Best places to ski in Colorado
8 Rocky Mountain towns to ski and snowboard
Colorado has the Rocky Mountain’s' deepest powder, lively and historic alpine villages, and a ski and snowboard culture that ranges from champagne-and-cashmere to flannel-and-fireball. The hard part isn't finding good skiing, it's choosing where to base yourself.
We’ve broken down eight ski towns, from the glamorous to the gloriously low-key. Whether you're chasing steep chutes, a family getaway, or a quiet cabin with a hot tub, one of these towns is your match.
Ideal if you want powder by day and to party by night
Breckenridge is a Victorian gold-rush town with a lively Main Street and five peaks of skiing. It's roughly a 90-minute drive from Denver, tucked into the Tenmile Range.
Best if you want it all: huge terrain and a storybook village
Vail is the Rockies' showpiece, a Bavarian-style village with cobblestone charm and mountains that go on forever. It's about a two-hour drive from Denver, in the Gore Range.
Ideal for families and night owls who like a cozy, easygoing resort
Keystone is known as the kid-friendly resort town where the lights stay on after dark. It's an easy 75-minute drive from Denver, tucked into Summit County along the Continental Divide.
Ideal if you want a ski town that’s both friendly and unfussy
Winter Park is Denver's mountain backyard, a scrappy, friendly town with serious snow and zero attitude. It's about a 90-minute drive from Denver, just over Berthoud Pass.
Best if you want an authentic Western town with soaking hot springs
Steamboat Springs is a true cowboy town with a ski-town heart, famous for feather-light Champagne Powder®. It's about a three-hour drive northwest of Denver.
Ideal for skiers who want après-ski glitz and glamour
Aspen is Colorado at its most dazzling, where fur coats meet ski bums and four mountains wait. It's about a four-hour drive from Denver, tucked into the Elk Mountains.
Ideal for adventurers looking for a dramatic, uncrowded mountain town
Telluride is a storybook box-canyon town ringed by jagged peaks, remote and wonderfully unhurried. Plan on a six-hour drive from Denver, in the San Juan Mountains.
Ideal for families and skiers who like Aspen sparkle with ski-in/ski-out ease
Snowmass is Aspen’s easygoing sibling, a ski-in/ski-out village with sunny cruiser runs and family-friendly charm. It’s about a four-hour drive from Denver, with Aspen’s glamour a short ride away.
The ski town in Colorado that’s considered the best depends on your style. Avon and Snowmass suit those who want polish and luxury, Gunnison delivers steep, uncrowded terrain, and Blue Riverworks well for families who want Breckenridge’s charm with quiet evenings.
Colorado’s ski season typically runs from late fall through spring, with every town above offering strong options. Winter Park near Fraser, Vail near East Vail and Eagle-Vail, and Crested Butte near Gunnison all draw big snowfall and varied terrain.
Both are excellent. Vail offers more than 5,000 acres, including the Back Bowls, with a lively village. Aspen’s Snowmass has ski-in/ski-out ease, wide intermediate runs and glamorous nightlife. Choose Vail for sprawl, Aspen for sparkle.
