Colorado is thought for its snow-capped mountain peaks, diverse terrain and full of life ski cities. With greater than 30 world-class ski resorts within the state, there are many locations to select from. Listed here are a few of our favorites.
The biggest ski resort
Vail Ski Resort
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Base elevation: 8,120 toes.
Highest elevation: 11,570 toes.
Skiable terrain: 5,317 acres.
Each day carry ticket price: $221 to $295, varies by date.
With 5,317 skiable acres and three,450 toes of vertical drop, Vail Ski Resort is the most important mountain resort in Colorado. Second solely to Large Sky in Montana, Vail can also be the second-largest ski resort in North America.
In contrast to the mining cities of Aspen and Breckenridge, Vail began as a ski city. Seasoned skiers and snowboarders in addition to first-timers can have loads of trails — 278 to be actual — for carving out the perfect day ever on the slopes.
The very best ski resort for newcomers
Loveland Ski Space
Base elevation: 10,800 toes.
Highest elevation: 13,010 toes.
Skiable terrain: 1,800 acres.
Each day carry ticket price: $119.
Loveland Ski Space is split into two mini-resorts: Loveland Basin and Loveland Valley, the latter being a separate space for newcomers with inexperienced and blue runs, which makes it among the best locations to ski in Colorado for first-timers.
Loveland Valley chairlift operators have expertise with loading novice skiers and snowboarders, and you may make certain that an skilled rider gained’t be bombing down the hill and placing your security in jeopardy mid-slope.
At $50 per grownup ticket for Loveland Valley-only entry, it’s one of many extra reasonably priced mountains for practising your “pizza” and “French fry” strikes. Loveland can also be simply 53 miles west of Denver, so when you resolve that winter sports activities aren’t your factor in spite of everything, you might have town at your fingertips for all of your après-ski actions.
The very best-value ski resort
Arapahoe Basin
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Base elevation: 10,520 toes.
Highest elevation: 13,050 toes.
Skiable terrain: 1,428 acres.
Each day carry ticket price: $63 to $140.
For this class, we didn’t go along with a comparatively unknown ski space that sells the least costly each day carry ticket within the state, however quite a resort that provides a superb price-to-quality ratio, and that’s Arapahoe Basin close to Keystone, Colorado.
With about 73% of the terrain being categorised as superior to skilled, Arapahoe Basin gives a number of the most difficult terrain in Colorado. Nevertheless, skilled riders gained’t should pay an arm and a leg to entry the mountain.
Multi-day packs are available three-day, four-day and five-day choices and value $259, $309 and $339, respectively, which brings down your each day price to as little as $68.
A-Basin additionally claims to have the longest ski season within the state with its newest closing day on report being Aug. 10 in 1995. Nevertheless, a typical season lasts from October to June.
Essentially the most luxurious ski resort
Aspen Snowmass
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Base elevation: 8,604 toes.
Highest elevation: 12,510 toes.
Skiable terrain: 3,342 acres.
Each day carry ticket price: $179 to $264, varies by date.
To indicate off your diamonds whereas snowboarding black diamonds, head to Aspen, Colorado. The luxurious Aspen Snowmass resort is a four-mountain resort for skiers and snowboarders with costly style.
A-list musicians and film stars are inclined to frequent the Aspen slopes, and a few even personal properties within the space to be nearer to a number of the finest snowboarding in Colorado.
Aspen Snowmass is residence to 4 distinct mountains, all of that are related: Aspen Mountain (aka Ajax), Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk and Snowmass. A carry ticket lets you hop between all 4 resorts, however we don’t advocate trying to ski 4 mountains in someday as a result of getting from one finish to the opposite will take time.
Aspen Mountain is closest to city, the place you possibly can expertise a number of the finest Michelin-starred eating and high-end purchasing the ski village has to supply after you’ve taken off your mittens for the day.
Greatest ski city vibes
Telluride Ski Resort
Base elevation: 8,725 toes.
Highest elevation: 13,150 toes.
Skiable terrain: 2,000-plus acres.
Each day carry ticket price: $245, varies by date.
In case you’re searching for that iconic Wild West vibe, think about Telluride Ski Resort in southwestern Colorado in your subsequent ski journey.
The outdated mining city turned ski city is difficult to get to from a serious airport — each Denver and Salt Lake Metropolis worldwide airports are greater than 350 miles away — however if you do get there, you gained’t remorse it. The surroundings from city is just unmatched, and it’s not as crowded as a number of the big-name resorts off Interstate 70.
In Telluride, you possibly can ski immediately into city and nonetheless have the ability to discover a low-cost beer. The resort additionally gives a number of the finest alpine (above tree strains) snowboarding within the state.
Greatest hidden gem
Monarch Mountain
Base elevation: 10,790 toes.
Highest elevation: 11,952 toes.
Skiable terrain: 800 acres.
Each day carry ticket price: $69 to $79 most days, with some Saturdays at $129.
Monarch Mountain in Salida, Colorado, is the smallest resort on our checklist, nevertheless it’s an ideal off-the-beaten-path ski vacation spot. Most individuals are unaware this resort exists, and people within the know need to hold it that means.
Monarch is a no-frills, mellow place to ski and snowboard, and you may nonetheless go cat snowboarding there in quest of untouched powder within the backcountry (for skilled ranges solely). However as a result of the mountain can’t compete with the extra well-liked resorts in central Colorado, it’s in all probability not a super possibility for a fly-in ski journey. It is higher fitted to a street journey when you’re inside driving distance.
