Colorado is thought for its snow-capped mountain peaks, diverse terrain and energetic ski cities. With greater than 30 world-class ski resorts within the state, there are many locations to select from. Listed here are a few of our favorites.
The biggest ski resort
Vail Ski Resort

(Getty)
Base elevation: 8,120 ft.
Highest elevation: 11,570 ft.
Skiable terrain: 5,317 acres.
Every day raise ticket price: $221 to $295, varies by date.
With 5,317 skiable acres and three,450 ft of vertical drop, Vail Ski Resort is the biggest mountain resort in Colorado. Second solely to Massive Sky in Montana, Vail can be the second-largest ski resort in North America.
Not like the mining cities of Aspen and Breckenridge, Vail began as a ski city. Seasoned skiers and snowboarders in addition to first-timers can have loads of trails — 278 to be precise — for carving out the perfect day ever on the slopes.
The most effective ski resort for novices
Loveland Ski Space
Base elevation: 10,800 ft.
Highest elevation: 13,010 ft.
Skiable terrain: 1,800 acres.
Every day raise ticket price: $119.
Loveland Ski Space is split into two mini-resorts: Loveland Basin and Loveland Valley, the latter being a separate space for novices with inexperienced and blue runs, which makes it among the finest locations to ski in Colorado for first-timers.
Loveland Valley chairlift operators have expertise with loading novice skiers and snowboarders, and you’ll make certain that an professional rider gained’t be bombing down the hill and placing your security in jeopardy mid-slope.
At $50 per grownup ticket for Loveland Valley-only entry, it’s one of many extra reasonably priced mountains for working towards your “pizza” and “French fry” strikes. Loveland can be simply 53 miles west of Denver, so in the event you resolve that winter sports activities aren’t your factor in any case, you’ve got town at your fingertips for all of your après-ski actions.
The most effective-value ski resort
Arapahoe Basin

(Getty)
Base elevation: 10,520 ft.
Highest elevation: 13,050 ft.
Skiable terrain: 1,428 acres.
Every day raise ticket price: $63 to $140.
For this class, we didn’t go along with a comparatively unknown ski space that sells the least costly each day raise ticket within the state, however slightly a resort that gives a superb price-to-quality ratio, and that’s Arapahoe Basin close to Keystone, Colorado.
With about 73% of the terrain being categorised as superior to professional, Arapahoe Basin supplies a few of the most difficult terrain in Colorado. Nonetheless, skilled riders gained’t must pay an arm and a leg to entry the mountain.
Multi-day packs are available in three-day, four-day and five-day choices and price $259, $309 and $339, respectively, which brings down your each day price to as little as $68.
A-Basin additionally claims to have the longest ski season within the state with its newest closing day on file being Aug. 10 in 1995. Nonetheless, a typical season lasts from October to June.
Essentially the most luxurious ski resort
Aspen Snowmass

(Getty)
Base elevation: 8,604 ft.
Highest elevation: 12,510 ft.
Skiable terrain: 3,342 acres.
Every day raise ticket price: $179 to $264, varies by date.
To point out off your diamonds whereas snowboarding black diamonds, head to Aspen, Colorado. The luxurious Aspen Snowmass resort is a four-mountain resort for skiers and snowboarders with costly style.
A-list musicians and film stars are likely to frequent the Aspen slopes, and a few even personal properties within the space to be nearer to a few of the finest snowboarding in Colorado.
Aspen Snowmass is house to 4 distinct mountains, all of that are related: Aspen Mountain (aka Ajax), Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk and Snowmass. A raise ticket means that you can hop between all 4 resorts, however we don’t advocate making an attempt to ski 4 mountains in at some point as a result of getting from one finish to the opposite will take time.
Aspen Mountain is closest to city, the place you’ll be able to expertise a few of the finest Michelin-starred eating and high-end buying the ski village has to supply after you’ve taken off your mittens for the day.
Finest ski city vibes
Telluride Ski Resort
Base elevation: 8,725 ft.
Highest elevation: 13,150 ft.
Skiable terrain: 2,000-plus acres.
Every day raise ticket price: $245, varies by date.
For those who’re searching for that iconic Wild West vibe, think about Telluride Ski Resort in southwestern Colorado on your subsequent ski journey.
The outdated mining city turned ski city is difficult to get to from a significant airport — each Denver and Salt Lake Metropolis worldwide airports are greater than 350 miles away — however whenever you do get there, you gained’t remorse it. The surroundings from city is solely unmatched, and it’s not as crowded as a few of the big-name resorts off Interstate 70.
In Telluride, you’ll be able to ski straight into city and nonetheless be capable of discover a low cost beer. The resort additionally presents a few of the finest alpine (above tree traces) snowboarding within the state.
Finest hidden gem
Monarch Mountain
Base elevation: 10,790 ft.
Highest elevation: 11,952 ft.
Skiable terrain: 800 acres.
Every day raise ticket price: $69 to $79 most days, with some Saturdays at $129.
Monarch Mountain in Salida, Colorado, is the smallest resort on our checklist, nevertheless it’s an incredible off-the-beaten-path ski vacation spot. Most individuals are unaware this resort exists, and people within the know wish to maintain it that manner.
Monarch is a no-frills, mellow place to ski and snowboard, and you’ll nonetheless go cat snowboarding there in quest of untouched powder within the backcountry (for professional ranges solely). However as a result of the mountain can’t compete with the extra in style resorts in central Colorado, it’s in all probability not a great choice for a fly-in ski journey. It is higher fitted to a highway journey in the event you’re inside driving distance.