When Is The Opening Day For Ski Resorts In Colorado? 🏂🏽 11 Best Ski Resorts In Colorado For Family And Friends

When is the ski resorts opening day in Colorado? Most Colorado ski resorts open in early to mid-November, with Arapahoe Basin and Keystone often among the first to start the season, depending on snowfall.

Did you know Colorado is home to over 30 ski resorts, attracting millions of skiers each year? I remember my first trip to the Rockies—it was overwhelming trying to pick the perfect resort. Each one seemed to offer something different, and I didn’t know where to start.

If you’re feeling the same way, don’t worry—I’ve been there. After exploring some of the best ski resorts in Colorado, I’ve narrowed it down to my top picks that offer the best slopes, cozy accommodations, and unforgettable mountain views.

Let me share my favorites so you can hit the slopes with confidence and enjoy an epic winter getaway.

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🤔 How many ski resorts does Colorado have?

The state is home to 28 ski resorts and hundreds of miles of diverse terrain, making it the top skiing destination in North America. Find the finest spot for your winter trip by exploring Colorado’s top ski resorts. annual average snowfall.

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🕗 when is the opening day for ski resorts in Colorado?

Resort Name	Opening Date	Closing Date
Arapahoe Basin	Mid-October	June TBD
Aspen Highlands	December 09	April 9
Aspen Mountain	November 23	April 16
Beaver Creek	November 22	April TBD
Breckenridge	November 10	May TBD
Buttermilk	December 09	April 2
Ski Cooper	December 7	April 16
Copper Mountain	November 13	April 23
Crested Butte	November 22	TBD
Echo Mountain	Early December	April 16
Eldora	November 3	April 16
Granby Ranch	Early December	April 2
Hesperus	Early December	March 19
Howelsen Hill	November 1	March 26
Kendall Mountain	December 16	April 2
Keystone	November 01	TBD
Loveland	November 10	May 8
Monarch	Late November	April 9
Powderhorn	November 24	April 2
Purgatory	November 18	April 23
Silverton	Late December	April
Snowmass	November 23	April 16
Steamboat	November 22	April 9
Sunlight	December 8	April 2
Telluride	November 23	April 2
Vail	November 10	TBD
Winter Park	November 03	Mid-May
Wolf Creek	November 11	April TBD

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📝 List Of The 11 Best Ski Resorts in Colorado

After a lot of research and considering customer reviews we have shortlisted some of the best ski resorts in Colorado.

1. Steamboat Resort: Steamboat Springs

Steamboat Resort, which is about 160 miles northwest of Denver, has 170 named trails, 170 acres of authorized terrain, 17 lifts, and 14% beginner slopes and 42% intermediate slopes.

The resort receives 314 inches of snow per year, providing skiers and snowboarders with lots of chances for powder days.

Steamboat welcomes skiers and snowboarders of all ability levels with terrain parks, private and group ski and snowboard training, and adaptive programs for those with impairments.

The resort also promotes diversity by offering the $2,500 Steamboat Ski Resort Scholarship to people of color pursuing degrees in resort management, ski area operations, tourism, or hospitality.

As a complete ski town (so much so that it goes by the moniker “Ski Town USA”), Steamboat has a range of eateries, pursuits, and hotels.

Relax at Routtie’s Barbecue for an après-ski after a day of skiing. When you need a break from skiing, try snowmobiling or a relaxing sleigh ride.

If you’re planning to stay in town, think about the opulent Steamboat Grand, where visitors laud the abundance of amenities including hot tubs and a gym. Additionally, visitors value how close the hotel is to the gondola.

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2. Copper Mountain Resort: Frisco

With 24 chair lifts and around 2,500 skiable acres, Copper Mountain is only about 80 miles west of Denver. Copper is a fantastic ski resort for beginners because 21% of its 140 marked trails are for beginners, and 25% are for intermediate skiers.

305 inches of snowfall on average each year at the resort. Skiing isn’t the only winter activity you can engage in; you can also go ice skating, snow tubing, or ride Copper’s alpine coaster.

Copper has three settlements, East, Center, and West, where you can stay if you want to go on a few days of mountain adventures. For simple access to the beginning terrain, think about reserving a hotel in the West Village.

Also Read: Best Boutique Hotels In New York City

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3. Eldora Mountain Resort: Nederland

Eldora is the ideal ski location for University of Colorado Boulder students wishing to try a new activity because it is only around 20 miles from Boulder. Students can even obtain tickets at a discount and get to the mountain for free by using their RTD bus pass.

There are 10 lifts in Eldora, including two magic carpets for beginners, and 680 acres that can be skied by people of all ages and abilities.

Visitors to the resort who are learning to ski or snowboard will have plenty of opportunities to safely practice thanks to the park’s 60%-plus green and blue runs.

Skiers with more experience may still enjoy a range of challenging terrain, including several double black lines and eight terrain parks with boxes, rails, jumps, and other obstacles.

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4. Beaver Creek Resort: Beaver Creek

Located just over 10 miles from Vail, the Beaver Creek Resort offers visitors 167 trails spread across more than 2,000 skiable acres, and 24 lifts, with an average annual snowfall of 325 inches.

Enroll in a group or private skiing instruction at the resort’s ski school if you’ve never done it before.

Alternatively, spend the day at Haymeadow Park, where you can use magic carpets and a beginner gondola and lift.

You can also reward yourself with an ice cream stop at The Parlour to cap off your education.

Once you’ve mastered the fundamentals, go to McCoy Park and test yourself on its 17 runs, the majority of which are green.

The BEAVO Development Program, a multiday child ski, and snowboard program that promotes an inclusive learning environment for skill development is something you might want to enrol the kids in.

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5. Powderhorn Mountain Resort: Mesa

At Powderhorn, skiers and snowboarders have access to 1,600 acres of skiable terrain, 70% of which are rated as novice or intermediate.

Due to the Grand Mesa being the largest flat-top mountain in the world (and Powderhorn being located on its northern tip), the resort is also home to two terrain parks and top-notch Nordic skiing.

Powderhorn provides private and group ski and snowboard instruction, as well as kids’ multiweek programs if you’re new to the slopes.

Visitors to the resort who have never skied or snowboarded before are eligible for the Bob Beverly Program, which offers free ski instruction.

Also Read: Best Scenic Places To Camp In The United States

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6. Telluride Ski Resort: Telluride

Colorado’s picturesque ski town of Telluride, which is also one of the top spots to visit in the state, is the ideal location for a romantic trip. The Telluride Ski Resort has 19 total lifts, half of which are high-speed, and more than 2,000 skiable acres.

For advanced and expert skiers, 41% of the 148 trails are designed. The terrain parks, peaks to climb and ski down, and Nordic routes at Telluride Ski Resort provide visitors with a variety of challenges.

Other winter sports that you may participate in Telluride include dog sledding, snowshoeing, heli-skiing, ice skating, ice climbing, and more.

Reserve your tickets for Telluride Gay Ski Week, a welcoming celebration for LGBTQ skiers and snowboarders, at the end of February.

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7. Keystone Resort: Keystone

Keystone is undoubtedly the Colorado ski resort for those looking for more challenging terrain, with 49% of its 130 routes classified as advanced or expert and only 12% as novice. 20 lifts, more than 3,000 skiable acres, and an average of 235 ” of snowfall per year are all hallmarks of Keystone Resort.

For an added workout, explore three peaks and the surrounding area. Don’t worry if you’re a newbie; Keystone still offers multi-week programs and ski and snowboard lessons for children and adults.

Additionally, the ski area collaborates with the Keystone Adaptive Center to offer lessons to skiers and snowboarders with impairments.

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8. Winter Park Resort: Winter Park

Winter Park Resort, which was opened in 1940, is Colorado’s longest-running ski area. There are 166 routes and 23 lifts at the resort, which has more than 3,000 skiable acres and an average annual snowfall of 345 inches.

Only 8% of the terrain is suitable for beginners, while the remaining 18% are intermediate, 19% are advanced, 52% are the most challenging, and even 3% are “professional only.” If you’re not yet ready for the harder runs, don’t worry—Winter Park has seven territories, and the Winter Park Territory provides you access to the Ski + Ride School.

Other areas include Terrain Park, which has an 18-foot superpipe, Parsenn Bowl, where you can view Longs Peak’s summit, Mary Jane, which is the best location to practice mogul runs, and Terrain Park.

Also Read: Best Things To Do In Inner Harbor, Baltimore, Maryland

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9. Arapahoe Basin Ski Area: Dillon

Perhaps Arapahoe Resort is most recognized for having the longest ski and riding season in Colorado. In actuality, A-Basin (or A-Bay) frequently remains open from October to June.

Seven times, including most recently in 2019, the resort offered skiing on the Fourth of July. It has only ever remained open as late as August 10, 1995.

Over more than 1,400 skiable acres, Arapahoe Basin has almost 150 routes, including 24% double black diamonds and 49% black diamond runs. This ski resort is not for the faint of heart; only 7% of the runs are beginner-friendly.

If skiing and snowboarding are a little too difficult, think about going on a snowshoe excursion. Don’t forget to attempt North America’s highest via Ferrata while you’re there in the summer; it’s a guided-only climb that ascends to 13,000 feet. While there are no hotels in A-Basin itself, Breckenridge hotels are around 20 miles away.

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10. Vail Mountain Resort: Vail

One of the biggest ski areas in Colorado is Vail Mountain Resort, which has more than 5,300 skiable acres. You’ll have enough access to difficult terrain parks, bowls, basins, and peaks because more than half the terrain is intended for advanced and expert skiers.

If you’re a beginner, benefit from the available ski and snowboarding classes; if you want a change of pace, the Vail Nordic School offers snowshoe, cross-country, and backcountry ski lessons for all ability levels.

The National Brotherhood of Skiers Summit will take place at Vail Mountain Resort in 2023, bringing together tens of thousands of people of color from all around the nation to enjoy skiing. NBS supports athletes of color who participate in winter sports.

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11. Silverton Mountain: Silverton

Since Silverton Mountain has about 27,000 acres of skiable terrain but only one chairlift, it offers a distinctive skiing experience. 0% of the terrain is rated as beginner- or intermediate-friendly, making this ski resort a true haven for advanced and elite skiers and snowboarders.

The easiest route at a 35-degree slope can be found at Silverton Mountain, the steepest ski facility in North America.

You’ll have plenty of access to new powder because the resort averages more than 400 inches of snowfall each year and only allows 475 unguided skiers per day. There are typically fewer than 80 skiers on the mountain each day.

If you’re in the region but aren’t an expert, don’t worry; Silverton won’t let you down. You can brush up on your safety abilities by taking an avalanche course, or you can try your hand at guided rock, ice, or alpine climbing.

At a variety of restaurants and breweries, tourists may savor mouthwatering breakfast burritos, handmade pizzas, and regional craft beer.

A stay at the acclaimed Villa Dallavalle Historic Inn might be in order. Recent guests have praised the hot tubs and homemade breakfast there.

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🙋🏻‍♀️ FAQs For Ski Resorts in Colorado

There are a lot of questions that come up while making reservations in ski resorts in Colorado some of the commonly asked questions are answered below.

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🗨️ Which Colorado ski resort do you think is the best? Let us know in the comments.

Also, don’t forget to book your personalized holiday package with Fiery Trippers. Let us make your vacation a romantic as well as a dreamy getaway.

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