The Best Ski Resorts In Colorado — Ranked by Category

Skiing is an activity synonymous with Colorado, but with dozens of resorts spread throughout the state, it’s hard to know which ones best suit your needs. We’re here to help. This list is a roundup of all of the best places to ski in Colorado broken down by category. 

Whether you’re an expert skier who wants to send it down cliff faces, mainly hit the slopes so you can post pretty pictures on Instagram, or are just there for the apres cocktails (mad respect), Colorado’s ski resorts have something for everyone. 

Best Colorado Ski Resorts for Families and Beginners 

The idea of strapping two planks of wood to your feet and careening down a literal mountain might sound intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. Nearly all of Colorado’s resorts have some sort of ski school, as well as plenty of beginner terrain for people who aren’t quite in their daredevil era. 

Here’s a list of some of the best Colorado ski resorts for families and beginners: 

Steamboat

• Distance from Denver: 154 miles (about three hours) 
• Size: 23 lifts, 182 trails, and 3741 skiable acres 
• Why it’s one of the best Colorado ski resorts for beginners: Steamboat might be known for its “champagne powder” and gorgeous views of the Yampa River valley, but it’s also home to plenty of beginner terrain, particularly on the lower mountain off the Christie chairlift. Adult first-timers should check out the two-day ski and ride lesson, which guarantees the ability to safely ride a chairlift at its conclusion. 

Keystone Resort 

• Distance from Denver: 75 miles (about 1.5 hours if there’s no traffic) 
• Size: 21 lifts, 140 trails, and 3,149 skiable acres 
• Why it’s one of the best Colorado ski resorts for beginners: Given how close it is to Denver, many kids along the Front Range have great memories of first learning how to ski at Keystone. There’s a good reason, too: It has a renowned ski school with a guarantee that students will be able to conquer a green run within three full days. Speaking of green runs, Keystone has some great beginner trails, including Dercum Mountain and Discovery. Its longest run, Schoolmarm, is 3.5 miles long, and it also happens to be fairly tame, making it an excellent adventure for newbies and more experienced skiers alike. 

Winter Park Resort

• Distance from Denver: 66 miles, 1.5 hours (without traffic) 
• Size: 28 lifts, 171 trails, 3,081 skiable acres 
• Why it’s one of the best Colorado ski resorts for beginners: There’s a reason why the Wall Street Journal ranked Winter Park one of the best ski resorts for beginners. Its green runs have wide, gentle slopes that are perfect for first-timers, and Discovery Park and Sorenson Park are ideal for kids and adults who are clicking into ski bindings for the first time. USA TODAY also ranked Winter Park’s Ski & Ride School as one of the best in the country. 

Copper Mountain 

• Distance from Denver: 78 miles, 1.5 hours (without traffic)
• Size: 22 lifts, 126 trails, 2,465 skiable acres
• Why it’s one of the best Colorado ski resorts for beginners: More than 20% of the runs at this scenic ski area off of Interstate 70 are green, and many of them are wide groomers that are perfect for newer skiers practicing their turns. Outside of this, Copper often feels like a “locals mountain” for skiers who live in Denver, meaning nice, patient people who understand what it’s like to learn how to ride a chairlift surround you. 

Best Ski Resorts in Colorado for Experts 

Cruising down groomers is fun, but some skiers happen to be a lot more adventurous — especially on a powder day. Here’s a list of resorts with some of the best expert terrain in Colorado, from family-friendly spots with hidden cliffs to one ski area that doesn’t have a single easy way down. 

Arapahoe Basin 

• Distance from Denver: 64 miles, 1 hour, 15 minutes (without traffic) 
• Size: 8 lifts, 147 trails, and 1,428 acres 
• Best run for expert skiers: Arapahoe Basin has some of the most adventurous in-bounds terrain in the state. Don’t believe us? Seventy-three percent of this resort’s trails are black. Hop on the Pallavicini Lift to access some of the steepest skiing in Summit County. 

Beaver Creek 

• Distance from Denver: 109 miles, two hours (without traffic) 
• Size: 24 lifts, 167 trails, and 2,082 acres
• Best run for expert skiers: While a majority of Beaver Creek’s trails are either green or blue, you definitely shouldn’t sleep on its expert terrain. Case in point? The Stone Creek chutes allow brave skiers to test out their cliff-jumping skills. 

Snowmass 

• Distance from Denver: 183 miles, about three hours (without traffic)
• Size: 98 trails, 20 lifts, 3,342 acres
• Best run for expert skiers: While it has its fair share of groomers, there’s plenty of steep, technical, and above-timberline terrain if you know where to look. Mogul lovers can work their quads on Sam’s Knob, and the even more adventurous can hike to the Cirque and Hanging Valley. 

Silverton Mountain

• Distance from Denver: 363 miles, 6.5 hours (without traffic)
• Size: One chairlift, no cut runs, 1,816 acres
• Best run for expert skiers: This small resort in Silverton is so devoted to experts that everyone is required to bring their own avalanche gear. The single chairlift takes visitors up to nearly 12,300 feet. From there, there’s no easy way down. Instead, skiers navigate endless possibilities of bowls, chutes, cliffs, and incredible natural terrain. If you’re feeling especially energetic, be sure to hike to the top of the peak from the lift to access 3,000 feet of vertical drop in a single run. 

Best Ski Resorts in Colorado that Aren’t Off I-70 

Skiing is empirically fun, but we totally understand if the standstill Saturday and Sunday traffic to get up to the resorts on I-70 has you considering finding another hobby. 

Luckily, there are other ways to enjoy the mountains without spending half of your weekend stuck on the highway with thousands of your closest friends. Here’s a roundup of some of the best Colorado ski resorts that avoid the misery of I-70. 

Monarch Mountain 

• Distance from Denver: 142 miles, about 2.5 hours (without traffic) 
• Size: Seven lifts, 67 trails, and 800 acres
• Description: Located off US 50 between Salida and Gunnison, this ski area is accessed from Denver via US 285 — meaning that you’re less likely to find yourself in standstill bumper-to-bumper traffic. Once you arrive, you’ll get to enjoy relatively uncrowded trails, a chill vibe, and ample all-natural snow. 

Eldora Ski Resort

• Distance from Denver: 47 miles, about an hour and 15 minutes (without traffic) 
• Size: 10 lifts, 61 trails, and 680 acres
• Description: This ski resort located near Nederland up Boulder Canyon is one of the closest to the Front Range, but also one of the most fun, with plenty of terrain for all experience levels and even a large Nordic center for those who prefer cross-country skiing. 

Breckenridge (if you take Hoosier Pass) 

• Distance from Denver: 100 miles, about two hours (if you take US 285 to Highway 9 and go over Hoosier Pass) 
• Size: 35 lifts, 187 trails, 2,908 acres
• Description: Given that it’s a well-known ski town with a wide variety of terrain, Breckenridge needs no introduction. And sure, you might save 30 minutes if you get there via I-70, but if you’ve ever sat in standstill traffic at the tunnel, you know that’s not a guarantee. That’s why we recommend taking the US 285 route. It might be a little bit longer, but it’s way better to be moving than to find yourself wondering if you’ll accidentally end up on the I-70 Things Instagram account.

Bonus: Snowy Range Ski Area in Wyoming 

• Distance from Denver: 163 miles, about three hours
• Size: Five lifts, 27 trails, 250 acres
• Description: So we can’t technically put this ski area in a list of the best resorts in Colorado since it’s not actually in Colorado, but we would also be remiss not to include it here. This tiny ski area is probably the closest to Fort Collins, and it happens to totally avoid I-70. To get here, take I-25 to Fort Collins, US 287 to Laramie, and then drive through a landscape that looks like Narnia along Wyoming 130. Since it’s so tiny, every run ends up in the same place, meaning it’s an ideal spot to ski with friends and family of different ability levels. 

Best Colorado Ski Resorts for Apres 

Skiing is fun, but we totally do not judge you if you’re mainly there for the afterparty (or apres ski, if you’re feeling classy). 

While every resort has spots for a post-ski beer, some do apres better than others. We rounded up a list with a few suggestions. 

Vail Ski Resort

• Distance from Denver: 97 miles, one hour and 45 minutes (without traffic)
• Size: 32 lifts, 278 trails, and 5,317 acres
• Coolest bar for apres: Vail is known for being a classy place, so it makes sense that you might want to check out a classier apres establishment. While the Slope Room is relatively new, its mix of creative cocktails and locally sourced food is quickly making it a favorite for the ski crowd and locals alike. 

Crested Butte Ski Resort

• Distance from Denver: 123 miles, about four hours (without traffic)
• Size: 15 lifts, 165 trails, 1,547 acres
• Coolest bar for apres: The Talk of the Town is everything you’re looking for in a ski town that’s as unassuming as it is cool. This dive bar is known for its reasonably priced drinks, unreasonably long happy hour, and opportunity to hang with the locals who make Crested Butte undoubtedly one of the best ski towns in the world. 

Aspen Snowmass

• Distance from Denver: 200 miles, about 3.5 hours (without traffic)
• Size: 46 lifts, 336 trails, and 5,303 acres 
• Coolest bar for apres: The Ajax Tavern might be the first thing you envision when you think of apres ski — especially since it’s within the glitz and glamor of Aspen. It’s located right next to the gondola, and you can see the party happening while you’re bombing down the mountain. Be sure to stop by for a post-ski cocktail and truffle fries. You earned it. 

Best Ski Resorts in Colorado for People Without a Mega Pass 

If you don’t happen to have an Ikon or Epic Local Pass, heading up skiing for a day can get quite expensive, with one-day lift tickets at places like Vail soaring to well over $200. 

That’s why we put together this roundup of smaller Colorado ski resorts that are a bit more affordable if you aren’t hardcore enough to pick up a season pass. 

Loveland Ski Area 

• Distance from Denver: 57 miles, about an hour (without traffic) 
• Size: Nine lifts, 94 trails, 1,800 acres
• Cost of a one-day lift ticket: $119 for adults, $40 for children
• Why it’s worth a visit: Loveland is easily the closet ski area to Denver, and it also has a wide variety of terrain, from bowls above treeline to a separate section just for beginners. 

Ski Cooper

• Distance from Denver: 108 miles, about two hours (without traffic) 
• Size: Five lifts, 46 trails, and 480 acres
• Cost of a one-day lift ticket: $110 for adults, $64 for ages 15-21, $35 for kids 6-15. Season passes are $10 for adults over 75 or kids younger than six. 
• Why it’s worth a visit: Located near Leadville, Cooper prides itself on its fluffy snow and views of some of Colorado’s tallest peaks. A bonus for families? Most of its terrain is either green or blue. 

Granby Ranch 

• Distance from Denver: 85 miles, one hour and 45 minutes (without traffic)
• Size: Six lifts, 42 trails, nearly 1,000 acres
• Cost of a one-day lift ticket: $164 for adults and $119 for kids on peak weekends
• Why it’s worth a visit: Think of Granby Ranch as Winter Park’s smaller cousin. This resort has two mountains: The east side is perfect for beginners, and the west side has terrain that’s fun for more advanced skiers. 

Sunlight Mountain Resort

• Distance from Denver: 169 miles, about three hours (without traffic) 
• Size: Three lifts, 77 trails, and 730 acres
• Cost of a one-day lift ticket: $104 for adults, $49 for children on peak weekends 
• Why it’s worth a visit: This relatively small resort near Glenwood Springs has everything from rolling green groomers that are perfect for beginners to double black diamond trails that will challenge the most seasoned skier. An added perk? After you finish skiing, you can soothe your aching muscles at the world-famous Glenwood Hot Springs Resort. 

The Most Scenic Ski Resorts in Colorado 

So this section definitely comes with a caveat: There are no ugly ski resorts in Colorado, and all of them offer incredible, panoramic views of the state’s snowy peaks. With that being said, some spots are particularly stunning — or just happen to be in some unique terrain. 

Here’s a list of the most scenic ski resorts in Colorado. 

Telluride

• Distance from Denver: 363 miles, about six hours (without traffic)
• Size: 17 lifts, 148 trails, more than 2,000 acres
• What makes the view so epic: Telluride is located in the heart of the San Juan Mountains — need we say more? This rugged mountain range is one of the most beautiful in the state, and Telluride’s ski area is no exception. It rises more than 4,000 miles above the valley, offering 360-degree views of some of the most beautiful country that Colorado — and the world, honestly — has to offer. 

Powderhorn Mountain Resort

• Distance from Denver: 233 miles, about four hours (without traffic)
• Size: Four lifts, 33 trails, 1,600 acres
• What makes the view so epic: Powderhorn Mountain Resort is located right on the Grand Mesa, which holds the distinction of being the largest flattop mountain in the world. That makes for some epic views, and skiers at Powderhorn can see everything from the high peaks of the San Juans to, on a clear day, the distant desert of the Western Slope. 

Wolf Creek Ski Area

• Distance from Denver: 252 miles, about 4.5 hours
• Size: 11 lifts, 133 named trails, 1600 acres
• What makes the view so epic: Wolf Creek, which is located near Pagosa Springs, has the distinction of getting the most snowfall out of any ski area in Colorado, with an average of 430 inches per season. This ample snow creates a winter wonderland throughout the ski area, and skiers are afforded incredible views of all of the nearby peaks.