Best Ski Resorts Near Denver
Denver is the city to live in if you like to hit the slopes when winter comes around. It has everything you could want in a major city while still offering easy access to some of the best skiing in the country. To give you a sense of what’s available we’ve compiled the 5 best ski resorts near Denver. All of them are within 80 miles of Denver, so you can get to them in less than two hours of driving.
Winter Park Resort
- Distance from Denver: 66.5 miles
- 2017 Snowfall: 262″
- Number of runs: 143
- Skiable area: 3,081
- Vertical elevation: 3,600 feet
- Nearest town: Winter Park
If you’re looking for fresh snow and lots of it, then Winter Park Resort is the place to be. It received the most snowfall in 2017 out of all the resorts on our list, with over 21 feet falling throughout the year. That snow helped to cover the largest number of runs on our list at 161. The ski area has runs for everyone, but it is targeted at a more hardcore crowd. 55% of the runs are for experts, with a special emphasis on runs designed with mogul skiing in mind. So if you are looking for a resort that will push you to the limit, then Winter Park Resort is the place to be. Still, learners can get comfortable on the 11 beginner runs before building up to the higher levels. It’s a resort that stands out on every front. It offers heavy snowfall, numerous runs, a spacious skiable area, and a convenient distance from Denver. The Winter Park Resort has everything a Denver-based ski lover could want.
Loveland Ski Area
- Distance from Denver: 66.5 miles
- 2017 Snowfall: 218″
- Number of runs: 94
- Skiable area: 1,800 acres
- Vertical elevation: 2,210 feet
- Nearest town: Silver Plume
Colorado locals have been skiing at Loveland since 1936. Since the first lift was installed the total size of the park has grown dramatically. Now the modern lift system includes ten lifts that can handle over 14,000 riders an hour. It’s a well-balanced resort that’s less than 70 miles from Denver, equipped with plenty of runs, and known for a healthy average snowfall. It got the second most snow on our list in 2017, with more than 18 feet falling. Loveland is another resort that has plenty of excitement available for action junkies. 46% of their runs are either advanced or expert, which adds up to around 43 runs for experienced skiers and 51 runs for beginning and intermediate skiers.
Echo Mountain Resort
- Distance from Denver: 35.9 miles
- 2017 Snowfall: 58″
- Number of runs: 13
- Skiable area: 226 acres
- Vertical elevation: 600 feet
- Nearest town: Evergreen
Citizens of Denver looking for a quick trip to the slopes can get their fix of snow with a jaunt out to the Echo Mountain Resort. Out of all the resorts on our list, this destination is the closest to Denver at a mere 35.9 miles away. This fact is balanced out by its relatively modest size. It has the fewest runs and the smallest skiable area. Still, the resort owners have worked hard to make the most out of every acre. 100% of the runs are lit throughout the ski season, so you never have to say goodbye to your favorite run just because the sun has gone down. This makes it the perfect resort for Denver-based professionals to head to right after clocking out for some after work fun on the slopes.
Keystone Resort
- Distance from Denver: 73.8 miles
- 2017 Snowfall: 154″
- Number of runs: 135
- Skiable area: 3,148 acres
- Vertical elevation: 3,128 feet
- Nearest town: Keystone
The Keystone Resort is a little ways away from Denver, but its size and diversity make it an appealing destination all the same.It reigns supreme in terms of total skiable area. It’s the largest on our list at 3,148 acres. This allows Keystone to host one of the longest runs in Colorado, the 3.5-mile long Schoolmarm run. This reflects Keystone’s design philosophy, going for a smaller number of long runs rather than a large number of short runs. This is also reflected in the fact that it has the largest proportion of beginner runs, with 25 runs that are appropriate for new skiers. New skiers that still want plenty of options should definitely consider driving a little bit further to enjoy all that Keystone has to offer.
A-Basin Resort
- Distance from Denver: 79.1 miles
- 2017 Snowfall: 169″
- Number of runs: 132
- Skiable area: 1,331 acres
- Vertical elevation: 2,270 feet
- Nearest town: Keystone
Arapahoe Basin, also known as A-Basin, is the farthest resort from Denver but many fans of The Basin believe that it’s worth the drive. One reason for this is the resort’s extra-long season. A-Basin is known for staying open a month longer than its nearby competitors. It’s possible to find skiers shredding down A-Basin’s slopes into the month of July. The resort’s snowmakers can cover 125 acres with snow even when the weather doesn’t cooperate. The A-Basin resort is a good choice all year long, but when the weather around Denver starts to heat up this Resort is the best place to cool off.
