By Shiromi Nassreen
The Best Ski Resorts in Colorado
The state of Colorado is blessed with some of the consistently best skiing in the country and has a number of excellent ski
resorts, all for different reasons. A good
resort should have plenty of different types of slopes to offer (except in the case of a resort like Steamboat, which is geared towards expert skiers) as well as offering plenty of other off-slope activities and après ski.
Vail
Vail is routinely ranked as the best ski resort in the country and for good reason. The resort is over 5000 acres in size, making it the largest ski mountain in the US and annual snowfall is typically 350 inches a year. The resort's perhaps best known for its back bowls but also features front side groomers offering just about everything for everyone. The resort also features 34 lifts and 800 instructors while the town boasts hundred of restaurants and stores.
Vail, 555 E Lionshead Circle, Vail Colorado 81657 Telephone: (970) 476-9090
Aspen
Aspen is another famous Colorado resort. What Aspen offers is variety, something for everyone, with Ajax, Highlands, Snowmass and Buttermilk ski mountains. Snowmass is the largest and is ideal for families. Buttermilk is another great mountain for beginners and is also where ESPN holds their Winter-X games. Highland bowl and Ajax Mountain are definitely best left for intermediate and expert skiers.
Aspen, 425 Rio Grande Place, Aspen Colorado 81611 Telephone: (970) 925-9000
Keystone
Keystone consists of three mountains for beginners all the way up to experts, and features five bowls and plenty of steeps and rails. Keystone is open for skiing in the evenings and also has a night terrain that is open until 10pm on weekends. The resort features a village and has plenty of accommodations, restaurants and shops. Off-slope activities include snowcat tours. It is also close to Breckenridge, Vail and Copper Mountain.
Keystone, US Highway 6, Dillon, Colorado 80435 Telephone: (970) 496-2316
Copper Mountain
Copper Mountain is another leading resort in Colorado. Copper Mountain sits on over 2400 acres and has separate slopes for beginners, intermediate and expert skiers and snowboarders. Copper Mountain is well known for its high speed lifts, including one that sit six people. The East Village and the New Villages are two popular après ski hubs at Copper Mountain.
Copper Mountain, 209 Ten Mile Circle, Frisco, Colorado 80443 Telephone: (970) 968-2882
Steamboat
If you're a beginner skier you probably want to skip Steamboat, which primarily focuses on the intermediate-expert skiers. The resort is famed for its champagne powder--snow which is so said to be 70 percent drier than average snow. The other thing that makes Steamboat particularly notable is the exceptional tree skiing. When you're done skiing for the day, consider stopping by Steamboat's Strawberry Park hot springs to warm up and soothe those muscles.
Steamboat, 2305 Mt. Werner Circle, Steamboat, Colorado, 80487 Telephone: (970) 879-6111
About the Author:
Shiromi Nassreen is a British writer. She holds a B.A. in theatre studies from Rose Bruford College of Speech & Drama and has been writing professionally for three years. She writes primarily travel and outdoor articles on Hawaii. Her articles have appeared in Dysfunkshion Magazine as well as Illusion Television and Matador Travel.
Photo Credits:
Photo by Dan Benbennick
