Review of the Winter Park Ski Resort

Winter Park has just over 3,000 acres of skiiable terrain, which includes 143 designated trails as well as glade and bowl skiing. The resort is perhaps best known for its advanced mogul skiing on Mary Jane, but it offers a nice variety of terrain for all abilities and tastes. Vazquez Cirque is the place to head on a powder day for advanced and expert steeps and bowls. Winter Park averages more than 325 inches of snow per year (taken from totals over the past 10 years), so it receives plenty of snow on its expansive terrain. With a top elevation of more than 12,000 feet, Winter Park towers above the surrounding valley and offers beautiful Rocky Mountain views.

Winter Park offers nearly everything that a skier or rider could ask for. If it's your first time out west, Winter Park is a great choice as it has the open powder skiing, chutes and glades that you're likely seeking. On the other hand, it isn't necessarily the "Best of" in any one category, save maybe for mogul skiing. You go to Vail for bowls, Steamboat for powder and glades, and Crested Butte for steeps. You go to Winter Park for its proximity to Denver and to experience a combination of terrain. This is great if you have a group of skiers with different abilities and tastes, but it is not as good if you're specifically looking for top-quality snow or challenging terrain. On days when Vazquez Cirque is closed, the mountain can seem a bit small and limited for those really seeking a challenge. Also, much of the best steep, open terrain requires some hiking. Beware that though it's only 90 miles from Denver International Airport, this includes a switchbacking stretch of US Route 40 that climbs up Berthoud Pass. This can be intimidating (though quite scenic) for those not familiar with mountain driving, particularly if it's snowing. It is wise to take a shuttle or train if you feel you'll be uncomfortable with the drive.

Winter Park is an excellent introduction to Colorado skiing. Though it isn't the most challenging Colorado resort or the snowiest, it offers the great selection of terrain that you'd expect from any Rocky Mountain resort. Its proximity to Denver offers an advantage over many of Colorado's other resorts that require a half-day or more of commuting from the airport. If you're planning to check out several resorts in Colorado, Winter Park is an Intrawest resort and you may be able to get a deal with other Intrawest resorts (Copper and Steamboat). It's certainly a good option for families and groups of mixed abilities.