Industry News
For anybody looking for a location to do some world-class skiing, the state of Colorado should be high on your list. The state has more skiable acres than any other state, all spread over 31 ski resorts. The options are plenty, with massive footprints, varied terrain, and top-notch ski towns.
With so many options, many might be wondering which resorts score the highest in terms of overall experience. That’s where the team at PeakRankings comes in. They have rated the Colorado resorts on several factors such as size, terrain variety, lifts, crowd flow, facilities, and more to inform us which ones are the best.
#7 Aspen Highlands
For this ranking, the four Aspen Snowmass mountains will be considered wholly separate resorts. With that said, Aspen Highlands by itself is one of the best. It is a bit small as a standalone mountain but has a demanding footprint and high-quality snow and should be on every expert’s bucket list.
#6 Copper Mountain
Copper tends to fly under the radar a little, but it has a well-laid-out footprint and a strong variety of terrain. The terrain becomes more challenging as you go from east to west, allowing guests to easily find what best suits them. It is conveniently located 90 miles from Denver and has almost 2,500 acres.
#5 Arapahoe Basin
Known as the Legend, Arapahoe Basin is located high along Loveland Pass, about 68 miles outside of Denver. It offers some of the highest skier and rider-accessible terrain in North America, where half of the mountain sits above the timberline. It will often offer skiing and riding well into spring and even summer, and the demanding terrain makes up for the slow lifts.
#4 Telluride
Telluride Ski Resort boasts incredible views of the San Juan Mountains with 4,425 feet of vertical and 2,000 acres, all accessed via 19 lifts and 148 runs. The terrain ranges from beginner to intermediate and even includes four hike-to-terrain areas for advanced and expert skiers. It offers fewer crowds than other Colorado resorts closer to Denver and has multiple terrain parks for all skill levels.
#3 Beaver Creek
Beaver Creek is home to world-class restaurants, upscale lodging, endless shopping, and four village areas, each offering a unique experience. However, it’s not just all luxury, as the on-mountain experience has a lot to offer. High-speed lifts, fantastic grooming, and top-notch facilities mean it should be high on your list. It also features surprisingly technical glade and mogul trails, including some of the longest steep ungroomed runs in the state.
#2 Snowmass
Snowmass has nearly everything you could want in a ski resort. Big and diverse terrain, comfortable lifts, and the most vertical rise in the state. Don’t be surprised if you find fresh tracks well into the afternoon. If luxury is your thing, they have that as well, with upscale lodges and facilities.
#1 Vail
Maybe not a surprise to many here. Vail is the biggest resort in Colorado, and often the first resort people think of when they think of skiing in the state. It’s hard to argue with the massive footprint, 20 detachable lifts, and the one-of-a-kind legendary Back Bowls. Add in the Blue Sky Basin area that offers seemingly limitless tracks, and it’s hard to argue that Vail is number one.
There are so many good options for skiing in Colorado. Below are all 19 resorts that PeakRankings included in their analysis. Many of the resorts scored within a narrow range, indicating the quality of the resorts. Five of the top 10 resorts score within a single point of each other, so just because your favorite resort wasn’t #1 does not mean it’s significantly inferior.
