Best Ski Resorts in Colorado
A pass-by-pass, mountain-by-mountain look at 10 currently operating Colorado ski resorts, with skiable acres, vertical drop and drive time from Denver pulled from each resort's own site.
How this guide was built: Guidevio compiled it from resort operators' and pass providers' own official pages — mountain-information pages, trail maps and 'getting here' pages. We did not visit or ski any of these resorts as part of building it, and nothing here is a review, a ranking based on personal experience, or a sponsored placement. Figures such as acreage, vertical drop and drive time can change; always check the resort's own site before a trip. Links go to the official resort or pass page and earn no commission today; if that changes, it will be disclosed here.
Colorado has more large ski resorts within a few hours of a single major airport than almost anywhere else in North America, and nearly all of them fall under one of two multi-mountain passes: Vail Resorts' Epic Pass or Alterra's Ikon Pass. This guide covers ten resorts that are confirmed operating today, chosen to span both passes, a range of drive times from Denver, and terrain that runs from beginner-friendly cruisers to expert-only bowls. It is meant to help a reader pick a mountain based on pass ownership, size and how far they are willing to drive on I-70 or beyond.
The factors that most affect a Colorado ski trip are which season pass (if any) covers the resort, how big the skiable terrain actually is, how much vertical a top-to-bottom run covers, and how long the drive from Denver realistically takes. Front Range resorts along I-70 such as Keystone, Breckenridge and Arapahoe Basin can be a day trip from Denver, while resorts like Steamboat, Aspen Snowmass and Telluride sit far enough away that most visitors plan an overnight stay.
What was checked for each resort: current pass affiliation for the 2026/27 season directly from epicpass.com or ikonpass.com, skiable acreage and vertical drop from the resort's own mountain-information or trail-map pages, and drive time or distance from Denver from the resort's own 'getting here' page where one exists. Where a resort's own site did not publish a drive time, that is stated rather than estimated from a third party.
Who this guide is for
- Epic Pass or Ikon Pass holders deciding which home mountains to prioritize
- Front Range residents planning day trips along I-70
- Visitors flying into Denver who need to weigh drive time against terrain size
- Families comparing beginner terrain across multiple resorts
- Advanced and expert skiers looking for steep, high-alpine terrain
- First-time Colorado skiers trying to choose one home base for a trip
How we chose
- Selected resorts across both major Colorado passes (Epic and Ikon) rather than one operator
- Confirmed each resort's 2026/27 pass affiliation directly on epicpass.com or ikonpass.com
- Pulled skiable acreage and vertical drop from each resort's own mountain-info, about, or trail-map pages
- Pulled drive time or distance from Denver from each resort's own 'getting here' or travel pages where published
- Excluded any figure not found on an official resort or pass-provider page rather than estimating it
- This is desk research only: no resorts were visited in person to verify current conditions
Top 10 at a glance
Specifications as published by the manufacturer or the listing we consulted. Scroll sideways on a small screen.
| Pick | Best for | Pass (2026/27) | Skiable acres | Vertical drop | Drive from Denver | Price | Official site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Vail | Skiers and riders who want the single biggest mountain in Colorado on the Epic Pass | Epic Pass | 5,317 acres | 3,450 ft | About 100 miles / roughly 2 hours via I-70, per vail.com | See current lift ticket and pass pricing at epicpass.com | Visit |
| 2. Breckenridge | Skiers who want big vertical and high-alpine bowls within a manageable drive of Denver | Epic Pass | 2,908 acres | Base 9,600 ft / summit 12,998 ft | Not published on the Breckenridge pages checked; town of Breckenridge is commonly cited as roughly 90 miles from Denver via I-70 | See current lift ticket and pass pricing at epicpass.com | Visit |
| 3. Keystone | Families and beginners who want a close, well-documented drive from Denver | Epic Pass | 3,149 acres | Base 9,280 ft / summit 12,408 ft | 90 miles from Denver International Airport via I-70, per keystoneresort.com | See current lift ticket and pass pricing at epicpass.com | Visit |
| 4. Beaver Creek | Epic Pass holders wanting an upscale, slightly less crowded alternative to Vail | Epic Pass | Not published on pages checked | 3,340 ft | Not published on the beavercreek.com pages checked; sits along I-70 near Avon, roughly 10 miles west of Vail | See current lift ticket and pass pricing at epicpass.com | Visit |
| 5. Copper Mountain | Ikon Pass holders who want terrain clearly zoned by ability level in Summit County | Ikon Pass (unlimited) | Not published on pages checked | Not published on pages checked | Not published on coppercolorado.com pages checked | See current lift ticket and pass pricing at ikonpass.com | Visit |
| 6. Winter Park | Ikon Pass holders who want the shortest published drive from Denver, or a train option instead of driving | Ikon Pass (unlimited) | 3,081 acres | 3,060 ft | About 67-75 miles via I-70 and US-40, per winterparkresort.com | See current lift ticket and pass pricing at ikonpass.com | Visit |
| 7. Steamboat | Skiers planning a multi-day trip who want Steamboat's specific, published Denver drive time | Ikon Pass (unlimited) | 3,741 acres | 3,668 ft | About 180 miles / 3 hours 15 minutes, per ikonpass.com | See current lift ticket and pass pricing at ikonpass.com | Visit |
| 8. Snowmass (Aspen Snowmass) | Ikon Pass holders who want the biggest vertical rise in this guide and access to four mountains on one ticket | Ikon Pass (Snowmass-only on Ikon Base Pass; full Aspen Snowmass on Ikon Pass) | 3,342 acres (Snowmass mountain) | 4,406 ft | About 220 miles via I-70 and Highway 82 (winter route through Glenwood Springs), per aspensnowmass.com | See current lift ticket and pass pricing at ikonpass.com | Visit |
| 9. Telluride | Skiers who want remote, high-alpine terrain and don't mind the longest drive from Denver in this guide | Epic Pass partner resort (specific Epic tiers only, not Epic Local) | 2,000+ acres | 4,425 ft | About 330 miles / 6 hours 30 minutes to Mountain Village, per townofmountainvillage.com | See current lift ticket and pass pricing at tellurideskiresort.com | Visit |
| 10. Arapahoe Basin | Ikon Pass holders who want early opening days, late closing days, and steep, high-elevation terrain | Ikon Pass (unlimited) | 1,428 acres | 2,530 ft | Not published on the arapahoebasin.com pages checked | See current lift ticket and pass pricing at ikonpass.com | Visit |
The ten picks in detail
Vail
Vail Resorts
We only show official or licensed product photography. None is on file for this one yet — see the maker's page for photos.
Open product pageVail
5,317 acres of skiable terrain, the largest of any resort in Colorado, per Vail's own mountain-info page
Vail is the largest single ski resort in Colorado at 5,317 skiable acres, spanning the Front Side, Back Bowls and Blue Sky Basin, and sits on the Epic Pass.
Why it is on this list: Vail is both the largest resort in the state and one of the six Colorado resorts on the full Epic Pass, making it a natural first entry for pass holders weighing sheer terrain size.
Key features
- 278 trails across Front Side, Back Bowls and Blue Sky Basin
- 32 lifts
- Longest run: Riva Ridge, about 4 miles
- 354 inches average annual snowfall, per Vail's site
- Skiable terrain: 5,317 acres
- Vertical drop: 3,450 ft (top 11,570 ft / base 8,120 ft)
- Trails: 278
- Pros
- Largest skiable terrain of any resort in this guide
- Extensive Back Bowls and Blue Sky Basin glade terrain
- Direct I-70 access
- Cons
- Vail's own site puts the drive from Denver at about 100 miles, which can take well over 2 hours in weekend or storm traffic
- Large size means more time spent traversing between base areas
Before you buy: Check Vail's own Getting Here page for current parking rates and I-70 conditions before a winter drive from Denver.
Breckenridge
Vail Resorts
We only show official or licensed product photography. None is on file for this one yet — see the maker's page for photos.
Open product pageBreckenridge
The Imperial SuperChair rises to 12,840 ft, which Breckenridge's own site calls the highest lift in North America
Breckenridge spans five peaks in Summit County with 2,908 skiable acres, including the Imperial SuperChair, described by the resort as the highest lift in North America, and sits on the Epic Pass.
Why it is on this list: Breckenridge combines a large, well-documented acreage figure, distinctive high-alpine terrain, and Front Range proximity, all confirmed on its own mountain-info page.
Key features
- 187 trails across five peaks
- 35 lifts
- Imperial SuperChair reaches 12,840 ft
- 355 inches average annual snowfall, per Breckenridge's site
- Skiable terrain: 2,908 acres
- Vertical drop: Base 9,600 ft to summit 12,998 ft (Peak 8)
- Trails: 187
- Pros
- Five distinct peaks with terrain for every ability level
- Ski-to-town access via the 4 O'Clock run
- Highest chairlift in North America, per Breckenridge's own site
- Cons
- Base elevation of 9,600 ft can mean thinner air for visitors unused to altitude
- Popular weekend destination with heavy I-70 traffic
Before you buy: Breckenridge's own site notes acreage above treeline is about 40%, useful context for storm days with poor visibility.
Keystone
Vail Resorts
We only show official or licensed product photography. None is on file for this one yet — see the maker's page for photos.
Open product pageKeystone
Keystone's own first-timer's guide states it is located just 90 miles from Denver International Airport, calling it one of the closest all-inclusive resorts to DEN
Keystone offers 3,149 skiable acres across Dercum Mountain, North Peak and The Outback, and its own site describes it as one of the closest all-inclusive resorts to Denver International Airport, at about 90 miles.
Why it is on this list: Keystone is one of the few resorts in this guide with a distance from Denver explicitly published on its own site, plus a large, well-documented acreage figure.
Key features
- 140 trails across Dercum Mountain, North Peak and The Outback
- 21 lifts
- More than 1,000 acres of additional bowl terrain, per Keystone's site
- Longest ski run: Schoolmarm, 3.5 miles
- Skiable terrain: 3,149 acres
- Vertical drop: Base 9,280 ft to summit 12,408 ft
- Trails: 140
- Pros
- Keystone's own site publishes a specific 90-mile distance from DEN
- Long groomed beginner and intermediate terrain on Dercum Mountain
- Colorado's longest night-skiing operation, per Keystone's site
- Cons
- Lower average annual snowfall (235 inches) than several other resorts in this guide, per Keystone's own stats
- The Outback and Bowls terrain require more travel time across the resort
Before you buy: Keystone's site notes River Run and Mountain House parking lots have different free/paid arrangements, so check current parking details before arrival.
Beaver Creek
Vail Resorts
We only show official or licensed product photography. None is on file for this one yet — see the maker's page for photos.
Open product pageBeaver Creek
Three distinct base villages — Beaver Creek Village, Bachelor Gulch and Arrowhead — each with their own access points
Beaver Creek, near Avon, is a Vail Resorts property on the Epic Pass with published terrain spanning its main village, Bachelor Gulch and Arrowhead, and a stated 3,340-foot vertical rise.
Why it is on this list: Beaver Creek rounds out the Vail Valley on the Epic Pass with a published vertical rise and clearly documented parking and access information on its own site.
Key features
- Covered garage parking in Beaver Creek Village
- Complimentary Vail/Beaver Creek Express Shuttle via Core Transit, per the resort's site
- Two gondolas and a Chondola connecting base areas
- Vilar Performing Arts Center on-site
- Vertical rise: 3,340 ft
- Base elevation: 8,100 ft (Beaver Creek Village) / 7,400 ft (Arrowhead)
- Skiable terrain: Not published on the beavercreek.com pages checked
- Pros
- Village, Bachelor Gulch and Arrowhead give three distinct base experiences
- Covered garage parking directly in Beaver Creek Village, per the resort's own Getting Here page
- Generally quieter than Vail despite similar Epic Pass access
- Cons
- Current skiable-acreage figure was not clearly published on the pages checked at beavercreek.com
- Paid lot parking applies before 1 p.m. in winter, per the resort's own parking page
Before you buy: Skiable-acreage totals for Beaver Creek were not published on the specific pages checked at beavercreek.com; confirm current terrain stats on the resort's own trail-map page before relying on a figure.
Copper Mountain
Powdr
We only show official or licensed product photography. None is on file for this one yet — see the maker's page for photos.
Open product pageCopper Mountain
Free Tucker Mountain snowcat rides to additional powder terrain on select days, per Copper's own site
Copper Mountain, operated by Powdr, sits on the Ikon Pass with unlimited access and organizes its front-side terrain from beginner (west) through advanced (east), with bowl skiing on the back side.
Why it is on this list: Copper Mountain gives Ikon Pass holders unlimited access, confirmed directly on ikonpass.com, in Summit County alongside three Epic Pass resorts.
Key features
- Front-side terrain zoned from beginner (west) to expert (east)
- Back-side bowl skiing and tree skiing
- Woodward indoor training facility on-site
- Unlimited Ikon Pass access with no blackout dates
- Pass access: Unlimited on Ikon Pass, per ikonpass.com
- Skiable terrain: Not published on the coppercolorado.com pages checked
- Vertical drop: Not published on the coppercolorado.com pages checked
- Pros
- Ikon Pass unlimited access, per ikonpass.com
- Terrain naturally separated by ability level across the mountain
- Free Tucker Mountain snowcat access to additional powder terrain, per the resort's own trail report page
- Cons
- Specific current skiable-acreage and vertical figures were not found published on coppercolorado.com pages checked
- Less name recognition than neighboring Breckenridge or Vail
Before you buy: Confirm current mountain statistics directly on coppercolorado.com's mountain-info pages, since specific acreage and vertical figures were not located on the pages checked during this research.
Winter Park
Alterra Mountain Company
We only show official or licensed product photography. None is on file for this one yet — see the maker's page for photos.
Open product pageWinter Park
The Winter Park Express train runs seasonally direct from Denver Union Station to the resort base, per Amtrak/Winter Park's own site
Winter Park Resort publishes 3,081 skiable acres across Winter Park and Mary Jane, and its own site states it is Colorado's closest resort to Denver by drive, about 67 to 75 miles depending on the route.
Why it is on this list: Winter Park combines a large, clearly published acreage figure with the most explicitly documented short drive time from Denver of any resort in this guide.
Key features
- 171 trails across Winter Park and Mary Jane
- 23 lifts including a 10-person gondola
- Vasquez Cirque and glade skiing for advanced terrain
- 344.6 inches average annual snowfall, per the resort's site
- Skiable terrain: 3,081 acres
- Vertical rise: 3,060 ft (base 9,000 ft / summit 12,060 ft)
- Trails: 171
- Pros
- Unlimited access on the Ikon Pass, per ikonpass.com
- Amtrak's Winter Park Express runs seasonally from Denver Union Station to the resort base
- Two distinct mountains, Winter Park and Mary Jane, plus Parsenn Bowl and The Cirque
- Cons
- Mountain stats page and Getting Here page publish slightly different mileage figures (67 vs. 75 miles) depending on route
- Mary Jane's bump-heavy terrain is less suited to beginners than the main Winter Park side
Before you buy: Winter Park's own pages give two different distances from Denver (67 miles on its Plan Your Adventure page, 75 miles on its Getting Here page), likely reflecting different routes; check both before planning a drive time.
Steamboat
Alterra Mountain Company
We only show official or licensed product photography. None is on file for this one yet — see the maker's page for photos.
Open product pageSteamboat
3,741 skiable acres and 181 trails, with Champagne Powder snow trademarked by the resort, per ikonpass.com's Steamboat destination page
Steamboat is an Ikon Pass unlimited-access resort in Ski Town, U.S.A., with terrain and travel stats published directly on ikonpass.com, including a stated 180-mile, roughly 3-hour-15-minute drive from Denver.
Why it is on this list: Steamboat is one of the few resorts in this guide where Denver drive time in hours and minutes, not just miles, is published directly by the pass provider.
Key features
- 3,741 acres of skiable terrain, per ikonpass.com
- 181 trails
- 3,668 ft vertical drop
- Yampa Valley Regional Airport (HDN) about 28 miles / 40 minutes away
- Skiable terrain: 3,741 acres
- Vertical drop: 3,668 ft
- Trails: 181
- Pros
- Unlimited Ikon Pass access, per ikonpass.com
- Specific drive time from Denver (180 miles, about 3 hours 15 minutes) published directly on ikonpass.com
- Strong Olympic heritage and hot springs in town
- Cons
- Furthest drive from Denver of the resorts in this guide with a published time
- Yampa Valley Regional Airport (HDN) has more limited flight options than DEN
Before you buy: Confirm current terrain and travel figures on steamboat.com directly, since these specific stats were sourced from the resort's Ikon Pass destination page rather than steamboat.com itself.
Snowmass (Aspen Snowmass)
Aspen Skiing Company
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Open product pageSnowmass (Aspen Snowmass)
4,406 ft of vertical rise, the largest single vertical drop published by any resort in this guide, per gosnowmass.com
Snowmass is the largest of the four Aspen Snowmass mountains at 3,342 acres with a 4,406-foot vertical rise, and Aspen Snowmass's own site puts the drive from Denver at about 220 miles via I-70 and Colorado 82.
Why it is on this list: Snowmass combines the largest published vertical rise in this guide with a specific, official winter driving distance from Denver, and Ikon Pass days that also unlock Aspen's other three mountains.
Key features
- 98 trails and 20 lifts at Snowmass specifically
- 4,406 ft vertical rise, 3,342 acres
- One lift ticket covers all four Aspen Snowmass mountains, totaling 5,700+ acres combined
- Longest run: Long Shot, 5.3 miles
- Skiable terrain (Snowmass only): 3,342 acres
- Vertical rise: 4,406 ft
- Combined four-mountain acreage: 5,700+ acres, per aspensnowmass.com
- Pros
- Largest vertical rise of any resort in this guide, per Snowmass's own stats page
- One ticket also grants access to Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk
- Snowmass-only access available on the Ikon Base Pass for 2026/27, per ikonpass.com
- Cons
- Longest published drive from Denver of any resort in this guide (about 220 miles / roughly 4 hours)
- Highway 82 over Independence Pass is closed in winter, so winter access is via Glenwood Springs, adding distance
Before you buy: Winter driving distance from Denver is about 220 miles via I-70 and Highway 82 through Glenwood Springs, since Independence Pass closes for winter, per aspensnowmass.com's own ground transportation page.
Telluride
Telluride Ski & Golf
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Open product pageTelluride
4,425 ft vertical drop, among the largest of any resort in this guide, per Telluride's own mountain-facts page
Telluride publishes more than 2,000 skiable acres and a 4,425-foot vertical drop on its own mountain-facts page, and functions as an Epic Pass partner resort rather than a full Epic resort, with access rules that differ from Vail Resorts-owned mountains.
Why it is on this list: Telluride's Epic Pass partnership status (confirmed on its own site and on epicpass.com's regional page) is different enough from the other Vail Resorts-owned mountains in this guide that it's worth calling out explicitly for pass holders.
Key features
- 148 trails, 17-19 lifts depending on season, per Telluride's mountain-facts and trail-map pages
- Longest run: Galloping Goose, 4.6 miles
- Revelation Bowl, opened 2008, adds above-treeline advanced/expert terrain
- Free gondola connecting the town of Telluride and Mountain Village
- Skiable terrain: 2,000+ acres
- Vertical drop: 4,425 ft (lift-served: 3,790 ft)
- Trails: 148-149
- Pros
- More than 2,000 skiable acres with a 4,425-foot vertical drop, among the largest verticals in Colorado, per Telluride's own mountain-facts page
- Distinctive box-canyon setting with a free gondola linking town and Mountain Village
- Recently expanded terrain including Revelation Bowl
- Cons
- As an Epic Pass partner rather than a full Epic resort, only specific Epic Pass tiers (Epic Pass, Epic Adaptive, Epic 4-7 Day with All Resort Access) include Telluride access, per Telluride's own Epic Pass FAQ page; Epic Local and other passes do not
- Mountain Village is a 6.5-hour, roughly 330-mile drive from Denver, per the Town of Mountain Village's own site
Before you buy: Telluride's own FAQ states Epic Pass Mobile Pass is not accepted here and a physical pass card is required; confirm which specific Epic Pass tier you hold includes Telluride before relying on it for lift access.
Arapahoe Basin
Arapahoe Basin Ski Area
We only show official or licensed product photography. None is on file for this one yet — see the maker's page for photos.
Open product pageArapahoe Basin
13,050 ft summit elevation, among the highest lift-served terrain in North America, per A-Basin's own homepage stats
Arapahoe Basin ('A-Basin') publishes 1,428 acres and a 2,530-foot vertical drop on its own homepage, sits just south of Loveland Pass in Summit County, and has unlimited access on the Ikon Pass.
Why it is on this list: A-Basin rounds out this guide as the smallest but highest-elevation resort, with Ikon Pass access confirmed on ikonpass.com and mountain stats published directly on its own homepage.
Key features
- 73% advanced/expert terrain, per A-Basin's own site
- Seven distinct terrain areas including the East Wall and Pallavicini
- Longest ski and ride season in Colorado, per A-Basin's own about page
- 9 lifts
- Skiable terrain: 1,428 acres
- Vertical drop: 2,530 ft (base 10,780 ft / summit 13,050 ft)
- Advanced/expert terrain: 73%, per A-Basin's site
- Pros
- Unlimited Ikon Pass access, per ikonpass.com
- High base elevation (10,780 ft) and north-facing terrain give one of Colorado's longest seasons
- Among the closest resorts in this guide to the Front Range
- Cons
- Smallest published skiable acreage of any resort in this guide (1,428 acres)
- No dedicated 'getting here' page with a published Denver mileage was found on arapahoebasin.com during this research
Before you buy: A-Basin's own pages checked did not publish a specific drive time or mileage from Denver; plan using a mapping service and confirm parking/reservation policy on arapahoebasin.com before a visit.
How the top picks actually differ
Epic Pass in Colorado: Vail vs. Breckenridge vs. Keystone vs. Beaver Creek
All four are Vail Resorts-owned mountains on the full Epic Pass, per epicpass.com's Colorado regions page, but they differ in size and character. Vail is the largest at 5,317 acres with extensive Back Bowls; Breckenridge offers five peaks and the highest lift in North America; Keystone is the closest of the four to Denver International Airport at a published 90 miles; and Beaver Creek offers a quieter, village-focused experience in the same valley as Vail.
Ikon Pass unlimited-access Colorado resorts: Copper, Winter Park, Steamboat and Arapahoe Basin
These four Colorado resorts carry unlimited, no-blackout access on the full Ikon Pass, per ikonpass.com's compare-passes page. Winter Park is the closest to Denver by published mileage; Arapahoe Basin has the smallest acreage but the highest, longest-season terrain; Copper Mountain organizes its terrain clearly by ability level; and Steamboat is the furthest away but publishes the most specific hours-and-minutes drive time of the group.
Aspen Snowmass vs. Telluride: two of Colorado's furthest destination resorts
Both require a longer drive or a flight from Denver, but they sit on different passes. Snowmass (part of Aspen Snowmass) is on the Ikon Pass and publishes the largest vertical rise in this guide at 4,406 ft, with an official winter drive of about 220 miles. Telluride is an Epic Pass partner resort, not a full Epic resort, and its own site puts the drive to Mountain Village at about 330 miles and 6.5 hours, the longest in this guide.
Who should choose what
You want the single largest ski resort in Colorado
Vail
You want high-alpine terrain and a walkable ski town close to Denver
Breckenridge
You want the closest full-service Epic Pass resort with a published distance from DEN
Keystone
You want a quieter Epic Pass mountain in the Vail Valley
Beaver Creek
You want Ikon Pass terrain clearly zoned by ability level
Copper Mountain
You want the shortest published Ikon Pass drive from Denver, or a train option
Winter Park
You're planning a multi-day trip and want Champagne Powder snow
Steamboat
You want the biggest vertical rise in this guide and access to four mountains on one ticket
Snowmass (Aspen Snowmass)
You want remote, high-alpine terrain and don't mind the longest drive
Telluride
You want steep terrain, a long season, and the shortest realistic Front Range trip
Arapahoe Basin
Common questions
- Which Colorado resorts are on the Epic Pass for 2026/27?
- Epicpass.com's Colorado regions page lists Vail, Breckenridge, Keystone, Beaver Creek, Crested Butte and Telluride, though Telluride is specifically noted as an Epic Pass partner resort with different access rules than the other Vail Resorts-owned mountains.
- Which Colorado resorts have unlimited access on the Ikon Pass for 2026/27?
- Ikonpass.com's compare-passes page lists Arapahoe Basin, Copper Mountain, Eldora and Winter Park among the unlimited Colorado destinations, plus Steamboat, all with no blackout dates on the full Ikon Pass; Aspen Snowmass access is shared across its four mountains, with Snowmass-only access available on the Ikon Base Pass for 2026/27.
- Is Telluride on the Epic Pass or the Ikon Pass?
- Telluride is an Epic Pass partner resort, not a full Ikon or Epic resort. Its own site states that only specific Epic Pass products (Epic Pass, Epic Adaptive, Epic 4-7 Day with All Resort Access) include Telluride days, while Epic Local and Epic Military passes do not.
- Which resort is closest to Denver?
- Among the resorts in this guide with a published distance, Winter Park's own site states about 67 to 75 miles depending on route, and Keystone's own site states 90 miles from Denver International Airport, making these two the closest with officially published figures.
- Which resort has the most skiable acres?
- Vail publishes 5,317 skiable acres on its own mountain-info page, the largest single-resort figure in this guide, ahead of Steamboat's published 3,741 acres.
- Which resort has the biggest vertical drop?
- Telluride publishes a 4,425-foot vertical drop on its own mountain-facts page, and Snowmass (part of Aspen Snowmass) publishes a 4,406-foot vertical rise on its own stats page; these are the two largest verticals among the resorts covered here.
- Can I ski all four Aspen Snowmass mountains on one ticket?
- Yes. Aspen Snowmass's own site states that one lift ticket provides access to all four mountains — Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk and Snowmass — totaling more than 5,700 combined acres.
- Is Arapahoe Basin good for beginners?
- A-Basin's own site describes 73% of its terrain as advanced/expert, so it leans toward more experienced skiers and riders rather than beginners, even though it does have some easier terrain near the base.
Sources consulted
Official product pages, specification sheets and retailer listings used to compile this guide.
- https://www.vail.com/the-mountain/about-the-mountain/mountain-info.aspx
- https://www.vail.com/Explore%20the%20Resort/About%20the%20Resort/Getting%20Here.aspx
- https://www.breckenridge.com/the-mountain/about-the-mountain/mountain-info.aspx
- https://www.keystoneresort.com/the-mountain/about-the-mountain/mountain-info.aspx
- https://www.keystoneresort.com/travel-guide/first-timer.aspx
- https://www.beavercreek.com/the-mountain/about-the-mountain/mountain-info.aspx
- https://www.beavercreek.com/Explore%20the%20Resort/Planning%20Your%20Stay/Getting%20Here.aspx
- https://www.coppercolorado.com/the-mountain/getting-to-around-copper/how-to-get-here/
- https://www.winterparkresort.com/the-mountain/mountain-information/statistics
- https://www.winterparkresort.com/discover/plan-your-adventure
- https://www.winterparkresort.com/plan-your-trip/getting-here
- https://www.ikonpass.com/en/destinations/steamboat
- https://www.aspensnowmass.com/-/media/aspen-snowmass/documents/pdfs/25-26/aspen-snowmass-mountain-stats.pdf
- https://www.aspensnowmass.com/visit/getting-here/ground-transportation
- https://www.gosnowmass.com/things-to-do-5/ski-area/stats-dates/
- https://tellurideskiresort.com/?spb-section=mountain-facts
- https://tellurideskiresort.com/epic/
- https://townofmountainvillage.com/explore/plan-your-trip/getting-here/
- https://www.arapahoebasin.com/
- https://www.arapahoebasin.com/about/
- https://www.epicpass.com/regions/us/rockies/colorado.aspx
- https://www.epicpass.com/regions/us/rockies/telluride.aspx
- https://www.ikonpass.com/en/compare-passes
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Ten currently sold men's ski pants and bibs — from premium GORE-TEX freeride shells to a budget insulated pant — compared on published waterproofing, insulation and price.
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