Last season, Steamboat Ski Resort and Keystone Resort debuted major in-bounds expansions, as did Aspen Mountain with its Hero’s high-speed quad. Following continued improvements, Ajax skiers can further explore its challenging gladed areas this winter. Purgatory Resort has also been busy trimming trees and improving popular runs like Mark’s Park and McCormack’s Maze.
Monarch Mountain cleared trees this year as it began to develop No Name Basin, which will add 377 acres to the ski area and nearly double its footprint. Although a three-person lift won’t be installed until next year, Monarch Cat Skiing will provide access to the newly cut backcountry trails.
Beginners will also have access to uncharted territory this season. Granby Ranch has installed Stagecoach, a 400-foot covered conveyor lift in its learners’ base area. Durango’s affordable in-town ski area, Chapman Hill, has upgraded and extended one of its tow ropes, while another has been replaced with a platter lift that offers 500 feet of vertical. Larger resorts have also made lift upgrades. Copper Mountain converted its Timberline Express four-person chairlift to a high-speed six-pack, providing quicker access to intermediate terrain in its western region. Snowmass Ski Resort replaced its Coney Glade chair with the high-speed Coney Express quad, which loads in the Snowmass Village Mall and significantly increases out-of-base capacity. It also features a new midway station, providing easy entry into Snowmass’s world-class terrain park. Freestyle riders should also take note of Thresher Alley at Hoedown Hill, Colorado’s newest ski area. Its third terrain park will feature banks, rollers and other natural snow features.
Meanwhile, Telluride Ski Resort is revealing the Heritage Trail early this winter, located in the beginner-friendly Grouse Glade. Ride up the Sunshine Express lift and down this run to find seven interactive features that highlight the Ute tribe, Wild West characters and more chapters of the area’s history. Winter Park Resort will also honor its regional heritage in partnership with NativesOutdoors, unveiling trail signs in Eagle Wind terrain that include names translated into the Arapaho language.
When you need a break from the cold, several resorts have new and improved amenities. Eldora Mountain just held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate its new, energy-efficient Caribou Lodge, which houses a cozy cafe, a retail shop and gear rentals, plus Ignite Adaptive Sports programming and the children’s ski school. Family-friendly Keystone Resort will also move its ski-and-ride school this season; it will debut within Kindred Resort, a new luxury development in the River Run Village base area featuring slopeside lodging, a retail-and-rental shop, a full-service spa and three restaurants.
A rendering of the Avanti Food & Beverage location set to open in Vail.
Oz Architects / Vail Ski Resort
There’s also the Cabin at Snowmass, formerly known as the Lynn Britt Cabin. This recently renovated eatery is accessible via the new Coney Express lift and features an extended patio, plus an expanded list of bookable experiences including live entertainment and snowcat dinners. Copper Mountain will also premiere themed dinner events at its on-mountain restaurant Forage & Feast, which opened last season within Aerie Lodge. This venue at the top of the American Eagle lift will debut sunset ski events featuring after-hours laps, Colorado cuisine and live music.
On December 21 and 22, Copper Mountain will host a new X Games Street Style Pro event complete with musical performances and nighttime competitions among professionals and up-and-coming athletes. Those who place will be invited to compete in X Games Aspen, at Buttermilk Ski Resort January 23-25. Buttermilk will also host the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix from January 30 to February 6, as well as the all-new Snow League competition created by acclaimed snowboarder Shaun White on March 7 and 8.
Beaver Creek Resort will premiere an exciting event this season, too: For the first time, women competitors in the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup will race down the legendary Birds of Prey course December 14 and 15. The annual men’s World Cup competitions will occur the week prior, from December 6 to 8.
Of course, there are price changes this winter — but it’s not all bad news. Arapahoe Basin, which was acquired by Alterra Mountain Company earlier this year, will now require $20 online parking reservations prior to 1 p.m. on weekends and holidays between December 21 and May 4. Telluride Ski Resort nixed its discounted seniors’ season pass, as well as its three-, six- and ten-day unlimited passes; however, it introduced a new weekday season pass for $999 with holiday blackout dates.
Ski Cooper has slashed its weekday prices by more than 50 percent compared to last season’s rates.
Casey Day / Ski Cooper
And there's another deal coming down the tracks: The Winter Park Express, operated by Amtrak, is expanding service to five days a week starting January 9 and running into March, and will also offer special holiday service December 20-22, and December 27-29. Not only are there more trips from Denver's Union Station up to Winter Park, but the price has dropped, too, starting at $19 to $39 for adults. The train departs Denver at 7 a.m. and leaves Winter Park at 4:30 p.m.
No matter how you get there, every resort in the Colorado Rockies promises a sublime experience. So, where are you skiing this season?
Colorado Ski Resorts and Calendars
Arapahoe BasinOpen now/closing TBD
888-272-7246
arapahoebasin.com
Aspen Highlands Ski Resort
Opening December 14/closing April 13
970-923-1227
aspensnowmass.com
Aspen Mountain Ski Resort
Opening November 23/closing April 20
970-923-1227
December 7: Summit for Life; December 12-15: Winterskol; December 30: Audi Ajax Cup, Little Nell Hill, Aspen Mountain; December 12 and 19, January 9 and 16, February 13 and 20: Game of Stones Curling Series: 3 to 5 p.m., register at the rink prior to event, Base Village Ice Rink; January 12-19: Aspen Gay Ski Week; January 23-25: X Games Return; January 30-February 6: Toyota U.S. Grand Prix & Visa Big Air; February 6-11: USSA Revolution Tour; February 22: Audi Power of Four Ski Mountaineering; March 7-8: The Snow League; March 17: Ullrhof Games.
aspensnowmass.com.
Beaver Creek Resort
Opening November 27/closing TBD
970-754-4636
December 5-8: Stifel Birds of Prey / Audi FIS Ski World Cup; December 7 and 14: Beers of Prey, $35, Beaver Creek Village; December 14-15: Stifel Birds of Prey / Women’s World Cup Skiing. February 22-23: Talons Challenge.
beavercreek.com.
Breckenridge Ski Resort
Open now/closing TBD
970-453-5000
December 4-7: ExploriumFest: Four days of free exploration at the Mountain Top Explorium, free. December 7: Lighting of Breckenridge/Race of the Santas: 3-7 p.m.; December 12-14: Ullr Fest; December 31: New Year's Eve Torchlight Parade, Peak 9, 6 p.m.; January 20-29: International Snow Sculpture Championships.
gobreck.com.
Buttermilk Ski Resort
Opening December 14/closing April 6
970-923-1227
aspensnowmass.com
Chapman Hill Ski Area
Opening/closing TBD
970-375-7395
durangoco.gov
Copper Mountain Resort
Open now/closing TBD
970-968-2318
November 29: Thanksgiving Fireworks; December 18-21: Toyota U.S. Grand Prix, X Games Event; December 24: Christmas Eve Torchlight Parade and Fireworks; December 31: New Year’s Eve Torchlight Parade and Fireworks; January 13-17: U.S. Revolution Tour; January 25, February 15, March 8: Mammut Uphill Race Series; January 25-26: Safetyfest; February 21-23: Subaru WinterFest; April 12: Mammut Uphill Race Series, Copper Cup; April 26-27: Sunsation and Slush Rush.
coppercolorado.com.
Crested Butte Mountain Resort
Opening November 27/closing TBD
970-251-7022
skicb.com
Echo Mountain
Opening/closing TBD
720-615-0019
echomntn.com
Eldora Mountain
Open now/closing TBD
303-440-8700
eldora.com
Granby Ranch
Opening November 28/closing TBD
888-850-4615
granbyranch.com
Hoedown Hill
Opening December 5/closing TBD
970-833-1720
hoedownhill.com
Howelsen Hill Ski Area
Opening November 30/closing March 30
970-879-8499
steamboatsprings.net
Kendall Mountain Ski Area
Opening/closing TBD
970-759-5557
skikendall.com
Keystone Resort
Open now/closing TBD
970-496-4170
November 30: Winter Carnival/The Lighting of River Run, 2-5:15 p.m., Warren Station and River Run Village, free; December 7: Teton Gravity Research: Beyond the Fantasy, 3:30-7:30 p.m., $10-$15. December 21: Mystic Solstice: Winter solstice celebration and sound healing, 4-5 p.m., $35.03 at Eventbrite; December 31: ’80s Neon Nights NYE Celebration, 7:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m., $35.03 ($57.67 couple) at Eventbrite. January 4: Snow Glow Yoga, 6 p.m., $18.06 at Eventbrite. Events at Warren Station, 164 Ida Belle Drive, Keystone, warrenstation.com.
keystoneresort.com
Loveland Ski Area
Open now/closing TBD
303-571-5580
skiloveland.com
Monarch Mountain
Opening/closing TBD
719-530-5000
skimonarch.com
Powderhorn Mountain Resort
Opening November 22/closing TBD
970-268-5700
powderhorn.com
Purgatory Resort
Opening November 16/closing April 27
970-247-9000
purgatory.ski
Silverton Mountain Ski Area
Opening December 28/closing April 13
970-387-5706
silvertonmountain.com
Ski Cooper
Opening December 11/closing TBD
719-486-2277
skicooper.com
Snowmass Ski Resort
Opening November 28/closing April 20
970-923-1227
aspensnowmass.com
Steamboat Ski Resort
Opening November 23/closing TBD
800-922-2722
December 14: Santa Saddle Up, 1-4 p.m., Steamboat Stage; Holiday Drone Show, 5:30-6 p.m., Steamboat Square; Holiday Skate Party, 6-7:30 p.m., Skeeter's Rink, free; December 21: Holiday Balloon Glow, 5:30-6:30 p.m., free; December 28: Hanukkah Mountain Celebration, 3-3:30 p.m. December 31: New Year's Eve Light Up Snow Cat Parade and Fireworks, 5:30-6 p.m.; January 19: Cowboy Up Drone Show welcoming the Bud Light Cowboy Downhill, 5:30-6:30 p.m., free; December 20: Fiftieth Anniversary Bud Light Cowboy Downhill, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., free; February 7-9: 112th Steamboat Springs Winter Carnival, the oldest continuing winter carnival west of the Mississippi; February 15: Light Up the Night Celebration, balloon glow event, 5:30-6:30 p.m., free; February 28-March 2: WinterWonderGrass Festival, three days of music and brews, 2-10 p.m., three-day-pass: $279.11 GA-$643.22 VIP ($21.83-$176.83 kids pass), winterwondergrass.com; Saturdays, March 8-April 12, and Sunday, April 13: Bud Light Rocks the Boat free concert series, 3:30 to 5 p.m..
steamboat.com.
Sunlight Mountain Resort
Opening December 13/closing TBD
970-945-7491
sunlightmtn.com
Telluride Ski Resort
Opening November 28/closing April 6
800-778-8581
November 23-24: Turkey Bingo: Kids: Saturday, November 23, 3 p.m.; Adults: Saturday, November 23, 6:30 and 9 p.m.; Bingo Brunch, Sunday, November 24, $25 for 15 games, brunch: $15 per person, $5 kids ten and under. November 23: Teton Gravity Research: Beyond The Fantasy, 6 and 8 p.m., Sheridan Opera House, 110 North Oak Street, $5-$20; November 29: Warren Miller’s 75, 6 and 8 p.m., Sheridan Opera House, $15-$20. December 4: Noel Night: Lighting of the ceremonial ski tree and shopping discounts at local retailers, 5:30 to 9 p.m. December 13-22: Ski Bum, the Musical, select dates, 7 p.m., Sheridan Opera House, $40-$100. December 14-15: Mountain Village Holiday Prelude, with train rides, Santa, ice skating and children’s holiday surprises; schedule here, free. December 24: Christmas Eve Torchlight Parade, from the top of the gondola to the Town of Telluride, 6:30 p.m. December 31: New Year's Eve Torchlight Parade and Fireworks, 6:30 p.m. February 13-24: Telluride AIDS Benefit Fashion Week, tellurideaidsbenefit.org. February 13-16: 25th annual Telluride Comedy Festival, Thursday: Locals Night; Friday: Evening of Stand-Up and Improv; Saturday: Sketch Comedy and Improv Extravaganza; Sunday: Stand-Up and Improv Spectacular; 8 p.m. nightly; tickets TBA, Sheridan Opera House, 110 North Oak Street. February 22-March 1: Telluride Gay Ski Week: Opening-day party, daily après-ski, pool parties, late-night lounge happenings, White Party and more, passes and tickets TBA here.
tellurideskiresort.com.
Vail Ski Resort
Open now/closing TBD
970-754-8245
Vail: Friday, December 13, 6:30 p.m.: Tiësto brings his ultimate dance party, electrifying beats and groundbreaking tracks during Vail Stifel Birds of Prey competitions; $147.89-$299.60. Ford Park, 720 South Frontage Road East, Vail, axs.com. December 22-23: Ice Spectacular 2024: See every current US National Champion including 2024 World Champion, Ilia Malinin (Quad god) and 2024 World Champions and 2022 Olympic Team Gold medalists, Madison Chock and Evan Bates, 6:30-8 p.m. nightly, Dobson Arena, $69.50-$99.50.
vail.com.
Winter Park Resort
Open now/closing TBD
970-726-5514
November 23 and weekly on Saturdays throughout the ski season, 2:45 p.m.: Parry’s Parade: Join Parry the Snow Safety Pup for a parade through the base of Winter Park, free. November 30-31: Holiday Tree Lighting, 3 to 5 p.m. November 30, Winter Park Village, and Deck the Slopes, the resort transforms into a holiday winter wonderland, through December 24. December 14: Holiday Drone Show & Winter Wonderland, with hot cocoa, photos with Santa, cookie decorating and more, 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. December 21: Reindeer and Holiday Drone Show, 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. December 24: Torchlight Parade, 5:30 p.m. December 31: New Year’s Eve Celebration, 7-9 p.m., Rendezvous Event Center, 78821 U.S. Hwy 40, free. Winter Park, 85 Parsenn Road,
winterparkresort.com.
Wolf Creek Ski Area
Open now/closing TBD
970-264-5639
wolfcreekski.com
Find current information at the resort websites or Colorado Ski Country USA.
