There are many places in the world to enjoy winter skiing, but for a ski vacation that includes unmatched scenery and 300 days of sunshine each year, Colorado is a skier's dream.
The most difficult part about planning a ski vacation to Colorado is having so many options from which to choose. Each of Colorado's 25 major ski areas has a beauty and uniqueness for skiers at any skill level. The only way to categorize the ski areas is by size and location; other than those differences, they are all equally breathtaking.
Beginning with the ski areas in close proximity to Denver, Eldora Mountain Resort is proud to be closest of all. Eldora is just minutes from Boulder and offers not only alpine skiing, but also cross-country skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing. Although location and convenience is its prime appeal, Eldora doesn't want for variety in skiing terrain; there are slopes of all range of difficulty, 45 km of cross-country trails, and a 17-foot superpipe for snowboarders. Also, not far from Denver are the better known areas of Winter Park and Copper Mountain.
Only a little over an hour from Denver is the famous Summit County that houses five very large areas; Arapahoe Basin, Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, Keystone, and Loveland Basin. Breckenridge is the largest ski area in Summit County and one of the biggest in the state. The historic town of Breckenridge is nestled at the bottom of four interconnected mountains, covered with nearly 150 trails that offer challenges for experts and gently declining slopes for beginners. The town of Breckenridge is full of modern nightclubs and traditional pizza parlors, yet most are housed in buildings of colorful Victorian charm. Nearby Keystone Resort is connected to Breckenridge by a free shuttle and interchangeable lift tickets, for those who want even more skiing variety. All Summit County's resorts offer wonderful skiing, but as a bonus, Arapahoe Basin boasts one of the longest seasons in North America, opening in October and often staying covered with snow until the 4th of July.
Northwest of Summit County is the world-renowned Steamboat Ski Resort. As if the mineral hot springs and health facilities in the town of Steamboat Springs weren't enough, the ski school at Steamboat rivals those in the Alps. Nearly a century ago, the first ski slopes to open in Colorado were on Howelsen Ski Hill at Steamboat. Since then, nearly 3000 acres of trails, moguls and powder runs have been added and now cover Steamboat Mountain.
Monarch and Ski Cooper are located in the middle of the state, not far from the historic town of Leadville. Cooper is an area that is smaller, but has lots to choose from. Though it offers a variety of terrain, it is known as beginner-friendly. Monarch is Colorado ski country's best-kept secret. Its base elevation is a lofty 10,790 feet, guaranteeing a plentiful snowfall each season. A special addition is Monarch's 900 acres of backcountry skiing that can be reached by special tours.
In the mid-western and southern parts of the Colorado Rockies, skiers will find a variety of ski resort options from Crested Butte in the westernmost part of the state, to star-studded Telluride and steep Purgatory in the south. Wolf Creek, the southernmost area, is known for its incredible snow base, usually topping 100 inches. If the rest of the state's ski slopes are ever lacking for snow, Wolf Creek has a thick base and plenty of powder.
Vail and Beavercreek resorts are conveniently located on Interstate 70, and Vail outranks all other resorts in the country for size. It boasts seven ski bowls, over 800 ski instructors, the largest network of quad chair lifts in the world, and the gondola is a treat to ride any time of the year. The town of Vail will accommodate a family vacation, a romantic honeymoon, a shopping excursion, outdoor adventures, or even business conventions. Vail is a tasteful combination of everything new and modern, nestled amongst a cozy, conventional setting.
Aspen needs little introduction. It is legendary, mystical, quaint and bohemian. It is the stuff movies and songs are made of. Home for many years of John Denver, Aspen truly offers a "Rocky Mountain High." Boasting four separate ski areas, the town of Aspen is centered between them all, and lift tickets for the mountains are interchangeable. The town is an elegant mix of new money and old west, mining-town charm. The Victorian houses that line the main streets are painted in multicolored hues that warm the senses in the dead of winter. The restaurants and shops are numerous, eclectic, and offer something for everyone. But the phenomenal skiing is what has given Aspen its fame.
Buttermilk, the first of Aspen's four mountains, is considered a beginner's paradise, yet don't be fooled: it is also home to the ESPN Winter X-games. Aspen Highlands is known as the local's favorite. Not only does it have the steepest slope in the state of Colorado, but also, from the entire mountain, one can view a pair of the most photographed mountains in the world: the famous Maroon Bells. Snowmass is slightly set apart from the other mountains geographically, but boasts a top-ranked ski school, speedy lifts and a variety of snowboarding terrain. The famous Big Burn is an open area in Snowmass where a forest fire took out a large section of trees on the mountain many years ago. Today, it is a skier's paradise. Aspen Mountain, otherwise known as "Ajax," is the fourth mountain of the Aspen cluster, and has been dubbed the "flagship" mountain. It towers majestically over the town of Aspen, and from the streets of downtown, it's easy to see the steep drops that have made this mountain a favorite among experts. Aspen Mountain stands apart, as well, as it is the only one of the four that does not allow snowboarding.
Colorado is aptly named "Ski Country USA." There are many places in the world to enjoy winter skiing, but for a ski vacation that includes unmatched scenery and 300 days of sunshine each year, Colorado is a skier's dream. Go there and experience the Rocky Mountain high for yourself.
