Colorado is understood for its snow-capped mountain peaks, diversified terrain and vigorous ski cities. With greater than 30 world-class ski resorts within the state, there are many locations to select from. Listed below are a few of our favorites.
The most important ski resort
Vail Ski Resort
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Base elevation: 8,120 toes.
Highest elevation: 11,570 toes.
Skiable terrain: 5,317 acres.
Day by 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 Massive Sky in Montana, Vail can also be the second-largest ski resort in North America.
Not like the mining cities of Aspen and Breckenridge, Vail began as a ski city. Seasoned skiers and snowboarders in addition to first-timers could have loads of trails — 278 to be actual — for carving out the perfect day ever on the slopes.
The most effective ski resort for newbies
Loveland Ski Space
Base elevation: 10,800 toes.
Highest elevation: 13,010 toes.
Skiable terrain: 1,800 acres.
Day by 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 newbies 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 knowledgeable rider received’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 inexpensive mountains for training your “pizza” and “French fry” strikes. Loveland can also be simply 53 miles west of Denver, so in case you determine that winter sports activities aren’t your factor in spite of everything, you have got the town at your fingertips for all of your après-ski actions.
The most effective-value ski resort
Arapahoe Basin
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Base elevation: 10,520 toes.
Highest elevation: 13,050 toes.
Skiable terrain: 1,428 acres.
Day by day carry ticket price: $63 to $140.
For this class, we didn’t go together with a comparatively unknown ski space that sells the least costly day by day carry ticket within the state, however relatively a resort that gives a very good price-to-quality ratio, and that’s Arapahoe Basin close to Keystone, Colorado.
With about 73% of the terrain being categorized as superior to knowledgeable, Arapahoe Basin supplies a few of the most difficult terrain in Colorado. Nonetheless, skilled riders received’t need to pay an arm and a leg to entry the mountain.
Multi-day packs are available in three-day, four-day and five-day choices and price $259, $309 and $339, respectively, which brings down your day by 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 document being Aug. 10 in 1995. Nonetheless, a typical season lasts from October to June.
Probably 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.
Day by day carry ticket price: $179 to $264, varies by date.
To point out 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 houses within the space to be nearer to a few of the finest snowboarding in Colorado.
Aspen Snowmass is house to 4 distinct mountains, all of that are related: Aspen Mountain (aka Ajax), Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk and Snowmass. A carry ticket permits you to hop between all 4 resorts, however we don’t advocate trying to ski 4 mountains in at some point as a result of getting from one finish to the opposite will take time.
Aspen Mountain is closest to city, the place you’ll be able to expertise a few of the finest Michelin-starred eating and high-end buying the ski village has to supply after you’ve taken off your mittens for the day.
Finest ski city vibes
Telluride Ski Resort
Base elevation: 8,725 toes.
Highest elevation: 13,150 toes.
Skiable terrain: 2,000-plus acres.
Day by day carry ticket price: $245, varies by date.
When you’re in search of that iconic Wild West vibe, think about Telluride Ski Resort in southwestern Colorado to 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 while you do get there, you received’t remorse it. The surroundings from city is solely unmatched, and it’s not as crowded as a few of the big-name resorts off Interstate 70.
In Telluride, you’ll be able to ski straight into city and nonetheless be capable of discover a low cost beer. The resort additionally presents a few of the finest alpine (above tree traces) snowboarding within the state.
Finest hidden gem
Monarch Mountain
Base elevation: 10,790 toes.
Highest elevation: 11,952 toes.
Skiable terrain: 800 acres.
Day by 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 record, however it’s an incredible off-the-beaten-path ski vacation spot. Most individuals are unaware this resort exists, and people within the know need to hold it that approach.
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 knowledgeable 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 an excellent possibility for a fly-in ski journey. It is higher fitted to a street journey in case you’re inside driving distance.
