How To Plan A Colorado Ski Trip

2020 Update

Things are a little different this ski season, not only with the shuffle of mountains from Epic to IKON and Mountain Collective but with new COVID rules. I am giving an overview of each pass here and where you can get more details too.

Epic Pass

Vail Resorts owns basically all the resorts on I-70 + Crested Butte and Telluride. So, if you plan on skiing 2x a year or more than four days, you should definitely consider buying a pass. Important to note that you can’t get discounted passes on Liftopia for Epic Resorts aka Vail-owned resorts.

New for 2020 COVID – All Epic mountains are implementing a reservation system to limit the number of skiers on a mountain at once so we can continue to practice social distancing.

Pass holders can reserve a set amount of “priority days” in advance based on the level of pass they have
If you don’t have a pass you buy a ticket and reservations for the day you are going to ski
Any day you ski you must reserve in advance and you can still reserve the week of as long as there are open slots for that day
Masks are required all over the resort
As of now no reservations needed for eating on the mountain
Review the pass insurance information here

IKON Pass

The IKON pass replaced the Rocky Mountain Super Pass and now includes Steamboat, Winter Park & Mary Jane, Eldora, A-basin & Copper. Depending on what level pass you can also get Aspen/Snowmass.

See 2020/2021 changes per Colorado mountain here –>Everything You Need to Know about Skiing in Colorado, Winter 2020/2021

Mountain Collective

I honestly didn’t know Mountain Collective was still a pass till I got an IG ad for it. In Colorado, Aspen/Snowmass & Abasin are on the pass as well as Taos, Jackson, and a few Tahoe and Salt Lake Options.

See 2020/2021 changes per Colorado mountain here –>Everything You Need to Know about Skiing in Colorado, Winter 2020/2021

To help you decided what pass to get for your Colorado Ski Trip I am breaking down all the major resort options. Feel free to DM me with any questions!

Epic Pass – I-70 Resorts

Arapahoe Basin

Keystone, Breckenridge, Vail, and Beaver Creek are the closest resorts to Denver with accommodations. Arapahoe Basin and Loveland are the closest slopes, but unfortunately, they are only a ski hill with nowhere to stay overnight.

Keystone

Keystone has super long runs, so you don’t always feel like your skiing to the next lift. There is a big terrain park and a ski school with its own designated area. The “town” is just the resort at the base, so very walkable with great transportation.

Breckenridge

Breck is the largest in terms of “town” for the I-70 resorts. It is situated at the base of the slopes, so you can walk from the lift into town. The historic downtown creates a real mountain town-like feel with attractive shopping, restaurants, and bars.

Personally, between you and me, I think Breck has the greatest nightlife. For the non-skiers, you can stroll downtown to shop, eat, and enjoy the almost weekly festivals such as the world’s largest shot ski and an ice sculpture competition. Read my guide to Breckenridge here.

Vail Back Bowls

Vail

Vail is by far the greatest skiing in the world. From the back bowls to Blue Sky Basin, hitting a powder day here is seriously what ski dreams are made of! Ideally, you can snag a spot in Vail Village but it’s a pretty penny. Lionhead is the next village over and a great spot to stay where you can ski between the two.

I have a FULL guide to Vail here + my favorite places to ski.

Recently, we stayed at Vail’s Hotel Talisa and absolutely loved it. It’s truly one of the only ski-in/ski-out resorts there. You can read more on our trip here.

The adorable European-inspired village is packed with shops and restaurants. It is great for the non-skiers and après ski. If you don’t stay in either village, there are plenty of places to stay throughout the valley. However, keep in mind, you have to bus or drive to the slopes. Parking in Vail is not free unless you can snag a spot on the road.

Bachelor’s Gulch Beaver Creek

Beaver Creek

Because it is the furthest I-70 resort, Beaver Creek is often less crowded. Situated just above the town of Avon, this super family-oriented resort is great for kids. The village is perfectly designed with shops, restaurants, and an ice skating rink. Ski the entire day, and as you descend from the slopes, be greeted with warm chocolate chip cookies!

Read my full Beaver Creek Guide here

The Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch is the ideal place to stay with ski-in/ski-out condos and houses, outdoor pools, hot tubs, and a great fire pit for après ski (here is what to wear!). If you’re looking for less expensive accommodations, stay in Avon. Shuttles get you to the slopes from here with no problem.

The Eagle County Regional Airport is about 45 minutes from Vail with daily direct flights from New York, Miami, Chicago, Atlanta, DC, and LA.

If you are unsure of what I-70 resort you want to ski at, you can split the difference and stay in Frisco or Silverthorn. This puts you 15 minutes away from Keystone, 30 minutes from Breck as well as Vail, and 45 minutes from Beaver Creek.

Winter Park + Copper Mountain

Winter Park – Photo by DizzieLizzie

Copper Mountain

Located on I-70, after Breck but before Vail, this small resort is on the Rocky Mountain Super Pass. Copper Mountain offers great skiing with much smaller crowds. Check out lift ticket deals here.

Winter Park + Maryjane

Just before the Eisenhower Tunnel on I-70, hang a right on 40, and head over Berthoud Pass, soon you will find yourself in beautiful Winter Park. Locals love Winter Park + Maryjane for the beautiful terrain that lacks traffic and crowds. You can either stay at the resort next to the mountain or down the road in town. With free parking and buses, it’s easy to stay local rather than the resort. Winter Park is definitely a quieter town but has a fun live music venue, which is always bumping. Explore deals for lift ticket here.

A few years ago, I randomly won a trip to Glenwood Springs and passes to Sunlight Mountain. Sunlight is super small and about a three-hour drive from Denver. We actually loved skiing here and exploring the Roaring Fork Valley. A great spot if you’re looking for a cheap and cheerful day of skiing plus hot springs. Read more about our trip here.

3+ Hours but Worth the Drive…

Steamboat Springs

Located three hours from Denver, this resort is the furthest north Colorado ski resort. Steamboat Springs boasts great tree skiing and “Champagne Powder” without terribly steep terrain. You can either stay in the ski village or town about three miles from the resort.

Steamboat is a big town with loads of shopping, restaurants, and bars. After a long day on the slopes, you can hit the historic Strawberry Hot Springs outside town. Read more about Steamboat here.

Crested Butte (CB)

I love love love Crested Butte, a few years ago CB was bought by vail and is now available on the Epic Pass. Is it worth the 4-hour drive? Yes! You can also fly into nearby Gunnison. Check out my full guide on CB here!

Aspen

Aspen is about a three and a half hour drive from Denver. Head west on I-70, all the way to Glenwood Springs, then hang a left. Tucked away in the Elk Mountain Range are Aspen and Snowmass.

Aspen Mountain, known as Ajax, is in the middle of downtown. Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk, and Snowmass are a drive or bus ride away. The town of Aspen is actually quite large, so you will most likely need a car to get around. It is filled with world-class shopping, restaurants, and nightclubs. If you can catch a show at the famous Belly Up – do! This tiny venue is amazing.

You can fly directly into Aspen/Snowmass from Denver, LA, San Fran, Dallas, Chicago, Houston, and Minneapolis-St.Paul.

Telluride

I haven’t skied Telluride since I was little, but it truly is one of the most beautiful places in the world! This tiny box village, nestled in the San Juan Mountains, is what you imagine a ski town to look like. It is a six-hour drive from Denver, so your best bet is to fly into Montrose or Durango, then drive from there.