Best Ski Resorts in Colorado, A complete guide to Breckenridge Ski Resort

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Skiing and snowboarding can be dangerous activities, please ride within your ability levels and respect others around you

Interested in taking a ski or snowboard trip out west? Honestly there are so many amazing resorts, but one of my favorites is Breckenridge in Colorado. The mountain is located right in the town and has a lot of different options for people with different ability levels. You’ll find a number of beginner/intermediate runs as well as steeper more technical terrain at this resort. Which, in my opinion, is what makes Breck so unique. Although people like to hate on the resort every now and then, “It’s too flat, too crowded, too windy, etc", catch Breck (shortened nick name for the area) on a powder day or sunny blue bird day with no wind or crowds and you’ll see what makes this place so special!

What draws so many people to the town itself is the historic home like feel with surrounding mountain views of the resort and ten mile range. It’s pretty magical when driving into the town with mountain peaks all around. In this post I’ll be going over where to stay, best times to visit, things to know, where to ride, places to apres’, and recommended ski/snowboard shops. Alright lets goooo.

History of Breckenridge and the Resort

Originally Founded in 1859, Breckenridge started out as a mining town. The Late 1800’s brought gold prospectors to many western parts of the United States and towns across Colorado. If you venture out a little bit from downtown to places like Boreas Pass Road (Sawmill Museum) or past the Wellington neighborhood (Country Boy Mine/Wellington Mine) on French Gulch Road you can see old mines as well mining runoff.

You can also walk through the Breckenridge Visitor Center to read up on the history, look at old photos, and also see the progression from a mining town to a ski town. It’s cool stuff, even if you aren’t a history nerd. You’ll even notice a lot of the original buildings are still in town, which is part of the historic district. This history is what gives Breck that unique feel when riding the resort or hanging out downtown.

The ski resort was founded in December of 1961 on Peak 8 by Bill Rounds, Sigurd Rockne, and Trygve Berge. The resort opened with one double chair and one T-bar. By 1984 Breckenridge became the first resort in Colorado to allow snowboarders. In the 80’s and 90’s Breck hosted a number of world cup events for skiing and snowboarding and by the late 2000’s they started to host Dew Tour, a freestyle ski and snowboard event, which lasted for 11 years!

Over the years Breck continues to expand and grow, which I think is just always the natural path with most ski areas, even though there can be backlash from locals for all the added expansion. I can’t say I’m the biggest fan of it either, but Breck still has that mountain charm that can’t be found in too many places.

Where is Breckenridge and How do you get there

Located on Highway 9 in between a town called Frisco and a small town called Blue River. The downtown area of Breck is mostly located on a street called Main Street with shops and restaurants as well as neighboring side streets close to Main Street. There is a north side of Main Street and a South side of Main Street, which is helpful to know when figuring out your way around town. The resort can be seen from town and is on Ski Hill Road, about 1.5 miles from downtown Breckenridge. In 2007 a gondola was built from the town to the resort, to shuttle skiers up to the mountain quicker. However, busses still run up Ski Hill Road to the base of the mountain.

There are different shuttles that run to Breckenridge from Denver International airport, with the two main ones being Peak One Express and Epic Mountain Express. Shuttles are a great way for transportation if you only plan on skiing or snowboarding Breck and maybe Keystone on your vacation. Shuttles can either drop you off at your rental property/check-in location or at the Breckenridge transportation center for a cheaper price. The town of Breck has a great public transportation system and it’s also easy to walk everywhere too.

I-70 is the main freeway to access highway 9, however in the winter it can get pretty busy so there is also route 285 if I-70 is closed or has too much traffic. Below I’ve listed times and distances from major areas in Colorado. Please note mountains passes can get pretty snowy, slick, and dangerous. Please have good tires, extra blankets, food, water, etc when driving to the mountains. Times below are estimations.

Denver International: 2 hours/105 miles

Boulder: 1 hour 55 minutes/87 miles

Colorado Springs: (Taking US 24 W to Highway 9 driving through Hartsel, Fairplay, and Alma)- 2 hours 11 minutes/106 miles

Fort Collins: 2.5 hours/140 miles

What is the town like

I love the downtown area of Breck with shops and restaurants lining the streets. Most everything will be on Main Street with a few restaurants located off of Ridge Street, the next street over that runs parallel to Main. Parking is paid on Ridge and Main, but if you go up to Harris street, there’s two hour free parking. After 8pm parking will be free!

If you’re looking to grab a photo with your significant other or family, I think the best place in town to do that is the central square, right next to the visitor center. Breck also has workshops, an arts district, concert venue (the River Walk Center), information center, a movie theater, rec center, and a library all in town. So if you are looking for things to do outside of skiing or snowboarding, check those places out!

Does Breckenridge Get a lot of Snow

It really depends on the season to be honest. There are seasons where the snow doesn’t stop and then there are seasons where Breck only gets a small amount of snow storms. With that being said, the average annual snowfall is 300 inches or 762 cm.

Where to Stay in Breckenridge

There are soo many places to stay in Breckenridge and I can imagine it being somewhat overwhelming if you’ve never been. A few things to consider when looking for lodging are.. ski-in/ski-out, close to town, on a bus route, parking, and amenities (hot tub, community pool, gym, restaurant-on-site). A common misunderstanding with ski-in/ski-out is that you can ski right back to your place or hop out your back door onto the slopes. Although this is the case for some properties, this usually just means the lift is within close vicinity from your place.

What I like about the lodging is everything is fairly close to either the mountain, downtown, or both. Public transportation can shuttle you to the mountains. From condos, to private homes, town homes, and bed/breakfast there is just about every lodging option available. I stayed in a nice 1 bedroom right off Ski Hill Road, close to downtown, walkable distance to the Gondola. The building had an old school feel to it, but the unit itself was recently remodeled.

I’ve also stayed in Val D’ Isere, a complex close to town that I booked through VRBO.

Other great places to consider staying are One Ski Hill Place, Main Street Junction, Placer Ridge, and Los Pinos. Rates will vary through out the season with Holidays being the most expensive, especially Christmas!

Where to Rent or Buy Ski and Snowboard Gear

There’s a lot of shops in Breck that sell ski and snowboard gear as well as outdoor clothing. I’ve listed some of my favorite shops below. Most stores will have knowledgeable staff for ski and/or snowboard equipment. You’ll be able to find pretty much everything you need for a day on the mountain or mountain environment , if you don’t ski or snowboard. Most shops below also rent equipment. It’s best to make a reservation ahead of time (can be made through the shop’s website). Shops will be able to set you up with the right equipment based on experience, riding style, and your weight/height. Make sure to show up early the morning of or the afternoon/evening the day before you plan on riding, to pick up your equipment.

I’d have to say my favorite snowboard shop in Breck is Underground Snowboards because of the local shop hangout vibe and knowledgeable friendly staff. The home like feel of a locally owned shop will never get old, makes you realize why you got into snowboarding or skiing in the first place! The best shop if you need goggles or a helmet will be Craniologie because they have a large selection and in-depth fitting process. For Ski’s either Slope Style, Racer’s Edge or RMU. For ski boots the best place in town will be Racers Edge, just make sure to book an appointment ahead of time.

The ski and snowboard shops listed below should also have a demo program which is a try before you buy rental set up for those looking to try out equipment before it is purchased. The shop will usually let you apply 1-2 days of rental credit towards the purchase of skis or a board.

Local Snowboard Shops

Underground Snowboards

Mountain Wave

Base Mountain Sports

Local Ski Shops

Blue River Sports

Slopestyle

Carvers

Alpine Sports

Racers Edge

Helmets/Goggles

Craniologie

Branded Stores

Burton

Patagonia

North Face

Columbia

Breck Sports

Helly Hansen

Outdoor Clothing/Winter Footwear/Backcountry

Mountain Goat

Underground Snowboards

Epic or Ikon Pass at Breck and are lift tickets expensive

Breckenridge is managed and operated by Vail Resorts therefore the pass you’ll use will be the Epic. Other passes under the Epic umbrella that work are the Epic Local (unlimited at Breck and Keystone with no black out dates) and Summit Value (unlimited at Breck and Keystone with black out dates at Breckenridge). To learn more about season pass options check out the post, What season ski pass should I buy?, Everything you need to know about the Epic and Ikon Pass. If you plan on riding 3 or more days, buy a season pass early!

Lift tickets at a resort like Breckenridge can be pretty expensive at the window (typically 200+/day) and will go down in price the more days you book in advance. Holidays and peak times will raise prices for lift tickets. If you decide to not buy a season pass, purchase your lift tickets ahead of time on Breckenridge.com. Lift ticket offices will be at the base of the gondola, base of Peak 8, and also at the Base of Peak 9. If you’re looking to pick up your tickets the day before, offices typically close by 4pm.

Best time to snowboard or ski the resort

Resorts in Colorado typically open in early to mid November and Close by Mid April. The cool thing about Breck is that it opens mid November, but stays open until May, weather depending. A few things to consider when deciding what time of year to ride the mountain are; price, terrain open, and crowds. With ski resorts you have an early season, mid season, and late season. Unfortunately snow varies each year so it’s hard to determine how much of the mountain will be open ahead of time when planning a trip, unless you book last minute. My best advice if you can swing it, is to avoid holidays, spring break, and weekends. If you plan a trip during those times, expect traffic, lift lines, grocery lines, and restaurants being booked up.

Nightly rates for lodging are also much cheaper during none-peak times as are lift tickets. The best times to come out and ride Breck are January (Not MLK weekend), February (not Presidents weekend), and April. Early April is a great time to come out because the mountain is practically empty, lodging is cheap, days are longer, and sometimes amazing snow storms roll in, mixed with blue bird days. January and February are also good because by this point the entire mountain is open and there’s a chance of a good powder day.

Can you take a lesson for skiing or snowboarding at Breck

Yep, Breck offers Private along with Group lessons for kids and adults. If your new to snowboarding or skiing I’d recommend taking a group lesson. Group lessons will be on Peak 8 and Peak 9, where the terrain is less steep and you’ll be able to learn the fundamentals. Private lessons will be much more expensive! but instructors can take you all over the mountain, providing a more unique experience.

Are there good Terrain Parks

If you are looking to get into the terrain park, I believe Breck offers lessons for that style of riding too. My advice for that would be to start small and work your way up in the terrain Park. There’s a Large sized park on Peak 8 called Freeway and two parks on Peak 9, an intermediate (American) and beginner (Eldorado). The main park will have jumps, rails, boxes, sometimes a hip as well as transition.

The beginner park usually has a couple very small jumps with small boxes mixed in. The medium sized park his going to really be a progression park with intermediate rails, boxes, and jumps. Make sure to wear a helmet if you ride in the terrain park!

Xander Hitting a jump in the terrain park off Peak 8

Shot by Phil Bahner

Shot by Jake Rickey

What is the Mountain like

Peaks

There’s no back side to Breck and the resort has 5 different Peaks to ski and snowboard on; Peak 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. Each area is unique in its own way with Peak 8 being the centralized base area. What I and many other skiers and snowboarders love about Breck is the variety of terrain it offers for different ability levels. There’s something for everyone. The resort has plenty of blue and green runs, but also steep, above tree line terrain and bowls.

10

This will be the farthest peak on the left if you are looking at the mountain and typically will have the smallest lift line. The runs here will be a bit steeper and will only be blacks and double blacks. Ride down Crystal or Centennial for less technical more wide open runs. Runs such as Mustang and Spitfire are really good on powder days, but are un-groomed and hard to ride if the snow isn’t great.. Tree Runs are amazing on Peak 10 too! Be prepared for a small cat walk at the bottom If you rode through any of the terrain on the right side of Peak 10.

FYI, If you plan on going through the gate at the top of Falcon Chair, make sure you have the proper tools, knowledge, and a partner.

9

This peak will have a lot of beginner to intermediate runs with a small amount of advanced terrain. It’s honestly great for families or people starting out. There will be a couple learning areas and two main chairlifts, Mercury and Beaver Run. Quicksilver lift is a beginner lift that can have very long lines at times, but if you’re new to the skiing or snowboarding it’s the only way to get up the mountain your first go. After that, if lines are long I would get on A Chair as a beginner.

E and C chair, although much slower chairs will access steeper more advanced runs off 9, with hike-to-terrain off of Mercury lift. Some of my favorite runs are Volunteer and Upper Lehman! To get over to Peak 8, just hop on the Super connect chairlift.

8

Probably the largest Peak on the Mountain, Peak 8 is pretty awesome to say the least. It has groomers, above tree line open bowls, the highest lift in North America, the main terrain park, and even a T Bar. This is a peak you can really dial in your riding because of the endless options. It also has a learning area for lessons and some green runs off chair 5 for those looking to improve from the magic carpet.

The two main chairlifts for intermediate runs will be the Colorado Superchair as well as Rocky Mountain superchair. I would say the Colorado superchair is a good lift to take if you’ve never been to Breck and need a quick warm up. Colorado Superchair can also get lift lines, be prepared for a lil wait or take the Rocky Mountain Superchair. to get up the mountain quicker or over to Peak 7.

Advanced areas off of Peak 8 will be accessed by lifts; T Bar, Imperial, and 6 Chair! FYI for these areas to open there has to be a good amount of snow coverage, which can take anywhere from Mid December-Late January.

You can also hike right off of Colorado Superchair up to contest bowl. It’s an easier-ish hike but does take about 30 minutes to get all the way up to the Ridgeline of Contest Bowl. It’s also typically one of the first upper Alpine bowls to open up! Just make sure to watch out for rocks, small cliff drops, and closed terrain.

6 Chair

This is a good place to start if you want to start riding some more advanced terrain as they are all single black runs. The terrain isn’t too extreme overall and the runs are pretty open with good tree riding mixed in. The lift itself is an old two seater that is pretty quick when your loading it, so be prepared for that.

Lookers left from the chairlift will have more intermediate runs such as; Lobo, Hombre, and Solitude with the right side of 6 chair being more advanced with runs such as Adios and Psychopath. I really only ride 6 chair if its good snow or spring riding. When there’s deep snow it’s a fun place to get a couple laps in.

Imperial Chair

You can get to the base of imperial from 6 chair. The terrain up here is all double blacks and above tree line, so make sure you have good experience to ski or snowboard this part of the mountain. If you want to experience the top of Imperial, but not ride anything extreme, you can take the groomed Imperial Ridge run down to the base! This will be the tallest lift in North America with the peak standing at 12,998 feet! Take a lap down the open bowl or if you want to ride some really steep advanced terrain do the hike at the top which will access Lake Chutes and Snow White (Experts Only).

If it’s open, one of my favorite areas is Wales tale, also accessed off of Imperial. This part of the mountain is considered Peak 7, and can take some time to open up because it needs to be filled in, but also safe to ride. Ski Patrol works REALLY hard to make sure everything is safe and rideable! Huge shoutout to them honestly. You’ll traverse out to get to whales tail, so hold your speed from the start. The quickest way if you want a few laps in this area is to get on TBar and take a left at the top towards Imperial Chair

My favorite part about being up at Imperial is not only the incredible views, but just how humbling the experience is because you feel really small up. Once you’ve dropped into Lake Chutes or Whales tale, speed is your friend and just enjoy the experience of riding down the face of a mountain that size! You can ride down all the way to the base of Peak 7 or 8, which will take a long time, stop and rest if needed!

T Bar

One of the quickest ways to access awesome parts of the mountain will be off of Tbar in my opinion. This part of the mountain is for more advanced riders, so be prepared! It might take a couple practice tries when figuring out how to get on and stay on the lift, but once you get the hang of it, you should be good to go. Head right off the lift for North Bowl runs or hang a left for Cucumber, Horse shoe, or Contest Bowl!

My favorite areas are Cucumber Bowl and Horseshoe Bowl. When the snows good, the turns are some of the best! Cucumber bowl is a quick run through trees, but I just love the exploration feel you get when riding through here, it’s just you and the mountains. Both of these zones will allow you to get back to the bottom of Tbar, so you can take as many laps as your legs allow. This line can get pretty long on good powder days, but always seems to go pretty quick.

Horseshoe Bowl and Contest bowl, both have some nice cliff drops, if you’re looking to jump off some stuff too.

7

Not going to lie, most of the runs on this peak will be flatter, which is great if you have small kids or you’re just learning, or really just want to have a good time without “overdoing” it. Plenty of long blue runs to ski or snowboard on. The two chairlifts over here will be Independence and Freedom. Freedom is a new chairlift and helps prevent the base lift line from becoming too crowded.

If there’s powder, it’s fun to ride through Wanderlust and Ore Bucket, a small area through trees that eventually take you back onto the run, Monte Cristo. Kids can go through here too, I’ve seen families ski or board together in Ore Bucket!

6

Last but not least, Peak 6! This will be some of the best inbounds terrain you’ll ski or snowboard on, once it’s open for the season. Opening in 2014, 6 is a mix of High Alpine steep terrain and some intermediate blue runs. The views are pretty incredible too, so make sure to grab a couple photos.

You gotta take two lifts to get to the top of Peak 6, but it’s worth it! Take Zendo chair to Kensho superchair. You’ll get off Zendo ride down a quick little run and then hop on Kensho! The best intermediate runs down will be Bliss, Reverie, and a personal favorite, Intuition. If you’re up for working for your turns, the hike to the top is pretty amazing. Somewhat of a workout, it will take about 20 minutes. Once at the top, head right towards Beyond bowl or left towards my favorite, 6th senses.

You’ll have to traverse a good amount to drop into Six senses or drop early into Serenity bowl. Turns should be really good days after a storm, because the snow tends to funnel into these areas and the peaks sits at over 12,500 feet. Almost every time I’ve ridden through this area, you can hear the excitement from everyone dropping in and skiing or snowboarding down the face.

Either keep lapping Kensho chair or take the traverse back to Peak 7 after riding some of the best terrain Breckenridge Mountain has to offer :)

Is there good tree riding

If you like riding trees, Breck has plenty. Tree riding can be found off of Peak 7, 8, 9 and 10. Wanderlust off of 7 is a fun tree run. If you are looking for steeper runs not above tree line, you can find those on Peak 10 and off of 6 Chair on Peak 8. 6 chair is a fun place to ride on powder days when upper terrain hasn’t opened yet. Steep runs that are open enough to lay out turns, but also have trees that are spread out, giving you that winter magical feel when riding. Runs such as Adios, Solitude, and Boneyard are some of my favorite as mentioned earlier.

Mountain Stats

Hours of operation- 8:30am to 4pm

Base Elevation- 9,600 Feet/2,926 meters

Summit Elevation- 12,998 Feet/3,962 meters

Skiable Acres- 2,908

Number of Trails- 187

Beginner terrain- 11%

Intermediate- 31%

Advanced- 58%

Average annual snowfall- 356 inches or 904 cm

Download the EpicMix app for interactive trail maps, lift line times, and vertical feet skied.

Where can you eat on the Mountain

Peaks 7, 8, 9, and 10 all have restaurants at the Base with Peaks 7, 8, and 9 both having restaurants at the top as well. Sevens at the base of Peak 7 will be more like a traditional restaurant with servers and a hostess. However, most indoor dining will have the traditional Burgers, sandwiches, salads, soups, and wraps. I usually pack snacks when I ride, but it doesn’t hurt to have a hot meal indoors every now and then.

Most of the on mountain restaurants will have a bar with indoor and outdoor seating such as Coppertop and Tbar.

Pro Tip

Avoid waiting in the Gondola Line and take the 4 O’ Clock run at the end of the day to get back to town, parking, or your condo.

Also start your day on Peak 9 during busier times as Peak 8 can be pretty crowded.

Where can I park

Paid Parking lots will be at the Base of the Gondola (North and South Lots), Stables Garage (Base of Peak 8), Wellington Lot (near the Gondola), and Peak 9 (close to Beaver Run and the Double Tree).

Street parking and the majority of parking lots in the town of Breck are paid parking by the hour. However, there are two free day lots; The Ice Rink Lot and the dirt lot off of Airport Road. The ice rink lot is on the south end of town on Boreas Pass road. Both free lots will have a free in-town, bus that can take you to the mountain. Just know that buses to the Airport road parking lot stop running at 6pm.

Overnight Parking

Airport road and the Ice Rink lot both offer overnight parking. Parking is limited in town and at lodging properties, which is what these overflow lots are great for. Airport road parking is $5/night on weekdays and $10/night on weekends. The Ice rink is $15/night.

Public transportation

Breck has a great transportation system that costs nothing and has routes (color coded) to and from the resort as well as around town. Buses run every half hour depending on the route and time of day. Hours can vary depending on the route, but typically run from 6 in the morning to 11 O’ clock at night.

Bathrooms

Located at the Base of the Gondola in the new parking structure and at the base of the resort in One Ski Hill Grill. Also located in the Maggie off of Peak 9 as well as every restaurant on the mountain.

Where are the best places to Après at in Breckenridge

Breck has a lot of different places to Après at after a day on the hill. Most happy hours are within the hours of 2-6 pm and vary depending on the restaurant. Aurum off Ridge St. has a great happy hour menu, as well as drinks. They are a farm to table restaurant with awesome dishes sourced from local farmers. The environment inside is also welcoming and the staff is friendly, giving it that home like feel.

Below are a handful of my favorites and I would recommend making a reservation ahead of time to get a table. I also like RMU if you’re just looking to grab a drink. Cool spot, especially in the spring when the days are longer and warmer, you can chill on the outside patio right on Main St.

A couple other places that are great for Apres’ include the Blue River Bistro on the north end of town, and the Tavern Underground, located below the Carlin. The Tavern Underground is a modern take on classic bar food with a late night happy hour too. The Bistro will be known for their cocktails and with an upscale menu and ambience.

Aurum

The Tavern Underground

Blue River Bistro

RMU

Where to eat in Breck

Lots of different places to eat in Breck, making it hard to choose, however! these will be my favorite. For fine dining I really liked Radicato right in the heart of town. This restaurant takes Italian cuisine and makes it family style with amazing pastas, drinks, and entrees’. They also have a sister restaurant, Rootstalk that will be fine dining as well.

Not only is Aurum great for Apres’, but also dinner. If you are looking for less expensive options I also really like Breckenridge Brewerey or Empire Burger and for Pizza, Giampietros. During busier times make sure to book a reservation ahead of time! (sometimes weeks in advance) or expect wait times for getting a table or not being able to get a table at all..

Breakfast/Coffee

My favorite breakfast place is Amazing Grace located in an old historic building, with a local mountain town feeling inside. They have healthier, organic options and baked goods. For coffee I really like Mimi and Pim right by the gondola. Mimi and Pin also sells waffles and churros! Some of the best donuts you’ll ever have are at Daylight and Columbine will be your classic diner styler breakfast.

Another favorite breakfast place for locals is Cool River Coffee house, located on main street on the south end of town. They have a creative menu with a number of healthier options too, highly recommend this coffee shop and breakfast spot!

What Grocery Stores are in town

The main grocery store is City Market and then there is a smaller more expensive grocery store on Ridge Street next to the Post Office.

Bars, Brewery’s, and Night Life

The old saying in a lot of ski towns is “a drinking town with a skiing problem”, and Breck has plenty of bars to choose from. If you’re looking for live music check out Napper Tandy’s and RMU. If you’re looking for a good Brewery, I mentioned Breck Brewery above for food, but it’s also a fun spot to grab a drink at. Broken Compass on the south end of town and on Airport Road is a locally owned Brewery with the location off Airport road having a chill local atmosphere that you can even bring your dog to.

Also on Airport road, make sure to check out, The Breckenridge Distillery, that will have food, cocktails, and spirits. The Gold Pan is going to be the oldest bar west of the Mississippi! and is your classic bar that can get pretty busy on the weekends.

Any Pot Shops in Breck

All of the weed stores will be off of Airport Road, requiring an ID showing that you are at least 21 years of age, cash only.

Are there any disadvantages to riding Breck

Like anything, there will always be a few disadvantages. With the recent increase in pass sales, crowds appear to be much greater on weekends and holidays. I listed a handful of disadvantages below

-Traffic in the town can get congested and busy

-Expensive Lift tickets and Lodging

-Long Lift lines sometimes

-Breck is notorious for high winds at time. If you see that it’s going to be a really windy day I would recommend going elsewhere, such as Keystone.

-Flatter on the lower areas of the mountain (disadvantage for some, yet positive for those learning to ski/snowboard)

-Upper Mountain terrain doesn’t always open after a huge storm

-High altitude location can cause you to get sick. Breckenridge is at 9,600 feet/2,926 meters and the altitude effects everyone differently.

What Tips do you have for Altitude Sickness

A lot of Colorado ski areas are at higher altitudes, which can cause nausea, headaches, and upset stomach. As mentioned above the altitude effects everyone differently and my best advice would be to drink lots of water and to stay away from alcohol and caffeine for the first few days if you’re effected. Typically, it takes a couple days to get acclimated to the elevation. Most retail locations will sell bottles of oxygen (a temporary fix) and there is also an Oxygen bar in La Cima Mall on the south end of town.

Last minute tips for a ski or snowboard trip to Breck

Plan ahead, this includes making reservations for rental equipment, restaurants, and lessons on the mountain! If you don’t have a season pass, purchase lift tickets ahead of time online through the resort website. Also do your homework by checking out the trail map and seeing what trails would be suitable for your riding style and ability level. Most 4 person+ chairlifts will also have trail maps, so you can plan things out as you sit on the lift.

Packing the right gear will also help. Make sure to pack a good winter jacket, the right base layers, gloves/mitts, neck warmer, and a few beanies. You’re in the rockies, so make sure to be prepared for whatever kind of weather shows up.

Check out the Boreas Pass Overlook

If you have a vehicle, I highly recommend going up to Boreas Pass to catch the view of the ten mile range, downtown Breck, and ski resort! It’s a fun activity off the mountain.

Other items I recommend having for a day on the mountain

1. Snacks

2. Packable water bottle, I like Hydra Pak

3. Chapstick

Remember to always zip your pockets up when riding and to drink plenty of water and take breaks when needed

Alright that’s a wrap and I hope this post inspires you to take a ski or snowboard trip to this special mountain town at 9,600 feet! Thanks for checking out the blog and if you have any tips or information to add please drop a comment below, it’s always cool to connect with people on here. Also, If you like this post subscribe to our email list below for the latest updates and posts on ski resorts, gear, surf trips, and outdoor information.

Looking for other ski trip ideas? Check out a trip to Aspen Snowmass!

The Complete Ski Resort Guide to Aspen Snowmass in Colorado

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Skiing and snowboarding can be dangerous activities, please ride within your ability levels and respect others around you

Aspen Colorado, probably one of the most Iconic ski town names in the snow world. Not far from downtown Aspen is Snowmass, the largest of 4 Aspen resorts and the one that seemed to always be my favorite. I first took a vacation to this mountain years ago driving across the country on a bus for a college ski club trip. First time in Colorado snowboarding and I was speechless. The runs seemed to go on forever and the terrain was endless.

Making the trek back here years later has been a trip, not much has changed other then new on mountain dining, and a new base area. Although Snowmass continues to make new upgrades it still has the home like feel to it, which is what makes it such a fun place to ride. Exploring this place after a snow storm is what makes Snowmass so special and unique that you’ll just have to find out for yourself.

In this post I’ll be going over how to get to the resort, where to stay for a more affordable price, where to apres’ or eat, and places to rent along with buy ski/snowboard equipment, lessons, the mountain, and of course where you should ride. Alright, lets goooo.

Where is Snowmass and how to get there

Snowmass is just over 8 miles west of downtown Aspen Colorado in the Roaring Foark Valley and part of the Elk Mountain Range. Other neighboring towns include Basalt, Glenwood Springs, and Carbondale. Since Independence Pass is closed in the winter the only way to get to Snowmass is I-70 to Colorado 82. Aspen also has a small airport you can fly into. Below I listed times and distances to Snowmass.

Denver: 196 Miles/3 hours

Colorado Springs:263 miles/4 hours

Aspen Airport: 6 miles/10 minutes

Breckenridge 135 Miles/2 hours

Where to Stay

The one downside to staying in the Aspen Area is how expensive the town is which includes lodging. However you can always stay in close towns Basalt and Carbondale if you want to save money. One of the nice things is if you stay in Snowmass, a lot of the lodging is ski-in/ski-out. So you can walk to the slopes and ride down, always loved that when riding over there. When I stayed in Snowmass, I always liked staying at the Stonebridge Inn, it has an old school feel to it with nice amenities and it is right on the mountain. I’ve also stayed at the Laurelwood Condominiums, which are Slopeside too.

Where can I get lift tickets and what pass is Snowmass on

There will be a ticket office right by the Elk gondola! Snowmass is part of the Aspen pass which is pretty expensive. If you purchase the pass in the spring it will be the best way to save money as prices will be lower. This pass will get you access to all 4 mountains including Highlands, Buttermilk, and Ajax. The positive side is with a pass this expensive it keeps the number of people on the mountain down. Included in the Aspen Pass will be the Ikon base, if you wanted to venture to other resorts such as Copper, Steamboat, or Winter Park!

Snowmass will also be on the Ikon pass for up to 7 days, which is what I use. You can venture to other Aspen resorts too, even on the same day, which I’ve done in the past.

Where to Rent or Buy Equipment

Probably some of the best rental options in the ski industry, Snowmass itself has a number of places to rent and/or buy equipment to have a fun experience on the mountain. I personally think Four Mountain Sports will have the best selection of rentals and gear located in the upper Snowmass Mall. They have an awesome snowboard shop with goggles, jackets, pants, boards, boots and bindings.

Other ski shops include Christy’s and Gorsuch. There will also be a Four Mountain Sports in the lower Snowmass Village. Make sure to book rentals ahead of time, especially if you are booking your trip during holiday periods and spring break! If you need ski boots there is a Surefoot in the Lower Village too.

Where to get Coffee/Breakfast

Not many breakfast places in Snowmass, I’m sure it will continue to grow as time goes on, but if you want food that isn’t too expensive I really like Fuel in the Upper Mall. Stop in right before you get on the mountain and grab a breakfast sandwich and smoothie! For coffee I really liked Gorsuch to be honest, which will also have some quick breakfast options too.

I would also recommend checking out the Daly Diner, next to Clarks market, right before you go up the hill to the resort. Awesome breakfast and dinner. They say, “it’s as local as it gets.”

What are some great places to Apre’s or grab dinner after being on the mountain

As mentioned above there is Daly Diner in the Clarks market shopping plaza which will also have Tasters Pizza, which has been around for over 20 years! In the upper Mall, it seems restaurants have changed over the years, but right on the mountain in the upper mall, there will be a couple good restaurants and bars to grab a drink. In the lower village there will be a Slice of Italy and Kenichi if you like Sushi. My favorite Apres’/Dinner Place in Snowmass will be Aurum! Awesome happy hour, drinks, and dinner menu. They have outdoor seating for those nice bluebird winter days. The inside also has great ambience and music, cool spot overall.

Is there much to do in Snowmass

Snowmass is pretty small, you can walk around the Upper Mall or Lower Village. The Upper Mall is older with restaurants that seem to change from time to time. Has an old school feel to it. And then there’s the lower village which is brand new, with new businesses popping up each season it seems.

If you have time, I would check out downtown Aspen for a day or even ride the resort in town, Ajax. Aspen is defiantly more upscale but there’s a really cool snowboard shop there, Radio Boardshop, and also a couple good ski shops right in town. If you like art, photography, and fashion, there will be a number of stores for that too. My favorite restaurant in Colorado will also be in downtown Aspen, Whitehouse Tavern. Awesome food, smaller menu, but great ambience inside. For busier times you’ll need to stop in and make a reservation. Because it’s a smaller space, no reservations ahead of time!.

Where can we park

There are a few free lots which are Brush Creek, Rodeo, and Buttermilk. Busses run often and are free within the Aspen area, just hop on the bus that goes to downtown Aspen. The Rodeo Lot will be the closest free lot to Snowmass with busses that run often to the resort. Just make sure to arrive early as it fills up quick! If that lot is full I would park at Brush Creek, with busses that run directly to Snowmass as well. Check the RFTA transportation website for bus schedules, especially if you don’t have a vehicle.

Don’t feel like taking the bus, there is a paid parking garage at the base of the resort, where the newer Snowmass shopping plaza is.

What about on Mountain Dining, What does Snowmass have

Aspen resorts have the best on mountain dining options if you want to treat yourself and get a gourmet hot meal. Snowmass has a number of different restaurants on mountain, with some of them being actual sit down restaurants that require reservations! Even the cafeteria style places are fancy and food options are pretty amazing. It’s like having a home cooked meal on the mountain and for the price, it’s kind of a steal.

On Mountain Restaurants that don’t require reservations, but I would suggest making one are; The Cabin, Alpin Room and Sam’s. Sam’s Overlooks the Elk Mountains, and would be an unreal place to have a meal and glass of wine. The cabin will be a good Apres’ spot from 2:30-4 pm. They’ll have some seafood, charcuterie board’s, along with salads, and different wines. Sam’s will be more pasta and Italian options with a drink menu too. Alpin Room will be right off the Alpine Springs lift.

For more casual dining check out the Elk Camp Restaurant. They have mac and cheese, rotisserie chicken, vegetables, pizza, and a full salad bar. This is where I like to go for a hot meal after riding all morning. For a classic burger, fries, and a milkshake there is Ullrhoff, which is actually being taken down and rebuilt with much more seating.

What kind of lessons does Aspen Snowmass offer and is the mountain good for beginners

Snowmass has a variety of lesson options from first timers to the terrain park, and people that like to explore more advanced areas of the mountain. I’ve been snowboarding for 25 years and from what I’ve seen, Aspen has the best instructors out there. To save money, go with a group lesson or if you want a one on one go with a private lesson.

Aspen also offers clinics and camps for different ability levels as a way to improve your skills and fundamentals and maybe meet some like minded individuals. If you have any kind of handicap, but still want to explore the mountain, check out there adaptive lessons as well.

Where is the best Beginner terrain

A lot of great beginner terrain for those who have just started or maybe don’t have too much experience with skiing or snowboarding will be off the Village Express Chairlift. There’s going to be a number of Blue and Green’s off of that chairlift! Another fun beginner area will be off of the Elk Camp Gondola.

Once you start to get comfortable, there’s a number of beginner-intermediate runs off of chairlifts; Two Creeks, Elk Camp, and Big Burn.

I heard there’s S’Mores on the mountain at the end of the day

Yep, that is one thing that Aspen Snowmass is known for, free s’mores at the base area at 3:00 pm everyday. Roast your marshmallow by one of the fires and make sure to throw the stick away!

Does Snowmass get a lot of snow

It really depends on the year, I’ve seen the Aspen area get over 400 inches in one season and less than 300 in another season. On average the mountain gets 307 inches of snow per year.

What is the mountain like and where should we ride

Snowmass is pretty large ski resort with lots of different terrain compared to the other 3 Aspen resorts. They have 3,342 acres of rideable terrain! A lot of intermediate terrain at this mountain making it great for families, however still offering some steep terrain for the more advanced skier or snowboarder. Some of my favorite areas to ride are Sheer Bliss, Cirque, and terrain off of High Alpine.

Cirque

Once this area of the mountain fills in with snow, it is pretty magical. If you like upper alpine terrain make sure you check this part of the mountain out after a nice snow storm. Looking for some nice chutes? Drop early off the T-Bar lift (which is replacing the current cirque lift) and check out AMF and Ptarmigan on the left side. If you want some easier terrain up at Cirque, check out Little Headwall for a few turns. The best way to access this part of the mountain is by getting on the Big Burn lift and the T-Bar will be right in front Up4Pizza. To Access different parts of Cirque follow the long Catwalk and this will eventually lead you to drop zones for the Headwall and Eastwall!

Just note, you should watch out for exposed rocks in this area as there is quite a lot. Takes a long time for this part of the mountain to fill in! No matter which part of Cirque you decide to ride. It will eventually funnel you into a gully called Kt Gully. There will be some fun trees as you make your way down this part of the mountain.

Kt Gully has some hidden Gems, if you took Sheer Bliss to pop over here, be cautious! There are going to be some Cliff areas. I like to just run the gully down and hit different trees spots as I snowboard towards the base.

High Alpine and Alpine Springs

Runs off High Alpine will be another steep and technical part of the mountain that is considered upper terrain. If you have the experience, I would highly recommend checking it out. To access this terrain you can either take Cirque and traverse over or do the hike off of High Alpine. Not going to lie, this part of the mountain can be a bit confusing on where to drop. Review the detailed trail map at the top of the hike for reference then make a go for it.

Drop into Possible, A steeper run with surrounding rock walls, if you keep riding you’ll get to lap through some amazing tree runs called Frog Pond Glades. These glades can fill in nicely when there is snow and seem to go on forever too.

Stay a bit higher towards Roberto’s and Headwall then drop and if you hug a sharp right, eventually there will be some awesome black and double black runs. Kind of like an open field with spread out trees (See the photo below in the middle). If you don’t feel like doing the hike there is still some great runs off of High Alpine. Head over to Sheer Bliss or Alpine Springs once you’re done lapping this chairlift.

Runs off Alpine Springs tend to be more crowded and although they are blue runs, they are just a little bit more steep. Not a bad place to ride if you’re a beginner/intermediate rider looking to get more experience. This is really the only lift where I’ve seen lift lines on busier days.

Big Burn and Sheer Bliss

If you like wide open runs, mixed with trees, that aren’t too steep, this area is for you. This part of the mountain really allows you to explore and feel like you’re on an adventure. Not that the rest of the mountain doesn’t feel like that, but for me, I always kind of feel that way when riding these two chairlifts in particular.

Wide open runs are what you will be able to ski for snowboard on when riding off of Big Burn. There’s a few tree spots to ride through as you make your way down the mountain that are worth it! On hardback bad snow days, these areas can still be fun to ride as traditional groomers.

The first photo below shows Big Burn and Sheer Bliss off in the distance with the last photo being the Sheer Bliss run. The difference between these two lifts is there will be more steep terrain off of Sheer Bliss.

Elk Camp

A more low key area on the mountain, I would say Elk Camp is best suited for the intermediate skier or boarder looking to progress. Nothing too steep or crazy on this part of the resort. It also has my favorite dining area, with essentially gourmet cafeteria food! New for the upcoming seasons is the 4 person lift is being upgraded to a 6 person lift.

If the snow is good I like to hug the fence line, left side of the run. Mostly blues off this chair, unless you do the hike.

To access the Elk Camp Chair you must first get on the Elk Camp Gondola. Kind of a process, but worth it to check this part of the mountain out. You can either take some laps off the Gondola (good area for beginners) or head to the Elk Camp Chairlift. Probably the easiest hike I’ve done on a ski resort. Take a left off the chairlift, unstrap, and you will see an area to start hiking. Once you drop, it is essentially spread out tree runs, nothing too crazy in my book.

If you do decide to do the hike just note, it’s a longer run that will take you to the base of the Two Creeks chairlift!

Elk Camp will have some easier tree runs to ride through, worth it, if you are new to tree riding and want some experience.

Elk Gondola will be blues that can be ridden down to the gondola base or take Adams Avenue to the main base area.

Two Creeks

Two Creeks is a hidden gem on the mountain, there’s a number of Aspen Trees in this vicinity. An older lift with a cafe at the very bottom, I can imagine both will be replaced eventually. The run from top to bottom is a long one that turns into a catwalk passing homes as you reach the bottom.

Village Express and Sam’s Knob

These lifts will service the main base area in Snowmass with beginner all the way up to expert terrain. I’ll usually start here to get the legs warmed up. On Powder days this is a fun area to begin the day with before exploring the rest of the mountain, runs like Fast Draw and Promenade under the chairlift allow you to really lay out a few turns. As the day progresses it will start to get skied out making natural moguls on the runs.

Sam’s Knob gets skied out quickly and is also a pretty steep in parts. However, not a bad place to ride when the snows great.

The runs from the Village Express to Big Burn chairlift are my go to for access to the rest of the mountain. Below is a catwalk that will take you from point A to B.

Runs like these below are best early as they start to get tracked out towards mid day, especially on a bluebird powder day. Couple good tree stashes too that you can sneak into then pop back onto the run.

Probably my least favorite area of the mountain, due the location and pretty far from the rest of the mountain. If you have time, explore this area, but if not, you didn’t miss too much in my opinion.

Probably the most quiet part of the mountain will be runs off of Campground. To access take the far left run (Bear Claw) all the way to the bottom of the chairlift. No beginner terrain on this lift as it will only be single black diamonds.

What are the Terrain Parks like

One of the most underrated terrain parks in Colorado, Snowmass has just about every kind of feature and jump for all ability levels, which is what I like most about this park. It also doesn’t get too crowded so you can get a lot of laps in, if the park is where you wanna ride on a nice sunny day.

Take the new high speed Coney Express lift for top to bottom park laps or take the Village Express and get off halfway for access to the Lowdown Park along with the Makaha Park. The top of Coney Express will be advanced to expert features. These are ones that require a lot of speed and skill. Makaha will be intermediate to advanced jumps and rails with Lowdown being beginner to intermediate boxes, rails, along with jumps.

Best part about this terrain park is how long it goes for, kind of reminds me of Big Bear in California.

You’ll find some nice down rails, medium size jumps, and even a mini pipe in the Makaha terrain park! I like this section for trying to progress and learn something new and challenging.

Some easy boxes and jumps can be found in the Lowdown park. Great area for learning or taking a park lesson if needed. Not that I’m an instructor, but my best advice is to start small and work your way up with what is comfortable. Parks are scary at times, but they help build your riding skills and confidence on a snowboard or skis!

Does Snowmass have good tree riding

I’d like to think there are some fun trees to ride through. So far the best ones I’ve ridden were off of the High Alpine lift, Frog Pond Glades/Hanging Valley Glades. Off Elk Camp there are trees that are fun right under the lift as well as off the hike mentioned above.

Is the mountain good for families

This resort along with Breckenridge have been two of the best resorts I’ve been to that I think are great for families. Lots of terrain that isn’t too advanced and the vibe on the mountain just has like this family friendly atmosphere to it in my opinion. Lots of on mountain dining options to sit down and take breaks with the fam along with some scenic backdrop areas on the mountain that make for great group photos.

What to Pack

Whether you plan on riding your own gear or renting equipment. I’ve listed a few items that get overlooked when packing for a ski or snowboard trip. You can find these items on Burton.com

Puffy- Gets cold in ski towns, one of the best purchases for winter weather is a puffy jacket either with real down or synthetic down. I personally like the Burton Expedition Baker down as it keeps you warm even in the negative temperatures. Not something I really wear riding on the mountain, but walking around town, going out, etc. it’s great.

Neck Warmers- I like to wear these for sun protection and when it’s cold and windy, especially on the chairlift.

Base Layers- There’s different variations in terms of material thickness and the actual material itself. So read up on what you purchase. To keep it simple I mostly rock mid-weight layers. On the coldest days I’ll wear a heavy-weight base layer and usually some kind of fleece pant as well.

Sunscreen- Even on cloudy days I would recommend wearing sunscreen due to the high altitude and more sun exposure you’ll get in the mountains.

Hopefully this post inspires you to take a trip to Aspen and ride Snowmass! If you’re interested in another family friendly ski resort, check out Breckenridge. It’s one of my favorite mountain towns and has just about every kind of riding once the mountain is fully open. Thanks for checking out the blog and I’ll see you on the next post!