Colorado US Ski Resorts

A Skier's Guide to the ski resorts in Colorado USA

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Location:

Map of United States and the location of the state of Colorado

Where is Colorado? Colorado is a state in the Western United States of America with the Rocky Mountain range stretching through the western half of the state. Colorado is know for its abundance of large, developed, destination resorts. Colorado's powder is light with a low snow density of 7% on average. Denver is the capital and largest primary city which provides the major international airport for the region. Most of the major ski resorts are located within four hours of Denver's airport.

A cluster of resorts known as the Summit County resorts are close and easily accessible from Denver, just off of highway 70. These include:

The Loveland ski area is often grouped with the Summit County resorts because it is so close, but technically it's in Clear Creek County. These resorts are also served by the ski towns of Frisco, Silverthorn and Dillon.

To the West on highway 70 you will find Vail and Beaver Creek.

The double resort of Winter Park and Mary Jane is a short drive off of highway 70 and is also relatively close to Denver.

Away from Denver you have resorts which are accessible by automobile and from regional airports. The resorts of Apen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk and Snowmass are all accessible from Aspen airport. The Hayden airport provides access to Steamboat Springs and Telluride is accessible from its own airport. Durango airport services a cluster of resorts in Southwest Colorado including Durango (Purgatory), Wolf Creek and Silverton.

Colorado Ski Resorts:

Where to ski in Colorado:

Resort	Information	Summit (feet)	Vertical (feet)	Area (acres)	Annual snow (inches)	Lifts	Terrain Parks	(%)	(%)	(%)	(%)
A-Basin	review social location lodging	13,050	2,270	960	350	6	2	10	30	60
Aspen Highlands	review social location lodging	11,675	3,635	1028	300	5	0	18	30	16	36
Aspen Mountain	review social location lodging	11,212	3,267	675	300	8	0	0	48	26	26
Beaver Creek	review social location lodging	11,440	4,040	1815	310	22	4	19	43	38
Breckenridge	review social location lodging	12,998	3,398	2358	300	34	4	14	31	19	36
Aspen Buttermilk		7,870	2,030	470	300	8	2	35	39	26	0
Copper Mountain	review social location lodging	12,313	2,601	2450	284	23	1	21	25	36	18
Crested Butte	review social location lodging	12,167	2,775	1167	300	16	2	23	57	20
Durango (Purgatory)		10,822	2,029	1360	260	10	5	20	45	35
Eldora	review social location lodging	10,800	1,600	680	300	10	3	15	55	15	15
Keystone Mountain	review social location lodging	12,408	3,148	3148	230	20	3	19	32	49
Loveland	review social location lodging	13,010	2,210	1670	400	9	2	13	41	46
Monarch	review social location lodging	11,952	1,162	800	350	6	2	14	28	27	31
Powderhorn		9,850	1,650	1600	250	5	3	20	50	30	31
Silverton Mountain	review social location lodging	13,487	3,087	1819	400	1	0	0	0	100
Ski Cooper		11,700	1,200	400	260	4	1	31	35	34
Ski Granby Ranch (Sol Vista)		9,202	1,000	406	220	4	6	30	50	20
Aspen Snowmass		12,510	4,406	3332	300	21	3	6	47	17	30
Steamboat Springs	review social location lodging	10,568	3,668	2965	334	17	1	14	42	44
Sunlight		9,895	2,010	470	250	3	1	20	55	20	5
Telluride		12,570	3,845	2000	309	18	3	23	36	41
Vail	review social location lodging	11,570	3,450	5289	348	31	4	18	29	53
Winter Park Mary Jane		12,060	2,610	2733	350	25	6	8	17	19	56
Wolf Creek	review social location lodging	11,904	1,604	1600	465	6	0	20	35	25	20

Note that some resorts have double black diamond type terrain but just bundle it all under a black diamond rating without distinguishing between single and double black diamond ratings.

Colorado Ski Resort Opening Dates:

2018-2019 Season:

Resort	Open	Close
Arapahoe Basin	October 17, 2021	June (early), 2022
Aspen Highlands	December 11, 2021	April 10, 2022
Aspen Mountain	November 25, 2021	April 17, 2022
Aspen Buttermilk	December 11, 2021	April 3, 2022
Cooper	December 8, 2021	April 17, 2022
Copper Mountain	November 22, 2021	April 24, 2022
Crested Butte	November 22, 2021	April 3, 2022
Echo Mountain	November 26, 2021	April 17, 2022
Eldora	November 19, 2021	April 12, 2022
Granby Ranch	December 10, 2021	April 3, 2022
Hesperus	December 17, 2021	March 20, 2022
Howelsen Hill	November 28, 2021	April 3, 2022
Kendall Mountain	December 17, 2021	March 24, 2022
Loveland	October 19, 2021	May 5, 2022
Monarch Mountain	November 22, 2021	April 3, 2022
Powderhorn	November 26, 2021	April 27, 2022
Purgatory (Durango)	November 20, 2021	April 4, 2022
Silverton	December 30, 2021	April 17, 2022
Snowmass	November 25, 2021	April 17, 2022
Steamboat	November 27, 2021	April 10, 2022
Sunlight	December 10, 2021	April 3, 2022
Telluride	December 3, 2021	April 17, 2022
Winter Park	November 17, 2021	May 5, 2022
Wolf Creek	October 19, 2021	April 17, 2022

It is quite typical that Arapahoe Basin and Loveland have the longest ski season as they sit on the continental divide with the highest elevations at 13,050 and 13,010 feet respectively.

Lodging and Accommodations in Colorado:

Colorado Ski Resort Video Tours: