8 Best Ski Towns In Colorado
Colorado Rockies is synonymous with epic skiing. With iconic ski towns. After years of mining, many Colorado resort towns have evolved into their current role.
The best ski towns are located in this state. They all have a great ski resort within minutes of the town. The resorts are home to some of the most beautiful ski slopes in the nation, and they welcome guests from all over the world. View the complete ski resorts list in Colorado to get an idea of what this state has to offer.
1. Aspen
Aspen is a great ski town. This place has a unique beauty, with ski slopes that are expertly groomed flowing directly into the historic center. There is also skiing on three other mountains with the same pass, including Highlands Snowmass and buttermilk.
If you prefer shopping to skiing, Aspen will be your favorite ski town. The streets are lined with famous brand-name shops, as well as some of the best boutiques in the country. Kemo Sabe has some of the best handmade cowboy boot and custom-fitted cap designs, immortalizing Old West.
Aspen offers lodging in its entire valley, including the ” Power of Four ” resorts. Snowmass Village offers a variety of apres-ski entertainment. The town also has the highest number of ski-in/ski out lodgings in the entire state. All the ski areas are connected by a free shuttle.
2. Breckenridge
Breckenridge, located at the base the Ten Mile Range is known for high-altitude living. This former boomtown is 9,600 feet high above sea level. Leadville with its Ski Cooper takes the cake as the highest ski town at 10,152 feet.
Breckenridge ski resort offers five fun peaks for shredding: Peaks 6-10. Breckenridge Ski Resort has five fun peaks to shred on: Peaks 6 to 10.
Breck is a town full of restaurants and nightlife. You can’t go more than a couple of minutes down the street without seeing dozens or happy hour deals. While Colorado’s recreational marijuana is available throughout the state, Breck continues to be known as the “Amsterdam of the Rockies.”
3. Telluride
Few towns can compare to the beauty of Telluride’s rugged canyon. The Gondola is located in the historic district of Telluride, offering unmatched views and access slopes.
Ski trails start at 8,750 ft and can rise to 13,320 ft (with some hiking). The San Juan Mountains are also steep, and some of the steepest in the state.
This Old West town awaits your exploration after skiing. Restaurants in a low-key setting serve delicious food. There are even more choices in a separate mountain village. Nearly every weekend there are festivals, which keep the spirit high throughout the winter. Telluride is a special place because of its remote location and the many festivals that take place there.
4. Steamboat Springs
Steamboat has the best tree skiing of the entire state! Combine this with Champagne Powder, and you’ll have tourists who become locals once the season is over.
The Yampa Valley is a place that you will never want to leave.
The Ute Indian chief Colorow has cursed the city with the Yampa valley. Don’t leave Steamboat without coming back again and again. Steamboat’s 2965 acres will appeal to almost anyone.
Steamboat’s downtown has all you need for a great ski vacation. This includes two hot springs, Strawberry Park and Old Town. Stop by F.M. Light & Sons to get an authentic Cowboy outfit. Since over 100 years, they have outfitted Routt County.
5. Crested Butte
Crested Butte has been dubbed Colorado’s last great ski town. The town is beautiful and the scenery in the mountains is stunning.
Mountain makes the best of its 1,547 acres with steeps for experts and long cruisers. If you do a little hiking, you can ride the iconic butte. The Crested butte Adventure Park offers tubing, mini-golf and other activities to keep kids entertained when they are not on skis.
Downtown CB has a wide variety of Victorian homes and storefronts. Locals use their bikes to reach the slopes which are just five minutes by car. Separate base villages offer additional dining, lodging and attractions. Families can take advantage of frequent deals that include free tickets and lodging.
6. Vail
The largest ski area in Colorado has a home that is equally as impressive. Vail’s Austrian-inspired Village has stunning views from every angle. The Vail Valley, in addition to the two stunning base areas of Vail Village, Lionshead and Vail Mountain, is filled with many places to stay, play and enjoy, including cross-country ski and snowshoeing trails and I-70 which divides town.
Beaver Creek and Vail are similar to Snowmass Village, which was combined earlier in this list. Vail owns this resort, which is hidden behind a gate in Avon ten minutes away from Vail via I-70. The resorts share a lift ticket, so you can ski both of them in one day. But that’s not likely given the combined 7121 acres and 343 trails.
Both towns are known for their world-class services and experiences. You can walk out of the Ritz Carlton, or Osprey hotels in Beaver Creek to a chairlift. If you want to escape the crowds and enjoy a beer in Minturn, visit The Saloon.
7. Winter Park
Winter Park will appeal to those who are looking for a ski resort with plenty of activities, but without any attitude. The relaxed attitude of Grand County is evident in all the beautiful towns in this area. They are all happy to welcome visitors and have a western charm.
Winter Park , when combined with Mary Jane and includes a wide bowl, backcountry gates, and a large bowl, represents 3,081 acres of skiable land. Mary Jane also has some of the best tree skiing in Colorado. Locals have built a few ski-shacks in the forest. Keep an eye out for these.
Winter Park has both a mountain town and a downtown. The village has a small gondola that takes visitors to the car-free streets. Downtown is less walkable, but there are many restaurants and affordable accommodations, as well as easy access to recreation.
8. Keystone
You’ll discover a ski village that’s well planned below Keystone’s steep slopes. Keystone Lake has the most beautiful outdoor ice skating rink of the entire state. It is one of the biggest zambonied lake in the US.
Keystone’s mountain village, like Vail’s downtown, is a part of the resort. There aren’t as many restaurants and hotels as in Breck, the Summit County neighborhood, but you can still find deals.
The Summit ski area has the largest size at 3,148 acres. It includes three peaks that are simply amazing: Dercum Mountain North Peak and The Outback. Night skiing is available on weekends and during holidays. You can also ski in A basin if you’re bored.
Some of the most beautiful mountain towns, like Durango or Pagosa Springs, were not included in the list because the ski resorts are too far from the center.
We hope you have a wonderful time in these Colorado winter destinations. After a long day of skiing, nothing beats a warm cup of cocoa.