Winter came as a wonderful Christmas gift this year! The Rocky Mountains have been bestowed with several feet of much needed snow for the holidays. If you were waiting for good snow to plan your trip, it's time to haul out your ski equipment and get up to the mountains to make some turns.
Here's the ultimate Colorado skiing guide to help you make the most out of the 2017-2018 season!
Breckenridge
Opening day at Breckenridge was November 10th so they're ready for you until they closing day which is April 22nd. Colorado skiing is at its best at Breckenridge ski resort.
No matter what your skiing level is, there's something for everyone here. For those looking to experience it all, Breckenridge delivers. It's especially fun to visit Breckenridge during the holidays.
There are bowls above the tree line for those who love powder, 400-acres of terrain serviced by lifts, and plenty of places to enjoy a hike to skiing experience. Be sure to check the trail maps before heading out and make sure you choose terrain that is challenging, but safe for your skill level.
But that's not all, Breckenridge is a historic town. The vibe is laid back and there are plenty of cozy places to stay. It's a great place to take your kids for skiing and adventure.
Breckenridge was the most visited ski area last season. Come see for yourself why so many people love to ski here.
Arapahoe Basin
Arapahoe Basin, more commonly referred by the locals as A-Basin has some of the best Colorado skiing around. There's plenty of excellent terrain to enjoy here and when it snows, this is the place to come get your freshies.
It's also known for opening early, sometimes in October and for closing late, usually late June. But they've been known to stay open as late as July.
That's not all. If you like steep inclines and are an advanced or expert skier, A-Basin is the place for you.
What Arapahoe Basin does lack is amenities. This place is all about the skiing. So the chairlifts tend to be slower, and there are no 'village' type shops and restaurants you will find in resort towns. There's only one high-speed quad. On the plus side, that keeps the price of lift tickets lower than most other places.
There are no homes or hotels in A-basin, so you'll have to stay at nearby Keystone or Silverthorne where there are some exquisite options for short term rentals and great opportunities for investment in vacation homes.
Copper Mountain
Copper Mountain opens later than most on December 9th and closes earlier than most on April 8th. But that's okay because, with the amount of snowmaking they have, you can always count on there being plenty of snow.
Copper Mountain is Colorado skiing at its best in terms of topography. If you're an intermediate skier, you've probably just found heaven.
There are three places to choose from, usually depending upon your level of expertise. Head to West Village if you're a beginner. Center Village is best for intermediates and East Village is perfect for you experts.
Copper Mountain has plenty of amazing accommodations to choose from. If you're looking for excitement apres ski, stay at Central Village where you'll find the majority of bars, restaurants, and shops.
Keystone
If you love groomed trails, then Keystone is the perfect location for Colorado skiing. It's also perfect for snowboarders.
Keystone has A51 Terrain Park which even comes with its own lift. If you're looking to go where few skiers and snowboarders have, for just $10 the snowcat will give you a ride to access powder-filled glades and bowls.
And just because the sun has gone down, it doesn't mean your day of skiing is over. Keystone also offers night skiing offering the largest number of trails that are still operating during the evening hours.
Keystone is also a member of the 3x3 club. This means you'll enjoy 3,087 acres of skiing enjoyment accompanied by a 3,128 vertical drop.
Keystone is a quintessential ski resort with luxury condos and hotels dotting the area around the base. There are some amazing options here for investment properties. The unique location of Keystone, right between A-basin and Breckenridge make it particularly attractive to powder hounds that like options to chase the best conditions.
Winter Park
Winter Park offers some of the steepest mogul runs in the country. For powder lovers, it also offers reliable snowfall.
But if you're not into moguls, have no fear. There are plenty of options for all skiing abilities.
Winter Park opens November 23rd and stays open through April 29th. That's later than most resorts, which allows everyone to enjoy Colorado skiing in the spring.
If you don't feel like driving and risking the temperament of Colorado's unpredictable weather, from January through March, you can catch a ride on the Winter Park Express that leaves from Denver.
With a limited amount of places to stay in, you may want to consider buying your own place.
Vail
Vail is the largest area for Colorado skiing. They're open from November 15th to April 15th.
They have long, wide runs that are groomed to perfection. There are three base areas to choose from, Vail Village, Lionshead, and Golden Peak.
Vail is also a well-known ski area so if you have friends who aren't into skiing, they're still more likely to say yes to this vacation. There's also a regional airport only 35 miles away.
But the town itself might be the best part of Vail. It's perfect for pedestrians. The village has plenty of shops, restaurants, and bars to choose from.
If you aren't into groomed trails, you might be disappointed. There's not a lot of steep terrains here. It's also an expensive vacation. A day ski pass is $175, the highest anywhere in the country.
Make Skiing a Part of Your Investment Portfolio
We know that after booking your Colorado skiing vacation you won't want to leave. It's more, you are already going to be planning your next visit.
Many folks are making their skiing habit more affordable by purchasing investment properties that generate income that basically pays for their trips and equipment to get the most out of the mountain sports enjoyed year-round by visitors from all over the world. Even if you choose not to make Colorado your permanent home, it's the perfect place to buy a second home.
There's always something amazing and beautiful to see and do in Colorado. With a second home, you'll always have the perfect place to stay. Find yours today.
By Coldwell Banker
All information deemed reliable, but not guaranteed & subject to change without notice.