and terrain for all abilities.
Fly into Montrose Regional Airport before driving 83 miles (134km) to Purgatory at Durango, or 109 miles (175km) to Durango City.
Telluride
Located above yet another Victorian mining town, Telluride Ski Resort was rated #1 Ski Resort in North America by readers of Conde Nast magazines. The resort claims over 2,000 skiable acres along with 300 inches of snow annually and around 300 days of sunshine each year. Extra bonus: no lift lines to the exceptional European-style ski terrain that is almost equally distributed between advanced, intermediate, and beginner slopes.
The closest airport to Telluride is the Telluride Regional Airport, six miles (10km) from the resort. You can also fly in to Montrose Regional Airport (69 miles, or 111km from Telluride), Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport (129 miles or 208km from Telluride), or Denver International (354 miles or 570km).
Buttermilk
Part of the Aspen Snowmass Power of Four resorts, Buttermilk lies about 20 miles (32km) from Aspen and is connected to Aspen (Ajax), Snowmass, and Aspen Highlands by an RFTA free shuttle.
Buttermilk is considered the easiest to ski of the Aspen Snowmass resorts, which makes it ideal for beginners and families (visit The Hideout learning center for young skiers!). However, Buttermilk is also home to the Winter X Games and Red Bull Double Pipe events, which makes it a beacon for freestyle riders and skiers.
Buttermilk can be accessed from the Pitkin County Airport (4 miles or 6.5km), Eagle County Regional Airport (69 miles or 111km), or Denver International (221 miles or 356km).
Arapahoe Basin
Because half of the skiing lies above the timberline at Arapahoe Basin, the ski season extends into late spring and early summer. Otherwise known as The Legend, Arapahoe Basin will test your stamina in high altitudes while offering some of the best intermediate, advanced, and expert terrain available (only about 10% of the terrain is rated “beginner”). Arapahoe is located near the Loveland, Breckinridge, Keystone, and Copper Mountain resorts on US 6 (off I-70), so you can easily visit multiple resorts during a multi-day stay.
Fly into Eagle County Regional Airport (77 miles or 124km) or Denver International (88 miles or 142km).
Loveland
Everyone raves about the ski instruction at Loveland Ski Area, and because prices are about half what you’d pay at Vail, this is the perfect place for beginner or advanced lessons. As the closest ski area to Denver, you’ll find this place to be unique and very customer-service-oriented.
Over 1,800 acres of terrain receives an average of 400 inches of snow each year—more snow than any other Front Range or Summit County resort—and this extends the ski season into May. In addition, you’ll enjoy free close parking to the ski area as well as uncrowded slopes.
Loveland straddles the Continental Divide (the demarcation where east-flowing rivers empty into the Atlantic and west-flowing rivers empty into the Pacific), and one of the best ways to get an awesome 360 degree panoramic view of the area is to take advantage of their free snowcat skiing offer (you must have a valid season pass or lift ticket for the free ride).
Loveland Ski Area does not have lodging in a town at the base of the mountain, so you’ll have to look farther afield. Fly into Eagle County Regional Airport (75 miles or 120km) or Denver International (89 miles or 143km) and travel along I-70.
Travel Tips
When you go is as important as where you go. Peak season times during Christmas and New Year’s will command the highest prices and the longest lines. The week just before Christmas, however, can be quiet and less expensive, as are times further into spring. Because Colorado receives so much snow, you may be able to book a great ski vacation in late November at the earliest and all the way into spring or early summer at the latest (check out Arapahoe Basin and Loveland Ski Area, listed above, for great late-season skiing).
Amy Whitley at snow.com has some great advice for packing: use one bag to pack everyone’s outerwear (including gloves and goggles), pack carry-on bags with personal clothing, and wear your snow boots on the plane to save space.
You can also save expensive airport luggage costs by shipping your ski equipment directly to your resort or hotel via a specialized shipping service; or you can rent equipment at a local rental shop once you arrive (you can also rent equipment at the resort, but it will cost more).
The Denver Airport
Denver International Airport is the hub from which you would catch most flights to regional airports. Many ski resorts and ski areas are fairly close to Denver airport, and because flying into Denver is often cheaper than flying to regional airports, you might find it more cost-effective to rent a car and drive from Denver.
Traveling I-70
Interstate 70 is the main highway that connects the vast majority of Colorado’s ski resorts. In summer, the drive is pleasant and scenic, but in winter, heavy snowfall, icy conditions, and increased traffic can lead to dangerous conditions.
Here are a few tips for winter driving up into the Rocky Mountains on I-70.
- Make sure your car has snow tires, four-wheel drive, or chains. You can get fined if your inadequately equipped car holds up traffic or creates an emergency situation.
- Keep some blankets, water, food, a shovel, and some sand in the trunk in case you get stuck and have to wait for a rescue.
- Keep the gas tank full or above half-full.
- Try to travel mid-week to avoid weekend ski traffic from Denver (on Friday) and Sunday traffic back to Denver (Sunday).
- Drive carefully in adverse conditions. If you aren’t used to snow driving, remember to keep a longer braking distance between you and the cars in front of you.
- Check the CDOT website for weather conditions and before setting out.
Conclusion
Colorado offers some of the finest skiing in the country—if not the world. The arid climate produces tons of fluffy powder snow as well as around 300 days of sunshine per year. Resorts high up in the Rocky Mountains mean great snow and acres upon acres of exciting and variable terrain.
While we have not listed all of the ski resorts and ski areas in Colorado, we’ve chosen some of the finest, including well-known resorts and some that are lesser-known:
- Vail
- Aspen
- Breckinridge
- Purgatory
- Telluride
- Buttermilk
- Arapahoe Basin
- Loveland
You can make your trip easier by following a few travel tips, such as packing strategically and shipping your ski equipment through a specialized shipping company directly to your resort or accommodations.
Most of the resorts we’ve listed can be fairly easily accessed from Denver International Airport or closer regional airports. If you are driving from Denver along I-70 in the winter, be sure to check conditions before setting out, and make sure that you have blankets, water, food, sand, and a shovel in your trunk in case you get stuck and need to stay warm until help arrives.
Skiing in Colorado is something every skier should do at least once. With so many top quality resorts to choose from, it’s probable that you’ll make Colorado a destination for years to come.
Resources
Vail Ski Resort: http://www.vail.com
Aspen Snowmass: https://www.aspensnowmass.com
Breckinridge Ski Resort: http://www.breckenridge.com
Things to do in Breckinridge, Colorado: http://www.breckenridge.com/town/breckenridge-facts/101-things-to-do.aspx#/150
Purgatory Ski Resort: https://www.purgatoryresort.com
Telluride Ski Resort: http://www.tellurideskiresort.com
Buttermilk Ski Area: https://www.aspensnowmass.com/our-mountains/buttermilk
Arapahoe Basin Ski Resort: http://arapahoebasin.com/Abasin/Default.aspx
Loveland Ski Area: http://skiloveland.com
Ski Trip Packing Tips: http://www.snow.com/for-her/how-to-prepare-ski-vacation.aspx
Shipping your ski equipment instead of taking it with you on the airplane: https://shipskis.com
Denver International Airport: http://www.flydenver.com
Drive time and distance between ski resorts and gateway airports: http://www.snowpak.com/ski_resort_drive_times.shtml
Check the road conditions on I-70: http://www.cotrip.org/home.htm