When one thinks of Colorado, one usually thinks of 14ers, skiing and, as John Denver would say it, sunsets that are “raining fire in the sky.” Colorado is home to 28 ski resorts. From resorts that only cater to heli skiing and guided tours to ski resorts with only one lift, Colorado truly has it all when it comes to skiing and boarding. Although with so many resorts to choose from, where does one begin?
As someone who grew up skiing in Colorado, I have trouble choosing a resort myself. At the end of the day I go to the resort that I think has the best snow, but I can’t control the weather. Instead, I can choose the type of terrain I would like to ski, the restaurants and food they may offer, the atmosphere the locals create and how easily I can get there. But, you may be asking yourself:
- What is the terrain like if I have not skied there?
- How friendly are the locals?
- What atmosphere does the resort have?
- Is there free parking?
- How pricey is the après-ski?
- How easy is it to get there?
One can only truly know this if they have skied at the resort, but who has time to ski at every resort in Colorado? Whether you are trying to vacation in Colorado, go on a family ski trip over the weekend or are planning a trip with your ski buddies, you simply do not have time to test ski each resort, so I have done it for you and am sharing what I learned…
The resorts are listed below in alphabetical order, but here are my suggestions for resorts that are best for:
Beginner Terrain: Eldora, Granby & Echo.
Intermediate Terrain: Loveland, Monarch & Snowmass.
Advanced Terrain: Silverton, Crested Butte & Telluride.
Families: Buttermilk, Beaver Creek & Vail.
Tourists: Aspen, Vail & Breckenridge.
Terrain Parks: Copper, Snowmass & Breckenridge.
Night Skiing: Hesperus, Steamboat & Keystone.
Hidden Gems: Sunlight, Purgatory & Powderhorn.
My Favorites: Winter Park, Arapahoe Basin & Wolf Creek.
Before checking out the resorts, take a look at the glossary for commonly used skier terms and phrases used throughout this blog.
Click here for some Colorado safety tips and resources
-> Click on the maps for a better look at the resorts and the green buttons for the reviews!
Arapahoe Basin
Ski the Legend
The Aspen Mountains
Live Passionately
Beaver Creek
Experience the Extraordinary
Breckenridge
The Breck Effect…It’s Contagious
Cooper
The Heart of Skiing in the Heart of the Rockies.
Copper Mountain
Passion for Adventure Today and Tomorrow…
Crested Butte
The Road Less Travelled
Echo Mountain
Denver’s closest, most affordable ski area in Colorado’s front range
Eldora
Closer to You
Granby Ranch
Colorado Skiing Without the Crowds
Hesperus Ski Area
The Largest Night Skiing in the Southwest
Howelsen Hill
North America’s Oldest operating Ski Resort
Keystone
Your Favorite Mountain Playground
Loveland
Near to the hearts and homes of Colorado Skiers and Riders
Monarch
One Giant Playground Full of Opportunity
Powderhorn
Your Mountain Fix Since 1966
Purgatory
The World’s Best Spring Break
Silverton Mountain
More Expert Terrain Than Any Ski Resort in North America
Steamboat
Share the Steamboat Dream
Sunlight
No Hassles. No Hype. It’s Exactly Why you go Skiing or Riding.
Telluride
You’ll Never Forget Your First Time to Telluride
Vail
Experience of a Lifetime
Winter Park
Pure and Unspoiled
Wolf Creek
Most snow in Colorado
Colorado Ski Resort Travel Blog 