Colorado is one of the wold’s premier ski and snowboard destinations. Colorado state is famous for its Rocky Mountain powder, sunshine, and huge ski areas like Vail and Aspen Snowmass. While these mega-resorts certainly have a lot to offer, there are also some smaller areas like Wolf Creek and Monarch Pass with fewer crowds and more laid-back vibes. The sheer number of ski area in Colorado means that there is something for every skier and snowboarder, from families to powderhounds.
The Rocky Mountains run right through the center of Colorado, and are home to the state’s wide variety of ski and snowboard areas. There are several ski and snowboard areas right off of I-70, which brings skiers and snowboarders up from Denver, Boulder, and the Front Range. Loveland, Arapahoe Basin, Keystone, Breckenridge, Copper, Vail and Beaver Creek are all located in the I-70 Corridor. These are the closest ski and snowboard areas to Denver, and some of the most popular in Colorado state. Ski traffic up and down I-70 has grown steadily over the years as more and more skiers and snowboarders head to the slopes, so plan accordingly. Although these colorado ski areas are no secret, they still have amazing skiing and snowboarding.
1.Aspen Snowmass
Famous for its deep powder and ample numbers of celebrity homes, Aspen Snowmass has an amazing 5,500 acres of skiable acres across its four ski areas: Aspen Mountain or Ajax, Snowmass, Buttermilk, and Aspen Highlands. The town itself has a unique balance of ski bums, families, and vacationing celebrities, while the four ski areas offer some of the best skiing and snowboarding in Colorado. Aspen Snowmass also builds some of the best terrain parks in the world, which play host to the X Games every winter. Advanced skiers and snowboarders love to head over to Aspen Highlands to hike the legendary Highlands Bowl. This massive alpine bowl, has some scary steep skiing and unreal views from the top, it’s well worth the hike. With variety, luxury, and its own private airport, Aspen is an awesome Colorado skiing and snowboarding destination.
2. Steamboat
Famous for its trademarked Champagne Powder and cowboy image, Steamboat draws skiers and snowboarders from around the world every winter. With 349” of annual snowfall, and plenty of great terrain, Steamboat is a nice option for skiers and snowboarders that want a full Colorado experience without the crowds of the I-70 corridor. Unlike a lot of Colorado ski areas, most of Steamboat’s terrain is below tree level, so there are no alpine bowls, but the tree skiing and snowboarding is some of the best in the state.
3. Vail
Vail is likely the most notorious ski and snowboard area in Colorado, with its legendary back bowls and storied history. Vail is one of the most expensive ski and snowboard areas in the world, however, skiers and snowboarders are rewarded with a huge, 5,289 acres, selection of terrain and 31 total lifts. The ski and snowboard area is so big that it’s impossible to explore in just one visit. Included in this terrain is multiple learning areas, the wide open back bowls, and gladed tree skiing in Blue Sky Basin. The back bowls are a totally unique skiing and snowboarding experience, with over 3,000 acres of wide-open riding high in the Rockies. The quality of the views, and the skiing are what have made Vail famous. With plenty of options, Vail is a great family destination because there is something for everyone to enjoy.
4. Telluride
Telluride is a quintessential Colorado mountain town, with a great ski and snowboard area to match. Telluride has a wide array of terrain and great lift infrastructure to service it. With a unique layout, skiers and snowboarders can take a gondola straight from town, or begin at one of the other two base areas. From there, the terrain and views are seemingly endless. High up on Palmyra peak skiers and snowboarders can climb the “stairway to heaven,” a small metal staircase on the knife-edge ridge, that accesses the expert only Gold Hill Chutes. Look down, if you’re brave enough, and you’ll have views across the San Juan Mountains, a sub-range of the Rockies. Beginners and intermediate skiers and boarders have plenty of terrain to choose from as well.
5. Wolfcreek
Nestled in the southwestern corner of Colorado, Wolf Creek Pass ski and snowboard area is off the beaten path and easily missed. However, with 430” of annual snowfall, Wolf Creek receives the most snowfall of any ski area in Colorado. This huge snowfall and a remote location mean that powder stashes can last for days after a storm. With a vertical drop of 1,600’ Wolf Creek is smaller than most Colorado ski and snowboard areas, but the quality of the snow and terrain make up for the size. The Alberta chairlift serves the Knife Ridge, which advanced skiers and snowboarders will love for its steep chutes and cliffs. The area is minimally developed and has a small-mountain feel, that pairs great with the sparsely populated slopes.
6.Beaver Creek
Beaver Creek is a luxury ski area, with a bevy of services pampering skiers and snowboarders; this doesn’t mean, however, that there isn’t great skiing and snowboarding at the Vail sister-resort. With the slogan of “Not Exactly Roughing It,” comfort and guest experience are the number one priority at Beaver Creek, this is evident by the the small things like free cookies and escalators to take skiers and snowboarders to the lift. The terrain itself caters towards intermediates and beginners, although the Stone Creek Chutes and other advanced areas do hold some sweet powder stashes. A bit farther from the city of Denver than the other ski areas of the I-70 corridor, crowds can be thinner here, and the beginner skiers don’t often travel off piste to these areas.
7. Beckenridge
Breckenridge is a huge ski and snowboard resort that is spread out across four peaks of the Ten Mile Mountain Range. With its sheer size there is obviously a great variety of terrain, ranging from exposed alpine bowls, to great skiing, and a world-class terrain park. Breckenridge, or Breck for short, holds the highest chairlift in North America with the Imperial Chair reaching all the way up to 12,840’. The terrain parks are giant, and have a full progression of features from easy jumps and rails to the 70’ jumps that are used for the Dew Tour ski and snowboard competitions. These terrain parks are serviced by their own chairlift and are constantly ranked as some of the best terrain parks in the world. All of this great skiing and snowboarding is only 90 minutes from the city of Denver and our evo Denver Store, which does bring large crowds on weekends and holidays.
8. Keystone
A close neighbor to Breckenridge, Keystone offers a similar mix of terrain and terrain parks. Keystone is one of the best family ski and snowboard areas in Colorado, with great learning infrastructure and beginner terrain. While it may not have the huge selection of high alpine bowls like Breckenridge, Keystone does have some good advanced tree skiing and snowboarding in The Outback area. The terrain parks at Keystone are some of the best in the world; many professional skiers and snowboarders call these terrain parks home throughout the season. Keystone resort is also one of the few ski and snowboard areas in Colorado that offers night skiing.
9.Powderhorn
Powderhorn’s 1,600 acres make up Colorado’s western-most ski and snowboard area. This small, family oriented mountain rarely sees the crowds of other Colorado ski and snowboard areas. At Just three chairlifts, it is certainly one of the smaller resorts in the state, although it still has some enjoyable tree skiing and snowboarding.
10. Silverton
Silverton offers skiers and snowboarders a true backcountry experience in a safe and controlled atmosphere. There is no doubt about it, with no beginner terrain and only one chairlift, Silverton Mountain is all about the skiing and snowboarding. For the majority of the season, all skiers and snowboarders must be accompanied by a guide, who will be their personal ticket to exploring the awesomeness that lies in the natural terrain off the single lift. This is some of the steepest and gnarliest inbounds terrain in Colorado state, and the country as a whole.
コメント