Taking a Ski or Snowboard trip to Vail Colorado, Everything you should know

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Skiing and snowboarding can be dangerous activities, please ride within your ability levels and respect others around you. A Black/Double Black is a more advanced run, a Blue is going to be intermediate, and a Green run will be beginner.

Known as the largest ski resort in Colorado, and the 5th largest in North America, riding a mountain such as Vail will open your eyes to a whole new world of what winter can look like for skiing and snowboarding. Known for their back bowls, this magical place, drives tourists and employees from all over the world each season to enjoy the outdoor playground that Vail has become. I first rode Vail after a surprise snow storm, we ended up riding through trees, jumping off side hits/cliffs, and laying a few turns out on wide open bowls. I had never been to resort that was this large, and it felt like a never ending exploration of new runs, spots, and terrain, I was hooked.

The Gore Creek runs right through town, a popular spot for photos in Vail Village with loved ones

The Gore Range off in the distance is one of the most stunning mountain ranges in Colorado

The mountain itself sits in what is known as the Vail Valley, tucked away off the highway. To actually see what the mountain looks like, you need to get on the resort to experience what this place has in store for you. In this post I’ll be laying out the details, secrets, and my personal tips for a ski/snowboard trip to Vail Colorado! Things like how to get to Vail, where to stay, favorite restaurants, where to rent equipment, and some of my favorite places to ride.

Where is Vail and how do we get there

Vail is actually not going to be your classic mountain town, it’s more of a resort with two different base areas/villages (there’s talks of expansion). Located essentially right off the I-70 corridor, the resort will be in between Copper Mountain and the small town of Avon. If you plan on driving, to get to the mountain you’ll need to drive over the infamous Vail Pass, which can be kind of dicey in the winter. It’s a pass that see’s a lot of truck activity and can get a lot of snow. So be careful, and make sure to have the right tires! If you don’t feel like renting a car, you can take a mountain shuttle (Peak 1 Express is my favorite) and then just use In-Town public transportation to get around!

Within the actual town of Vail you will have east Vail (the first exit) and West Vail. This is where you’ll be able to find lodging if you don’t want to stay in the resort area. Below I listed times and distances from major Colorado areas.

Denver - 96.6 miles and just over 1.5 hours depending on weather.

Breckenridge- 35 miles and about 45 minutes

Colorado Springs- 164 miles and about 2.5 hours

What is the History behind Vail Mountain

There’s actually a ski and snowboard museum located in Vail Village at the transportation system, it’s a fun activity to see all of the unique history. After World War II, skiing and recreation in general started to become more popular. Two men, Pete Seibert and Earl Eaton both avid enthusiasts of skiing decided to open Vail Mountain in 1962 after scouting years prior for a place to start a ski resort. They had hiked up to the back bowls of Vail and decided that it would make a great resort.

Hard to believe, but lift tickets were only $5 and there was only two lifts and one gondola at first. The people who moved to Vail and skied the mountain at first were passionate mountain enthusiasts who viewed skiing as a way of life.

Where can we stay and is Vail expensive

Vail is going to be a more expensive mountain to stay at, which is one of the downsides to riding here. None the less, there are still some options that aren’t far from the resort and some right by the chairlift, if want to spend a little bit of cash. Below I listed places I believe will give you an awesome lodging experience!

The Arrabelle - Located in Lionshead, this is a true luxury resort, with a restaurant on site, pool, spa, and walkable distance to the chairlift. It’s also close to ski shops and the Burton Store that sits below the hotel!

Lodge at Vail- Pretty much in the heart of Vail Village, this hotel will also be a more luxurious stay. With room service, a swimming pool, and not far from the Vail Village gondola. Staying in a place like this will make you feel like a king or queen for your stay.

Gravity Haus- Also in Vail Village and walkable distance to the slopes, this lodging option has a restaurant on site, coffee shop, and a small breakfast menu. Don’t forget their spa and workout facilities. A newer household name in destinations around the country, this is probably one of my favorite options in Vail for lodging.

Residence Inn- More budget friendly, the rooms will be more like a standard hotel room. Farther from the mountain, however the hotel does offer a shuttle service to the resort!

Highline- Another option if you want to save money while vacationing in Vail. This hotel will be located on the west side of Vail close to the highway exit. They also offer a shuttle service.

Where can we rent/buy ski or snowboard equipment

There are going to be a number of ski shops in Lionshead and Vail Village with the two main snowboarding shops being Burton in Lionshead and Buzz’s boards in Vail Village. There was a Burton store in Vail Village for years, however it has recently closed down. These shops will offer Rentals, Demos (Try before you buy), and also sell just about everything you would need for a ski or snowboard trip to Vail, including a board bag to take your gear back home with you.

For rentals, especially holidays and weekends you’ll want to make rental reservations ahead of time. Epic mountain rentals, Christy Sports, and Gorsuch will have a way to reserve equipment before your trip. Buzz’s doesn’t require a reservation. Either get to the shop the night before or arrive early in the morning!

Other stores worth checking out for gear include North Face, Patagonia, Stio, Oakley, and Craniologie! Craniologie will have the best selection of helmets and goggles. Patagonia, North Face, and Stio will have options for ski outerwear with Oakley having some of the best goggles and some clothing/outerwear options.

Does Vail get a lot of snow

I would say Vail gets a good amount of snow each season. Of course it can depend on the season, but from what I’ve noticed is that the mountain sits in that valley where weather patterns seem to drop deep snow storms. On average Vail gets around 354 inches of snow/year.

Not everyday will be a powder day, so sometimes it could be icy, which in that case, you’ll want to stay on the groomed runs more.

How long does the season last

Vail stays open from Mid November through Mid April per national forest rules. Due to the mountain sitting at a lower elevation. Early season is usually just a few runs that require taking the gondola in Vail Village to chair 4 and then downloading at the end of the day. Depending on the year, Vail will start to fill in around Thanksgiving through December, slowly opening up different parts of the mountain! Just remember, Vail has 5,317 skiable acres, almost twice the size of Breckenridge!

What Season Pass options are there and are lift tickets expensive.

The full Epic pass will get you unlimited access to Vail with the Epic Local getting you up to 10 days. The best thing to do, is if you plan on riding 4 days or more, I would purchase an Epic Local. Peak season lift tickets will get to over $300/day. Season passes can be purchased the previous spring and this will be your best option to save money!

Should I take a lesson, and what are my options

If you have never skied or snowboarded before, I would recommend taking a lesson. Lessons are usually given off chair 2 or in Golden Peak off the Gopher Hill Lift. Your lesson options are private, group, first timer, and even adaptive for people with handicaps. Vail also offers options for more advanced skiers or boarders looking to explore the mountain called the all terrain program. It’s for kids/teenagers ages 7-15.

Just note, lessons can be very expensive, and can fill up quick. So book months in advance before your winter trip!

Where is the best place to grab coffee and breakfast

There’s a few coffee shops right in Vail Village that are worth grabbing a cup before you head to the gondola. Two Arrows is going to be your local spot and is steps from the Gondola. Yeti’s right in Solaris Village is your grab and go coffee shop, less elegant, but also a local favorite. A newer coffee shop in town that is also pretty damn good is Unravel, which is inside Gravity Haus. Each of these coffee shops will also have food options like breakfast burritos and avocado toast.

For Breakfast there’s the Little Diner in Lionshead, classic spot! It can get busy in the morning so be prepared for a wait. There’s also Vintage, which is going to be a lot more upscale. If you’re just doing a day trip from Denver or the front range, I would recommend Westside Cafe, near City Market.

What about dinner, where should we go for that

There’s 3 restaurants that I think are some of the best restaurants in Colorado and they just happen to be in Vail. My personal favorite restaurant is Mountain Standard. It has an open kitchen with locally sourced Colorado ingredients. Also open for lunch, make a reservation here and you will have an awesome meal.

Sweet Basil is the sister restaurant to Mountain Standard. I would say that it is a little more expensive and upscale, while still having food sourced from parts of Colorado, giving it that mountain feel. Amazing wines, starters, and just overall service. This place is the real deal.

Inside Gravity Haus will be Slope Room, with incredible ambience and the menu is pretty solid too. Whether you’re staying here or not, I would recommend this restaurant for a night out in the Village.

The last restaurant that should be added to your list is going to be Matsuhisa. Another fancy restaurant but with a sushi bar and hot kitchen. Matsuhisa is a global name started by chef Nobu combining Japanese and Peruvian flavors. I think it’s about as good as it gets for sushi in the mountains.

In Lionshead, two restaurants I recommend are Montauk Seafood Grill and Tavern on the Square. Tavern on the Square is connected to The Arrabelle and they also do breakfast. If the sun is out, it’s a nice place to grab something to eat or a drink at the end of the day on the patio.

Best Bars, Apre’s, and Nightlife

There’s a number of bars in Vail, mostly in Vail Village if night life is what you’re searching for. My favorite bar is Garfs in Lionshead. It’s bar food with a fairly large menu, the atmosphere is welcoming, and it just has a ski town vibe to it. It can get pretty busy in the winter, but there’s a lot of tables and the bar itself is pretty big. Other popular bars include Shakedown, The George, and Root & Flower. .

What is the town of Vail like

The town of Vail is split into different areas; Lionshead, Vail Village, and Golden Peak. There’s talks of expansion towards West Vail, but that could be years down the road.

Vail Village

This will be where the most restaurants and shops are as well as the best area to walk around while catching mountain views. Walk across the bridge and check out Gore Creek or stroll around to the different stores before you grab dinner somewhere in town. When it’s snowing and the Village is lit up, it is pretty magical.

Lionshead

Less going on in Lionshead, however if you are looking for more peace and quiet this is a nice part of Vail to spend time in. For starters, there is an ice rink, a fun activity with kids or a date night. You’ll also find a handful of restaurants, ski shops, and name brand stores. If you feel like going over to Vail Village for a night, just hop on the in-town bus and it will take you right over.

Golden Peak

The 3rd base area in Vail is going to be incredibly small, and that is Golden Peak. You’ve got lodging options, Avanti food & beverage, and a large rental shop for skis and boards.

What is the mountain like and where should we ride

Vail just feels never ending when you ride it and that’s the best way I can describe it. The complete opposite of a mom and pop ski resort. Lots of options on where to ride, but I would have to say my personal favorites are; Chair 11 and Sundown Bowl. Below I’ve listed detailed info on different areas of the resort!

Chair 11

Also known as the Northwoods Express lift. This area of the mountain is my favorite part of the frontside to ride. It has groomers, cliff drops, trees, and some fun hidden stashes. For more advanced skiers or snowboarders take North Rim to North Star or if you just want to cruise, take the catwalk and drop into Northwoods. If the snow isn’t great, this area can get skied out with Moguls, so make sure to scope it before you drop into any of the more advanced runs.

For an easier way down, take the catwalk (Timberline catwalk) down to the bottom of 11 or over to the Sourdough Express chair..

Views from below that overlook the North Rim area. Be aware of rocks and exposed terrain when going through this area!

Two photos, views of the Gore Range right before dropping into some trees and also what it can look like on a powder day when riding up Chair 11.

One of the best beginner to intermediate areas in all of Vail, Northwoods to Flapjack.

Sourdough Express Lift

If you are new to skiing or snowboarding this chairlift is your jam. Mostly green runs with one blue run, Whiskey Jack. I actually like Whisky Jack to get back to chair 11 or to ride all the way down to the Village Gondola.

Village Gondola Frontside

Although more of a mode of transportation to get from point a to point b, there is some fun runs off the gondola, such as Ben’s Face or for those who like steep, try Pumphouse.

This area isn’t my favorite part of the mountain, but it is a great way to warm up and the gondola is a way to access other areas of the mountain. Just note, on weekends as well as holidays I would avoid standing in the gondola line. Instead, start at the Lionshead gondola and then head over to Chair 2. From there, follow the Eagle’s Nest Ridge catwalk, dropping into Ouzo trees.

Shot By: Matias Zanotti

Lionshead Frontside

A less crowded area on Vail Mountain, skiing or snowboarding in Lionshead is fun if you have a family or if you don’t want to wait in lift lines. Runs like Born Free, Bwana, and Simba will be long intermediate blue runs.

I like riding right under the Eagle Bahn gondola or pretty close to it. It’s more challenging and not as groomed, but on a powder day, it’s a fun area to lap in the morning as seen below.

Game Creek

Not considered to be part of Vail’s infamous back bowls, Game Creek Bowl is still worth checking out. Go in the morning after an overnight snow storm, drop into Ouzo trees or lay down some turns on Showboat. Just note, Showboat, once it gets skied out, can get pretty bumpy. If that happens, ride down some of the less skied areas such as Deuces Wild. I’ve snowboard that area in the afternoon and there was still fresh lines to be found!

Showboat below, although short, runs right under the lift. Pop into some of the trees, lay out a turn in the bowl, or hit one of the side hits towards the bottom of the lift. Either way, can’t go wrong in Gamecreek!

Chair 2

Quiet possibly the most central area on Vail Mountain, not only is it a great place to link up with friends and family, but it also is a chill part of the mountain to take a few laps before heading to the back bowls. Lodgepole is a favorite run off Chair 2. A lot of the runs are pretty wide and there’s some good tree stashes if you cruise to the Mid Vail area!

My go-to is taking Chair 2 up, taking a left off the lift, and snowboarding Mid Vail Express down to chair 4.

Chair 3

Not my favorite lift in Vail, however if you want nice wide runs that are groomed, there is Hunky Dory and Eagles Nest Ridge. There’s also some smaller rock drops right under the chairlift, which I would only hit if the snow is soft.

Does Vail Mountain have Cliffs

With all of the resorts I have been to in Colorado, Vail I think has some of the best Cliffs to jump off of on a good powder day. Places like Blue Sky Basin (Lovers Leap) and Northwoods/North Rim will have cliff areas for thrill seeking enthusiasts. If you do decide to jump off any of these, always make sure to spot your landing, know the risk, and jump off these when the snow is soft.

Skree Field and Lovers Leap

Shot by: Matias Zanotti

Is there any Beginner to Intermediate terrain

If you aren’t the most experienced, no problem, Vail still has parts of the mountain that allow people who are new to the sport, be able to enjoy this beautiful place. To me, the best beginner terrain will be off of Chair 4, Golden Peak, Sourdough Express and Chair 2. These chairs will offer a number of green and blue runs for the beginner to intermediate skier/snowboarder. It is also some of the earliest terrain to open.

Whether you’re a kid or adult, Chaos Canyon will weave one through a series of race like turns until the catwalk that runs back to Chair 2.

Should we check out the Back Bowls

The short answer is.. yes. The back bowls are infamous and are what make Vail what it is today! What makes the these bowls so unique is how long and wide they are. Not too steep or above treeline, on a deep snow day, Vail’s back bowls are something else. 7 bowls total; Sun up, Sun Down, Inner & Outer Mongolia, Tea Cup, Siberia, and China!

Sun Down

This is my favorite back bowl that Vail has to offer, and with the recent Chair 17 addition you can lap it as many times as you want without traversing to get back to the same runs. What I love about it is the steepness and of course views. Runs like Ricky’s Ridge will leave a lasting smile on the face and make your vacation or trip to Vail that much better. This bowl requires you to traverse out to runs like Widges and Seldom, so make sure to hold your speed!

This area really allows you to see how large this mountain is and has gullies, pillows, and just wide open fields of terrain.

A hike up Ptarmigan Ridge is a fairly easy inbounds hike in Sun Down Bowl that will give you that extra little amount of untouched terrain when dropping into Sundown Bowl. It’s also the hike used for out of bounds legendary back country terrain and local favorite, the Minturn Mile. But to do that you’ll need a partner, plan, and proper back country equipment.

Shot By: Mitch Webb

Sun Up

One of two original bowls at Vail, This is the first one you’ll come up on as you start to explore the back bowls! It’s best to ride this one early before the snow gets kind of sticky or variable. There is a groomed run called The Slot in case you don’t feel like riding ungroomed runs. Some favorites in this bowl for me are Apres Vous, Yonder, and the trees in Over Yonder.

The Headwall Ridge above the Sleepy Time catwalk, may or may not be untouched

Over Yonder, which is right next to the Sun Up Express Lift offers some wide open tree riding.

Inner and Outer Mongolia- As far removed from the Resort as you can be these bowls are accessed via chair 21 to 22. It’s almost as if you feel like you’re in the back country when you are riding back in this area because they are so far from any Village or on-mountain restaurant.

Siberia- Also really secluded, this area tends to be more low angle. But if you’re looking to escape the crowds it’s a good one to go to. You can’t see any lifts in Siberia, giving it that off resort feeling. But don’t sweat, this area is still in bounds and mitigated by ski patrol.

China- The largest back bowl and probably the most popular, China Bowl has something for everyone. The reason it is so well known is the large Cliff band that allows you to drop off of at different heights depending on your comfort level. For steeper terrain, check out Dragons Teeth and Genghis Khan. China feels like it goes on forever, So you might need to take a break if the legs get tired!

On busy days, a little known secret is to start in Golden Peak instead of Gondola 1. This lift will go up and then down and drop you off on runs to the Sourdough Express lift (Chair 14). Take that up and you will be at China Bowl.

For a less steep ride check out the Poppy Fields as these will be more of a blue run, access these from chair 24 (Wapiti) or chair 21 (Orient Express). For trees there is Shangri-La, a decent length tree run all the way down to the base of the Orient Express Lift.

Tea Cup

The actual Tea Cup Bowl itself is pretty short and sweet however, there’s a fun gulley afterwards called the Marmot Valley that keeps the legs burning as you rip through it on skis or a snowboard. The traverse to get to Tea Cup is kind of a mission, but you can drop in early or keep going as far as you want, the earlier you drop the longer your run will be!

Riding around Vail with your friends are the kinds of days that make this whole experience memorable. Trevor, Mitch, and I cruising through the Teacup on Red Zinger and Emperor’s Choice.

Any good tree riding

My all time favorite trees (and I’ve mentioned them throughout this blog post) are Ouzo, back towards Game Creek Bowl.

Some family and kid friendly trees in Minnie-Ha Ha on the Frontside. These can be ridden through on the way back to Lionshead!

It doesn’t take much snow for it to stack up in WFO trees below!

WFO- On the way to Blue Sky you can take these tree’s to get back there instead of taking the long cat walk called Sleepy Time. It’s a quick run, but if there’s fresh snow, definetly worth it. Gets tight in areas, but overall you should be able to cruise through these with no problem. Watch out for fallen down trees in areas and look for the WFO sign when cruising on Sleepy Time!

Ouzo- Hop off Chair 2 towards the catwalk Eagles Nest Ridge, take that down pretty far until you see a good amount of trees, and drop in!

Tea Cup Glades- Also on the way to Blue Sky, these will be much more tight Aspen trees to ride through, so I would say you’ll need some experience. I like how it opens up as you get towards the base where the lifts are. Make sure to stay left and have a good sense of direction on these so that you don’t end up in no man’s land!

Shangri-La- Probably the largest tree skiing area on Vail, these will be located in China Bowl off Chair 21! Spread out in areas and then tight in other spots. This area can be lapped more than once to discover all of the hidden gems it has to offer.

What is Blue Sky Basin like

Blue Sky is its own mountain in a way. Completely different than anything on Vail Mountain. I think what’s cool is that you don’t have to be the most experienced skier/boarder to enjoy this part of Vail. Although the mountain has to fill in quite a bit before this area opens, depending on snowfall it’s typically Christmas. There are going to be three chairlifts; Skyline Express, Earl’s Express, and Pete’s Express. Petes Bowl is the terrain left of Skyline and Earl’s Bowl is the terrain right of Skyline.

The Main chairlift, Skyline gives you access to a vast amount of terrain. With lookers right being a pretty big open field including Earl’s Bowl with options to either ride the Champagne Glades or a more open run with some cliff drop areas called, In The Wuides. Continue to lap this area on Earl’s Express chairlift or take the run down and get on Skyway again.

If you go lookers left off Skyway it will be a series of steeper black diamond runs with some famous cliff areas such as Lovers Leap (see does Vail have Cliffs section) and Skree Field.

If you’re feeling adventurerous there are also hikes to side country areas such as Gate 38. I recommend going with a partner for this and being very familiar with snow safety as this area isn’t managed by the resort. Getting out of the area is a process as you’ll be weave through trees to pop back into the resort.

Petes Express Lift is the 3rd lift in Blue Sky. I haven’t spent too much time on this chair, but there are more trees and it can get tracked out on a powder days right under the chairlift, making the runs more bumpy.

If you’re with a family and just want some easier areas to ski or snowboard in Blue Sky, take the Skyline Express lift to the Cloud 9 cat walk and ride down the Big Rock Park or cut over and go down The Star.

Is there a Terrain Park

Yes, Vail has a terrain park and it will be located on Golden Peak! Not known for their park, Vail Mountain still puts in some nice features each winter. They’ll have a beginner, medium, and of course a more advanced area of the terrain park. One thing to note, is the jump line can be challenging, so make sure to get a feel for them before you just “send” it.

Where can we eat on the mountain

Other than Aspen the food on mountain is second best in my opinion, if you’re willing to pay for it. My personal favorite is the new Avanti in Golden Peak. It’s nice because they have many options to choose from, while still offering a centralized inside and outside eating area.

Other eating areas will be at the top of the Lionshead gondola (Eagles Nest), bottom of chair 3 and 4, BBQ at the top of chair 4, and also Wildwood at the top of chair 3. The views at the top of Wildwood are incredible if it’s a sunny day.

The two large cafeteria style ones will be at the top of the Lionshead Gondola and at the bottom of chair 3 and 4. These ones you grab a tray and it will be more like a traditional ski resort cafeteria. Each will also have bars for that afternoon break too. Lastly, there is Belles camp back in Blue Sky. Not many food options here, mostly snacks, but it is a good place to warm up, and grab some hot chocolate on a freezing day!

Where can we park and is there transportation

Most of the parking in Vail is going to be paid with the two main parking garages being in Vail Village and Lionshead. There’s a couple free zones to park throughout the town, but those can fill up quickly! Visit the town of Vail website for more info! If you’re lodging is in East or West Vail, the good news is, the town of Vail has awesome public transportation that can drop you off in Lionshead, Vail Village, or Golden Peak. During very busy times, these buses can be full.

There’s going to be a Red and Green bus for farther distances and then an In-Town bus for little trips around the 3 different base areas.

Any downsides to riding Vail

I would say the two downsides to Vail are the number of catwalks that you take to get from point A to point B, especially for Blue Sky Basin and the cost of visiting. There’s a reason the name for the catwalk to get back there is called Sleepy Time. With that being said you can always find shortcuts and terrain to ride that will take you to the chairlift without having to take a catwalk all the way to your destination

What to Pack

I’m a snowboarder so, I always get my gear on Burton.com. They will have everything from base layers, to boards, boots, bindings, luggage, jackets, and pants.

Also make sure to bring winter footwear, gloves, and a good hat or scarf to keep you warm when walking around town. And don’t forget sunscreen, as the sun at that kind of altitude is pretty strong!

That’s it for ski or snowboard trip to Vail. As always, if you have any questions drop them below! Thanks for reading this longer blog post and I’ll see you on the next one.

Looking for another ski resort on the Epic Pass? Check out the historic town of Breckenridge, about 45 minutes from Vail.

Booking a Ski or Snowboard trip to Copper Mountain, A Complete Guide

Disclosure: When you buy something through the Affiliate product links I have created below, I earn a small commission. I only promote products and companies I support as well as believe in.

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

Right off the I-70 Corridor and close to the small mountain town of Frisco lies Copper Mountain, a Summit County gem that in my opinion is one of the last ski resorts in the area that still has the mom and pop local vibes. Whether you’re new to skiing or snowboarding or you’ve been doing it for a long time, Copper has terrain for every kind of rider. One of the first times I ever snowboarded at Copper, I linked up with a few shop kids from Gravitee Boardshop, and it did not stop snowing.

We rode through trees, carved around on the main runs, and even took a few laps on the upper terrain. That was a number of years ago, and a lot has changed, as Copper has grown quite a bit due to an increase in popularity over the years. But what I remember is how it felt like more of a home mountain and less of a ski resort with a cookie cutter corporate feel (even though Copper itself is owned by a corporation). Like most larger ski resorts, it’s a mountain you can just keep exploring, especially on deep snow days!

In this post I’ll be going over where to stay, how to get to the mountain, where to buy/rent ski or snowboard equipment, places to eat, and what the mountain is like. Alright lets get into itttt.

Photo Megan Ray

Where is Copper

In between Frisco and Vail, Copper will be about 1.5 hours west of Denver depending on traffic. Get off on exit 195 as if you’re driving to Leadville and Copper Mountain will be on the right! Below I listed times and distances from major areas with Denver being the closest airport.

Denver: 1 hour and 20 minutes/77 miles

Boulder: 1 hour and 40 minutes/83 miles

Colorado Springs: 2 hours and 20 minutes/145 miles

Fort Collins: 2 hours and 20 minutes/137 miles

Where to Stay

I personally liked staying close to downtown Frisco because it is a mountain town with a main street that has restaurants, bars, boutiques, and shops. However, if you don’t like driving to the mountain and are looking for more of a ski-in/ski-out experience, I would stay in Copper Village. Rates for lodging will be the most expensive during holiday periods and peak season. I found a nice 1 bedroom a block from downtown Frisco on VRBO that was really comfortable.

If you don’t have a car and are staying in Frisco, no problem, there is a free bus called the Summit Stage that goes to and from Copper mountain with a pick up location in downtown Frisco.

Where to Park at Copper

There are 6 parking lots that I would recommend using, with only two free lots. The main free lot will be Alpine, with the far east lot used for overflow during busier times such as holidays and weekends. These two lots require bus transportation to the mountain, unless you take the ten minute walk to East Village (Walk towards the transportation center with restrooms and you’ll see the walk path to East Village on your left). Copper has three parts to it; East, Center, and West (more info below). Follow the signage to see which part of the mountain you want to go to, as there will be a bus that drops off and picks up at each area.

Photo Phil Bahner

Paid lots are closer and you’re able to walk to the mountain from these parking areas. Ten Mile, Union Creek, Beeler, and Chapel are all paid. For overnight parking, you can park in the alpine lot, however it will cost $20/night. No restrictions on number of nights allowed with overnight parking!

Is Copper on the Ikon

Yep, Copper will be Ikon, with no blackout dates and unlimited riding. You can also buy just a Copper pass and there will be some free days on the Copper only pass at other ski resorts such as Monarch.

The key when buying a season pass is to do it over the summer before prices go up. I know winter is probably the last thing on your mind in June, but you can save a chunk of money by doing this asap.

Photo Megan Ray

How much are lift tickets

Lift tickets are over $200 and you can save a little bit of money if you purchase them at least one day or more in advance online. If you do need to pick up your lift tickets, there will be digital pickup boxes located throughout the resort at each base area. More and more places are streamlining this process to make everything easier and quicker so you can get on the mountain ASAP!

On Thursdays, lift tickets are $99 with Coppers, “Play Forever”

Best places to buy or rent ski and snowboard Equipment

There’s a number of different ski and snowboard shops at Copper and also in Frisco. Best snowboard shop hands down is Gravitee Boardshop in Center Village. They will have an amazing selection of goggles, jackets, pants, boots, boards, and bindings. They also offer rentals, demos (try before you buy), and tuning services. It’s a core snowboard shop with an awesome vibe and the people working there are really helpful as well as friendly. Camp Hale in Center Village will also have board rentals along with jackets/pants, and winter accessories.

For ski rentals I would recommend Camp Hale, Charter, Rebel, or Copper Sports. If you’re looking to purchase ski equipment, Christy’s in East Village will sell ski’s, boots, poles, and ski gear. Looking to shop or rent in Frisco? Rebel, Epic Mountain Gear, and Pioneer Sports will all rent and sell ski/snowboard equipment.

Just make sure to make a rental reservation ahead of time, especially for busy times such as weekends and holidays! For ski boot fitting, check out Precision or Surefoot at Copper.

Are lessons available

Yep, Copper offers private, group, and youth lessons! Group lessons will be the least expensive option, while private lessons can get expensive. Full and half day options will be available. The one thing, like most ski resorts, is to book ahead of time, this includes lessons, lift tickets, season passes, rentals, dinner reservations etc. Beginner terrain and lessons will be mostly be located on the west part of Copper, with Center village having a small beginner area at the base, as well as East Village having a small area for beginners.

Other lesson options available will be privates at Woodward (Copper’s terrain park), adaptive, and Copper Guides. Copper guides is less of a lesson and more of showing you expert terrain at the resort.

What is the Mountain Like

Copper is pretty unique in that it’s located right off I-70 and is split into three sections; East, Center, and West. What I’ve always liked about Copper is that it’s not too big of a resort that you feel lost and you can ride most of the mountain within a couple days, weather and terrain permitting. It has some really fun upper terrain with bowls and steep runs, but also some fun blues and green runs to cruise around on. It also has one of the best terrain parks partnered with Woodward! The lift lines are never too bad on weekdays and even when the main parking lot is completely full, the mountain never feels overly crowded in my opinion. I cover more in detail each part below with some of my favorite areas to ride.

East Village

With some of the steepest terrain on the mountain, East Village is meant for those who like to go faster. Most of the runs will be Blacks and Double Blacks with a small amount of Blue runs mixed in. Ride over to the Storm King Tbar and drop into Spaulding Bowl or ride Resolution Bowl at the top of the SuperBee Lift.

In my opinion it’s also one of the least crowded parts of the mountain, which is why it can be a great place to start your day during busier time periods such as holidays and weekends. Just know this part of the mountain is for the more advanced skier or snowboarder!

The groomed runs in East Village can get icy at times so make sure your edges are sharp!

I like to take a couple laps on Andy’s Encore and then take the Superbee Lift back up and drop into the Resolution bowl on good to deep snow days. You can lap this area by taking the Resolution lift. Resolution bowl starts out steep with some rocks drops if you feel like jumping off something. A fun lap is Drainpipe to Highline. High line flattens out and is a wide open run right next to the Resolution chairlift.

If you want an even longer run, take Storm King up to the top of Spaulding Bowl and ride the bowl all the way down to the bottom of the Resolution lift. Either stick to the groomed runs, or cruise through trees as you ride to the base of the resolution lift. Spaulding Bowl has a number of different drop areas. Spaulding Ridge will be much steeper then if you were to take the traverse out and then drop.

Center Village

This will be the main area of Copper Mountain, with the two lifts at the base to get you from point A to B being American Eagle and American Flyer. American Eagle will be steeper and allow you to access the East part of the mountain if interested, whereas American Flyer will have easier runs and is the lift you take for accessing the west part of the mountain. American Flyer will also be the blue bubble chair!

Center Village is where you’ll find the majority of rental/retail shops, restaurants, guest services, and bars too.

If you have a family or small kids, the main groomer runs right off American Flyer will be some of the best. Long, but not steep at all in my opinion. Ride through the Woodward family race course towards the top as you ride down.

Photo Megan Ray

Photo Phil Bahner

Once you get to the top of American Eagle either ride the groomer runs or get on the Elevation Lift to take you even higher up the mountain.

From Flyer I like to take the Sierra Lift and ride Jupiter Bowl or the trees on Timber Ridge. Jupiter Bowl is the terrain that is right under Sierra Lift. It’s a quick lap, but a fun one to warm up the legs on when it’s a good powder day. It’s also fun to run a Sierra lap all the way to the base of Center Village.

Union Bowl is going to be the wide open bowl lookers left of Sierra.

Take the catwalk dead straight off of Flyer to get to the Sierra lift. Sometimes, if the area is open, you can drop into the trees on the left side of the catwalk to get to the Sierra lift. That lift is quick so be prepared for that when loading onto the chairlift!

There’s one gondola at Copper and it’s in Center Village. If temps are frigid, it’s not a bad place to escape the wind as you get shuttled up the mountain. Or if your with some friends or family it’s fun to take the gondola up and shoot the shit, have some laughs, and talk about the day.

The Storm King Tbar which can access higher alpine terrain in East Village will also access terrain off the Hallelujah Ridge such as Upper and Lower Enchanted Forest

West Village

The west side is where you’ll find a lot of great intermediate runs as well as beginner runs. On snow days it’s nice to cruise through West Village even though it’s not steep in areas, you’ll typically find some great powder stashes because most people that love powder will ride the upper terrain. Once filled in, which can vary depending on the season, take the Celebrity Ridge poma and Traverse out to Union Meadows. Union Meadows is a wide open ungroomed bowl, but will have some rocky areas, so be careful. You can ride down Union Meadows, ski through some of the trees, and then pop out on a green run.

Timberline and Woodward Express will be the two main lifts in West Village. It will be these two lifts that service a lot of green and blue runs. I love to snowboard through Jack Straw trees! Also located in West Village will be Woodward! A series of progression terrain parks including Peace Park, which I layout in more detail below.

The backside of the mountain

To access the backside either take lifts Sierra > Celebrity Ridge or Rendezvous. Celebrity Ridge is an old school Poma lift.

The backside has a lot to offer if you’re looking for some technical steeper terrain. In 2019, Copper put in the new Three Bears lift, giving access to new terrain off Tucker Mountain. If you go lookers left off the lift there will be more tree’s and it’s a bit steeper in parts. Head lookers right off the lift and the area consists of wide open bowls. The one downside is it can get pretty windy on the back area of the mountain making the snow more wind blown. It really all depends on weather, but it’s just something I’ve noticed when I snowboard the upper areas of Copper.

Regardless this part of the mountain seems infinite and you could spend a good amount of time in this area. There’s trees, cliff drops, and wide open bowls to explore if that’s your thing. With that being said be CAREFUL in these areas as there is unmarked terrain, potential avalanche areas, and rocks.

Looking to do a hike to access some terrain? Take the Mountain Chief lift up and then hike the Ridgeline on your left. If you go all the way to the end of the hike it’s about 20 minutes, but there’s a number of drop areas along the way.

Is the resort good for beginners

Of course! If you are new to skiing or snowboarding I would recommend West Village as a place to start or progress. The west part of Copper will have the best learning area in my opinion. There will be two good beginner chairlifts (Kokomo & Lumberjack).

Does it snow a lot

It depends on the season, Copper can get some good snow storms through out the season. It’s really hit or miss and depends on the year, weather patterns, etc. At times Copper can also get pretty windy and icy because it’s so exposed at a high elevation. The average annual snowfall is 305 inches.

Does Copper have good tree riding

Yea! If the snow is good, the trees are really fun. There’s a group of trees just past Flyers, the restaurant, that are a lot of fun. Locals call this area Mario, because there is some natural log features to jib around on. Jackstraw glades on the west part of the mountain are fun Low angle trees to ski or snowboard through as well. For steeper tree runs, check out the trees as you exit Spaulding Bowl or 17 Glades on the East side of Copper. .

Steep trees can also be found off of the Storm King Tbar by taking the Lillie G traverse and dropping into a wide open bowl that funnels into Upper or Lower Enchanted forest!

What is Woodward and what are the terrain parks like

Woodward is a company that builds terrain parks as well as skateparks across the country. They also offer summer camps for kids/teenagers looking to progress their abilities. I would say they are some of the best in the business and can be found at mountains such as Eldora, Copper, Mt Bachelor, Killington, and Woodward Park City! You can also find indoor Woodward facilities with trampolines, foam pits, and indoor skateparks. It has really changed the game in terms of progression and just making that side of snowboarding or skiing a lot of fun. Copper has multiple terrain parks including Peace Park (a transition set up with hips, snake runs, small jumps and walls to slash and carve around on. Each park at Copper has it’s own level with Central Park being the most advanced park set up.

Photo Chip Proulx

Central Park

Central Park will have medium sized jumps as well as a pro jump line. Through out the main park you’ll find medium to large sized rails along with Red’s Backyard (an inspired park set up from pro snowboarder Red Gerard’s actual backyard).

As for Preseason, Copper also has one of the best early season terrain parks in Colorado, with the setup being right off of American Eagle. It’s a hike park and it’s a good way to meet people and just hang out and have a good time at the start of the ski season.

Photo Chip Proulx

Alec Vandeweerd hitting a jump in the big line

Peace Park

Pro snowboarder Danny Davis is the mastermind behind this new approach to a terrain park. Peace Park first started in 2012 where Danny had a park crew build a unique, yet fun set up at North Star California, for a small group of professional Burton Pro riders. His vision continued to grow and each year a group of the best snowboarders would meet up for a week and ride a fun, progressive park that was built just for Peace Park (youtube Danny Davis Peace Park).

The same Peace Park concept was then brought to the general public on a much smaller scale so that the average skier or snowboarder would be able to have fun riding a park that was different. Copper happens to be one of the mountains that has a Peace Park set up, full of unique transitions, wall rides, jumps, and, rails.

Is there any good on mountain dining

Each part of the Mountain will have dining options at the base or on the mountain. There’s a new eating area called Aerie at the top of American. The food is pretty good, with cafeteria style seating on the ground floor and a restaurant that requires reservations on the second floor. Both floors will also have a bar as well as outdoor seating. Aeire has the best views for dining on the mountain! At the base of Center Village there will be Jack’s with a bar and food!

In East Village there is JJ’s Tavern and in the West Village there is more traditional resort cafeteria style food. On the mountain you can also find Flyers, a quick stop for Burgers, Brats, or a drink.

Downtown Frisco

Anytime I visit a ski town, it’s nice to just walk around and see what shops there are, potential places to eat/drink, and maybe take a few photos. Whether your staying in Copper or maybe Breck, I recommend checking out downtown Frisco for an evening after your done riding Copper.

Main Street will be where all of the shops, restaurants, and bars are. Not as big of a town as Breckenridge or Aspen, but it has an old fashion feel and awesome surrounding views. Plus it’s close to other ski resorts in the area such as Breck and Keystone.

Where should we eat

Breakfast

If you’re staying in downtown Frisco, my favorite place is Bread and Salt, but a lot of locals also really like Butterhorn Bakery. Both places will be more classic diner style with Butterhorn having the bakery. These restaurants get busy so be prepared to wait for a table or arrive early.

Coffee shops

Either Camp Hale in Center Village or Rocky Mountain coffee roasters on Main Street in downtown Frisco!

Dinner and Apre’s

Frisco has some great restaurants in the downtown area and also off the beaten path. My favorite restaurant is Pure Kitchen, close to Whole Foods. Their concept is healthy eating with organic farm to table ingredients. They have some really awesome starters, entree’s and cocktails. The music is always really good too! For fine dining and farm to table, I would also check out Frisco Prime, on main street in down Frisco. I listed three other restaurants below that I really like

Peppinos- Some of the best pizza in summit county, Peppino’s is a classic pizza shop that originally started in Leadville in 1998.

Uptown on Main- A nice place to sit down and have a meal in downtown Frisco. Staff is friendly! and the menu is pretty extensive with some great home cooked type meal options. Also a pretty extensive drinks menu.

Prost- German Beer and Sausages. It’s somewhat of a hole in the wall, but worth checking out. Incredible Bratwurst and beer!

Bird Craft- Located inside of Outer Range Brewery, although the menu is small, the food is some of the best in Frisco. It became so popular that they stopped doing online orders, so you have to order at the counter! The Food will be mostly Thai inspired chicken with a few non-chicken items. Definitely worth checking out!

Cielo Oaxaca- If you like Mexican food this will be the best in the county. The food taste like the food you would find in Mexico! , The staff is incredibly friendly and atmosphere has an authentic vibe to it.

For Apres’ at Copper Mountain I would recommend either Sawmill Taphouse, Ten Mile Tavern, or Eagle BBQ all located in Center Village. The Sawmill Taphouse is a pizza spot and connected to the main restaurant is a small hang out area that sells pizza by the slice, a locals favorite. If you have a sweet tooth, stop in at Sugar Lips for coffee, ice cream, or mini donuts with different topping choices.

Bars, Breweries, and Night Life

Looking to grab a drink somewhere after being on the mountain all day? My favorite place is Outer Range Brewery. It has a cool lounge upstairs as well as the main bar downstairs, along with outdoor heated seating. In downtown Frisco there’s Moose Jaw, which has food and feels like a dive bar along, Highside Brewery with a barbeque menu, and Ollies which also has a bar and food.

The only two late night Bars at Copper are Mulligans and High Rockies Whiskey and Wine bar. Mulligans will be open until 2am on Fri and Sat with a DJ and a late night food menu!

What should we pack

There’s a number of things to make sure you have when taking a ski or snowboard trip. Whether you pack these or purchase them when you arrive. Below is a small list of items I recommend having for a winter trip to Copper Mountain

1. Ski or Snowboard Socks- You’ll want a ski specific sock when going skiing or snowboarding, something with Merino wool, polyester, or a synthetic blend is what I would highly recommend. AVOID anything with cotton or wearing two socks at once. You’re feet will get colder because cotton and two socks at once will not wick moisture or sweat.

2. Goggles- Having a good pair of goggles is key. Oakley, Smith, Dragon, Anon and Giro are some top brands that make a great product allowing you to see when riding on the mountain. Plenty of Shops in Copper or Frisco will sell good goggles. Some will come with only one lens that work for most light conditions while others will come with two lenses, one for sun and one for Clouds.

3. Base Layers- Base Layers are going to be just like socks, avoid anything with cotton! I think Burton makes some of the best base layers, which you can find on Burton.com. I personally like their AK base layers.

4. Jacket/Pants- The key with ski or snowboard pants is to make sure they are waterproof and breathable.

5. Helmet- Protect your dome! Comfort is the most important part when buying a helmet. It should be snug, not tight and you can find the correct size by measuring around your head in centimeters with a soft fabric tape measure. It’s best to go into a store and try a few different styles on. craniologie in breckenridge will have the biggest selection of helmets and be the closest to Copper Mountain.

6. Gloves/Mitts-

7. Sunscreen/Chapstick- Make sure to either pack this or buy some when in Colorado. It’s a must, even on cloudy or snowy days.

8. Winter Footwear- A good pair of winter boots or footwear is much needed when walking around Colorado!

That’s it for a trip to Copper Mountain. Whether you’re whole vacation is at Copper Mountain or it’s one of the resorts you plan on riding during a trip to Colorado, I hope this guide helps! If you’re looking for other places to take a ski or snowboard vacation, check out Brighton in Utah!