Review of Ski Resorts in Colorado

After five years of skiing and snowboarding in Colorado, I feel the need to share what I've learned! Here you'll find some essential information and superlatives for the resorts in Colorado. There are no bad options, but this will help you ensure you find the best fit for your trip!

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Summary

•Arapahoe Basin

•Aspen/Snowmass Ski Resort

•Beaver Creek Resort

•Breckenridge Ski Resort

•Copper Mountain

•Crested Butte Mountain Resort

•Echo Mountain

•Eldora Mountain Resort

•Granby Ranch

•Keystone

•Loveland

•Monarch

•Silverton

•Ski Cooper - powder alliance

•Steamboat Springs

•Sunlight Mountain Resort

•Telluride

•Vail

•Winter Park

•Wolf Creek

If you're looking for some Denver recommendations, be sure to check out:

Bethany

Available for hire

Favorites in Denver, Colorado

After calling Denver, CO for 5 years, I've accumulated a pretty large list of favorites in the city that I love recommending to visitors! While Denver doesn't have the same foodie recognition that many large cities do, there are some fantastic gems in the different neighborhoods that deserve more recognition!

Couples • Digital Nomads • Family • Groups • Female Solo • Coffee • Foodie

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Ski Passes Available:

•Ikon (3-5 resorts in CO)

•Epic (5-6 resorts in CO)

•Indy Pass (3 resorts in CO)

•Mountain Collective (2 resorts in CO)

•Powder Alliance (2 resorts in CO)

Superlatives:

Personal Favorite: Vail or Winter Park

Closest to Denver: Echo, Eldora, A-Basin, Winter Park & Keystone

Best for Beginners: Keystone, Eldora, Loveland, Buttermilk

Best for Intermediates/People who like to cruise blues: Breckenridge, Winter Park, Aspen Highlands

Best for Advanced: Steamboat, Telluride, Aspen Mountain

Best of All Worlds/Something for Everyone: Snowmass, Vail, Copper, Beaver Creek

Largest: Vail

Highest Elevation Gain: Telluride and Steamboat

Arapahoe Basin (A-Basin)

Ski Passes: Ikon, Mountain Collective

Skiable Area: 1,428 acres

Base Elevation: 10,780 ft

Top Elevation: 13,050 ft

Distance from Denver: 68 miles

Arapahoe Basin

@bethanyb

A smaller mountain, close to Denver, an a local favorite.

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Aspen

Ski Passes: Ikon (add-on), Mountain Collective

Comprised of the following four mountains:

Aspen Mountain:

Skiable Area: 673 acres

Base Elevation: 7,945 ft

Top Elevation: 11,212 ft

Distance from Denver: 159 miles

Aspen Highlands:

Skiable Area: 1,010 acres

Base Elevation: 8,040 ft

Top Elevation: 12,392 ft

Distance from Denver: 162 miles

Buttermilk:

Skiable Area: 435 acres

Base Elevation: 7,870 ft

Top Elevation: 9,900 ft

Distance from Denver: 195 miles

Snowmass:

Skiable Area: 3,362 acres

Base Elevation: 8,104 ft

Top Elevation: 12,510 ft

Distance from Denver: 197 miles

Aspen Snowmass Ski Resort

@bethanyb

The four amazing ski resorts are just the cherry on top of a vibrant town with tons to do all year round.

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Beaver Creek

Ski Passes: Epic

Skiable Area: 2,082 acres

Base Elevation: 7,440 ft

Top Elevation: 11,440 ft

Distance from Denver: 106 miles

Beaver Creek Resort

@bethanyb

It's like Vail, but less crowded, with people passing around freshly baked cookies throughout the day. It's a large mountain and has beautiful views and lots of stunning tree lined runs. Note to the snowboarders - there are some catwalks here that are tricky but can be avoided.

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Breckenridge

Ski Passes: Epic

Skiable Area: 2,908 acres

Base Elevation: 19,600 ft

Top Elevation: 12,998 ft

Distance from Denver: 80 miles

Breckenridge Ski Resort

@bethanyb

When you think Colorado skiing, you probably think of Breck or Vail. Breckenridge is popular for a reason, the terrain is fun and the mountain is huge. It's not my favorite because its high elevation attributes to the super windy top, which often blows off the best snow.

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Copper Mountain

Ski Passes: Ikon

Skiable Area: 2,465 acres

Base Elevation: 9,712 ft

Top Elevation: 12,313 ft

Distance from Denver: 75 miles

Copper Mountain

@bethanyb

This resort is essentially grouped in greens, blues, and blacks, and leaves something for everyone! All different skill levels can enjoy their time here.

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Crested Butte

Ski Passes: Epic

Skiable Area: 1,547 acres

Base Elevation: 9,115 ft

Top Elevation: 12,170 ft

Distance from Denver: 192 miles

Crested Butte Mountain Resort

@bethanyb

A smaller resort (compared to it's Colorado competitors), but much less crowded since it's ~4.5 hours from Denver. Perfect for a weekend trip, it has terrain for every skier/snowboarder. The town is less than a 10 minute drive from the slopes, and there's great food and fun bars.

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Echo

Ski Passes: Indy Pass

Skiable Area: 12 runs

Distance from Denver: 36 miles

Echo Mountain

@bethanyb

A small mountain in Evergreen, Colorado.

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Eldora Mountain Resort

Ski Passes: Ikon

Skiable Area: 680 acres

Base Elevation: 9,360 ft

Top Elevation: 10,600 ft

Distance from Denver: 48 miles

Eldora Mountain

@bethanyb

A great option in Nederland, close to Boulder and Denver. Small, but not crowded and easy parking.

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Granby Ranch

Ski Passes: Indy Pass

Skiable Area: 406 acres

Base Elevation: 8,202 ft

Top Elevation: 9,202 ft

Distance from Denver: 86 miles

Granby Ranch

@bethanyb

Located in Granby, north of Winter Park, this lesser known resort is sure to boast less crowds.

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Keystone

Ski Passes: Epic

Skiable Area: 13,148 acres

Base Elevation: 9,280 feet

Top Elevation: 12,408 feet

Distance from Denver: 72 miles

Keystone Resort

@bethanyb

A great option for all skill levels, and very close to Denver.

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Loveland

Ski Passes: Powder Alliance

Skiable Area: 1,800 acres

Base Elevation: 10,800 ft

Top Elevation: 13,010 ft

Distance from Denver: 57 miles

Loveland Ski Area

@bethanyb

A local favorite, a bit cheaper, and close to Denver - a great alternative to the Epic & Ikon resorts.

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Monarch

Ski Passes: N/A

Skiable Area: 800 acres

Base Elevation: 10,790 ft

Top Elevation: 11,960 ft

Distance from Denver: 157 miles

Monarch Mountain

@bethanyb

Less crowded than the I-70 corridor resorts due to it's location (~2.5 hours SW of Denver) and the fact it's not on a pass.

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Silverton

Ski Passes:

Skiable Area: 1,819 acres

Base Elevation: 10,400 ft

Top Elevation: 13,487 ft

Distance from Denver: 362 miles

Silverton Mountain Ski Area

@bethanyb

Known for it's heli-skiing and lift accessed backcountry skiing.

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Ski Cooper

Ski Passes: Powder Alliance

Skiable Area: 470 acres lift served, 2,400 acres snowcat served

Base Elevation: 10,500 ft

Top Elevation: 11,700 ft

Distance from Denver: 109 miles

Ski Cooper

@bethanyb

Located in Leadville, it's known to be for families and beginners.

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Sunlight Mountain

Ski Passes: Indy Pass

Skiable Area: 680 acres

Base Elevation: 7,885 ft

Top Elevation: 9,895 ft

Distance from Denver: 170 miles

Sunlight Mountain Resort

@bethanyb

Located in Glenwood Springs, with more a local feel and affordable prices.

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Steamboat

Ski Passes: Ikon (add-on)

Skiable Area: 2,965 acres

Base Elevation: 6,900 ft

Top Elevation: 10,568 ft

Distance from Denver: 154 miles

Steamboat Ski Resort

@bethanyb

Known for its "champagne powder," this resort is far enough from other towns that it keeps the crowds to a minimum. The terrain is super fun, especially with some fresh snow.

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Telluride

Ski Passes: Epic (add-on)

Skiable Area: 2,000 acres

Base Elevation: 8,725 ft

Top Elevation: 13,150 ft

Distance from Denver: 328 miles

Telluride Ski Resort

@bethanyb

One of the most popular, well-known, and coveted ski areas in the US, for good reason.

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Vail

Ski Passes: Epic

Skiable Area: 5,137 acres

Base Elevation: 8,120 ft

Top Elevation: 11,570 ft

Distance from Denver: 98 miles

Vail Ski Resort

@bethanyb

The back bowls of Vail are some of my favorite places to ski and snowboard. It's a classic favorite for a reason, it's massive and has something for everyone, but the back bowls are probably the best part. Snowboarders beware, there are some catwalks here that can be frustrating.

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Winter Park

Ski Passes: Ikon

Skiable Area: 3,060 acres

Base Elevation: 9,000 ft

Top Elevation: 12,060 ft

Distance from Denver: 66 miles

Winter Park Resort

@bethanyb

One of my favorite ski resorts in Colorado

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Wolf Creek

Ski Passes: N/A

Skiable Area: 1,600 acres

Base Elevation: 10,300 ft

Top Elevation: 11,904 ft

Distance from Denver: 253 miles

Wolf Creek Ski Area

@bethanyb

A Colorado favorite located in Pagosa Springs with affordable lift tickets.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Bethany

Available for hire

Hi! I'm Bethany, an explorer with a passport stamped in 52 countries. Having called three different nations home, I've cultivated a deep appreciation for the cultures our world offers. By day, I navigate a full-time job outside the travel sphere, which fuels my passion for crafting concise yet insightful guides to the remarkable places I've been lucky enough to travel to. Embarking on a journey with me means embracing a blend of adventure, relaxation, and immersion in local customs. As a solo female traveler, I've ventured through 21 countries, and I'm here to share insights on safety and the empowering experience of navigating the globe alone. A glimpse into my roots reveals an American spirit born in Seoul, nurtured in Germany during my childhood, and blossomed in the United States. A decade in the vibrant DC area enriched my life with a wealth of experiences that I'm eager to recommend. Now, I find myself based in Denver, Colorado, brimming with tips for skiing and snowboarding in the winter, and hiking and camping in the summer. Whether it's strolling through historic cityscapes or savoring the diverse flavors of the world, I'm an enthusiast for walking tours and foodie adventures. Balancing a demanding full-time job with an insatiable wanderlust, I make it a goal to take at least three international trips a year, and monthly domestic trips. Join me on this adventure, and let's explore the world together—one destination at a time!

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