Colorado

Powder primer: Updates and must-dos across Colorado’s ski areas

Published

1 year ago

November 10, 2024

Powder primer: Updates and must-dos across Colorado’s ski areas

ARAPAHOE BASIN

What’s new: In what it calls “the best and only method to improve our arrival experience,” A-Basin will be charging for parking reservations, starting at $20, on weekends and holidays between Dec. 21-May 4.

Mountain stats: 13,050-foot summit, 10,520-foot base

Where to eat: 6th Alley Bar & Grill is the spot for Bloody Marys and a hearty bite at the base. Farther out of sight is Il Rifugio, said to be the continent’s highest-elevation eatery at 12,456 feet. A-Basin’s newest eatery is Steilhang; warm up with German beer, sausage and strudel a short ski down from atop Lenawee Express.

ASPEN HIGHLANDS

What’s new: While locals are busy hoofing it to the mighty Highland Bowl, operators are looking to expand snowmaking on the lower slopes to improve early-season conditions.

Mountain stats: Highland Bowl at 12,392 feet, 8,040-foot base

Where to eat: Near the top of Cloud Nine Lift, Cloud Nine Alpine Bistro is a must-stop. The Switzerland-inspired cabin serves fondue and wine plus pops Champagne during more rowdy occasions overseen by a DJ. The views are hard to beat.

ASPEN MOUNTAIN

What’s new: Ajax last season debuted its largest terrain expansion since the 1980s. The terrain is called Hero’s with 150 acres of chutes and glades above 10,000 feet.

Mountain stats: 11,211-foot summit, 7,945-foot base

Where to go: Close to the base gondola, visitors will find a music institution. That’s Belly Up Aspen, the small concert hall drawing big acts. Peep the calendar before swinging through town, and hope tickets aren’t sold out.

BEAVER CREEK

What’s new: Beaver Creek has spent the past few years aiming to separate itself as a family destination unlike any other in the industry. The resort calls its progressive learning terrain the Signature Parks Collection; lift-served McCoy Park is the latest addition.

Mountain stats: 11,440-foot summit, 8,100-foot base

Where to eat: The prestigious Michelin Guide recognized a handful of restaurants in the Vail Valley. Check them out and make a reservation: Mirabelle, Splendido at the Chateau and WYLD are the ones around Beaver Creek.

BRECKENRIDGE

What’s new: The popular base at Peak 8 has seen high-speed chair upgrades to increase flow. Now operators are eyeing a revamped Peak 9, with a proposed gondola, reimagined learning zone and lift replacement.

Mountain stats: 12,998-foot summit, 9,600-foot base

Where to go: No visit to Breck is complete without a side trip to see Isak Heartstone. The big wooden troll sits at the end of a short trail through a snowy forest. Trollstigen trailhead is in the southeast corner of the Stephen C. West Ice Arena parking lot.

BUTTERMILK

What’s new: Officials cut the ribbon on a $23 million base renovation last year, centerpieced by the “sustainable and intuitive one-stop shop” guest services building. The project also added The Backyard, a sleek hangout for food and drinks.

Mountain stats: 9,900-foot summit, 7,870-foot base

When to go: Buttermilk every year hosts the X Games, bringing the world’s top winter sports athletes — not to mention star-studded parties — to Aspen. Festivities are set for Jan. 26-28.

COOPER

What’s new: If you haven’t been back in a few years, you might be surprised by the Tennessee Creek Basin terrain on the backside. The trails add an expert flair to Leadville’s small, historic ski area.

Mountain stats: 11,700-foot summit, 10,500-foot base

Where to shop: You’ve seen the light, vibrant, cinched hoodies all over Colorado. Now’s the time for your own “Melly.” But don’t expect to find one at Melanzana, the fiercely independent store where the hoodies are handmade. You’ll want to book an advanced appointment online.

COPPER MOUNTAIN

What’s new: The Timberline Express is being upgraded from a four-person chair to a high-speed six-seater, increasing uphill capacity to cherished intermediate terrain. The replacement is part of Copper’s broader, multi-year effort enhancing the resort’s Western Territory.

Mountain stats: 12,313-foot summit, 9,712-foot base

Where to drink: If you’re an IPA lover, you already know about Outer Range Brewing Co. If you don’t happen to know — run, don’t walk. It’s a beautiful, two-story facility with a super scenic deck.

CRESTED BUTTE

What’s new: The Al Johnson Memorial Telemark Race is not new at all. This spring just happens to mark the start of a new decade. The race celebrated 50 years last season, bringing back costumed competitors honoring a 19th-century mountain mailman.

Mountain stats: 12,162-foot summit, 9,375-foot base

Where to eat: Make a reservation and splurge at The Slogar, named for the Slogar family who lived in this cabin in the late 1800s. Now patrons gather around tables for family-style fried chicken dinners, with all the biscuits, creamed corn and mashed potatoes you can eat.

ECHO MOUNTAIN

What’s new: Colorado-based entrepreneur Dan Dietrich acquired Echo last year, the next to oversee the small ski area with several starts and stops going back to the 1960s.

Mountain stats: 10,650-foot summit, 10,050-foot base

Where to eat: Down in Idaho Springs, you’ll find the original home of “Colorado-style” pizza. Beau Jo’s began baking mountain-like pies here in the 1970s.

ELDORA

What’s new: Ignite Adaptive Sports has long connected people with disabilities to these Boulder County slopes. A new facility, Caribou Lodge, will welcome those skiers this season and serve as Ignite’s base into the future.

Mountain stats: 10,600-foot summit, 9,360-foot base

Where to go: Whimsical Nederland might be best symbolized by the whimsical carousel in the heart of town. That’s the Carousel of Happiness, the indoor memory maker of hand-carved animals.

GRANBY RANCH

What’s new: Automated snowmaking and enhanced grooming have been part of the humble Grand County ski area’s long-term vision called Granby Ranch Rising.

Mountain stats: 9,202-foot summit, 8,202-foot base

Where to stay: Granby Ranch is well-suited for skiing families, who might spoil themselves by making base at nearby Devil’s Thumb Ranch. It’s a rustic, sweeping getaway that offers cozy rooms, log cabins and endless fun activities.

HOWELSEN HILL

What’s new: Historically grounds for Steamboat Springs youth and pros training on jumps, Colorado’s oldest ski area has broadened its appeal to outsiders with new infrastructure, extended hours and friendly pricing.

Mountain stats: 7,136-foot summit, 6,696-foot base

Where to shop: Visitors get a glimpse of Steamboat’s skiing history at Howelsen. At F.M. Light & Sons, they get a glimpse of the town’s ranching heritage. The store has been outfitting local cowboys for more than 100 years.

KEYSTONE

What’s new: Those in the know had long been hiking to the wonders of Bergman Bowl. The Bergman Express is now providing a ride up.

Mountain stats: 12,408-foot summit, 9,280-foot base

Where to shop: The Outlets at Silverthorne are a 10-minute drive from the base. Two birds, one stone: Get your fix on the slopes, then get those last-minute Christmas gifts.

LOVELAND

What’s new: Loveland Snowcat Tours in recent years expanded access to 580 acres of high-elevation bowls and glades in an area known as Dry Gulch.

Mountain stats: 13,010-foot summit, 10,800-foot base

Where to drink: If you want to feel like you’re in on a secret — and if you’re needing a break from the weekend’s Interstate 70 traffic — exit at Silver Plume and mosey on over to the 1800s-era building where miners once resupplied on baked good. This is now Bread Bar, mixing up fine cocktails Friday through Sunday.

MONARCH

What’s new: After many years of anticipation, Monarch this summer got the green light to expand to the other side of the Continental Divide. The goal is to have a lift and No Name Basin open for the 2025-26 season.

Mountain stats: 11,952-foot summit, 10,790-foot base

Where to eat: Back down in Salida, stop to refuel with a big, hearty sandwich. Sweetie’s Sandwiches & Baked Excellence always delivers, with an expansive menu to match the epic proportions. We counted nearly 50 sandwiches at last check.

POWDERHORN

What’s new: While prices increase pretty much everywhere else, the ski area on the Grand Mesa has announced “Mission Affordable” ahead of the 2024-25 season. That’s a pledge to freeze or reduce prices at the ticket window and cafeteria.

Mountain stats: 9,850-foot summit, 8,200-foot base

Where to eat: Grand Junction’s food scene has steadily grown to harness the flavors of local farms. Among the recommended spots: Cafe Sol, Bin 707 Foodbar, The Winery, 626 on Rood and Tacoparty.

PURGATORY

What’s new: Last season’s announcement of $29 lift tickets turned heads. It was a bit of a marketing ploy; demand-based pricing means the chance at cheap tickets, yes, but not necessarily on busy days. The point: The Durango-area resort is pushing to grow its clientele.

Mountain stats: 10,822-foot summit, 8,793-foot base

Where to stay: The historic Strater Hotel is a Victorian marvel commanding a corner of downtown. If you can’t snag a room, you at least need to check out the old-time Diamond Belle Saloon. Happy hour is 4-6 p.m. Monday to Friday.

SILVERTON

What’s new: The extreme, single-lift outpost was acquired last year by a pair of friends who’d been operating Heli Adventures Inc., the business similarly aimed at high-octane thrills.

Mountain stats: 13,487-foot summit, 10,400-foot base

Where to go: On the opposite end of the skiing spectrum is Kendall Mountain Ski Area, the family hill with a short lift serving a short series of green runs. Families might also hit the sledding hill or ice rink.

SNOWMASS

What’s new: Snowmass is unveiling the Coney Express this season, a high-speed quad effectively replacing the Coney Glade chairlift. The Express figures to significantly increase out-of-base flow, including also a midway station accessing the terrain park and unlocking foot access to Lynn Britt Cabin.

Mountain stats: 12,510-foot summit, 8,104-foot base

Where to stay: Hotel Jerome and The Little Nell are two bucket-list stays in Aspen. The former is historic, the social center of town dating to 1889, while The Little Nell is the five-star retreat with luxury suites, fine dining and a spa.

STEAMBOAT

What’s new: The $220 million, multi-year, multi-faceted Full Steam Ahead initiative has culminated in a terrain expansion making Steamboat the second largest ski resort in Colorado.

Mountain stats: 10,568-foot summit, 6,900-foot base

Where to go: For being fairly small and remote, Steamboat Springs has a surprising music scene. Will it be Schmiggity’s Live Music & Dance Bar? Or the locally beloved Old Town Pub? Then there’s the press., the intimate nook commonly hosting acoustic talents.

SUNLIGHT

What’s new: This season expects to be a celebratory send-off for the chairlift said to be the longest running in Colorado, traced to the 1950s. The Glenwood Springs ski area plans to replace Segundo for next season.

Mountain stats: 9,895-foot summit, 7,885-foot base

Where to go: While Glenwood’s most famous hot springs destination is the one with the massive pool, Iron Mountain Hot Springs continues to build its fan base. More than a dozen pools have been added to the terrace overlooking the Colorado River. It’s an adults-only area, with several more scenic dips on the other side of the property for families.

TELLURIDE

What’s new: The resort added another feather to its cap in 2024: “best overall ski resort in North America.” That was the honor from OnTheSnow’s Visitors’ Choice Awards.

Mountain stats: 13,150-foot summit, 8,725-foot base

Where to eat: “World’s Best Pizza” is a lofty claim. But Brown Dog Pizza apparently has the hardware to back it up — gold from the International Pizza Challenge in Las Vegas. You be the judge, sampling both the traditional crust and the thick, Detroit pan-style made here.

VAIL

What’s new: The Avanti Food & Beverage halls in Denver and Boulder are big hits. Now one is coming to the resort’s Golden Peak. Powerline Pub also will debut at the top of Mid-Vail.

Mountain stats: 11,570-foot summit, 8,120-foot base

Where to eat: The Michelin Guide’s suggested restaurants in Vail: Sweet Basil and Osaki’s Sushi & Japanese Cuisine. Inspectors noted Sweet Basil’s tempura-fried mahi mahi tacos, bone marrow pho with scallop and miso black garlic-glazed halibut. Inspectors loved Osaki’s sushi, niche Japanese specialties and “sweet and meaty” snow crab.

WINTER PARK

What’s new: The resort this summer announced “Winter Park Unlocked” — a long-term vision foreseeing a massive terrain expansion, a redeveloped base area and a “ski back trail” connecting to town.

Mountain stats: 12,060-foot summit, 9,000-foot base

Where to drink: Locals and tourists converge at Randi’s Grill & Pub. After a hard-earned day on the mountain, the cozy Irish pub hits the spot with big mugs of beer and comfort grub.

WOLF CREEK

What’s new: This will mark the first full season for the Tumbler lift, the fixed-grip quad introduced last spring. It was built with beginners in mind, situated near terrain designed for them.

Mountain stats: 11,904-foot summit, 10,300-foot base

Where to go: After a cold, taxing day on the slopes, warm up and rejuvenate in Pagosa Springs’ geothermal waters. The Springs Resort offers the most pools beside the San Juan River, while nearby Healing Waters Resort & Spa is the intimate, family-owned spot. Enjoy soaking tubs with a view at Overlook Hot Springs.

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Where did Colorado’s wolves spend time in December?

Published

6 hours ago

December 23, 2025

Press Room

Where did Colorado’s wolves spend time in December?

While some of the wolves are part of Colorado’s four packs establishing territories in Pitkin, Jackson, Routt and Rio Blanco counties, others continue to search the landscape for mates and suitable food sources and habitat.

Largely, however, wolf exploration of Colorado remains within similar northern counties in December, according to the latest wolf activity map shared by Colorado Parks and Wildlife on Dec. 23.

The map — which shows the watersheds where the state’s collared gray wolves were located between Nov. 25 and Dec. 19 — shows that wolves continue to be most active in the northwest, while also pushing into watersheds to the south and east.

While the map continues to show activity in some Front Range area watersheds within Larimer, Denver, Boulder and Jefferson counties, the agency reported that “no wolves have crossed I-25 or spent time near urban centers.”

If a watershed is highlighted, it means that at least one GPS point from one wolf was recorded in that watershed during the 30 days. GPS points are recorded every four hours or so. The latest map also shows activity in Routt, Rio Blanco, Eagle, Jackson, Larimer, Grand, Summit, Gilpin, Clear Creek, Park, Lake, Chaffee, Gunnison, Garfield, Saguache, Rio Grande and Conejos counties.

While wolves have been exploring southern watersheds for months, Colorado saw its first wolf enter New Mexico and be returned by the southwestern state’s wildlife agency in December. Colorado has an agreement with Utah, New Mexico and Arizona in which any gray wolves from Colorado that enter these three states can be captured and returned to Parks and Wildlife.

According to Parks and Wildlife, the male gray wolf was among those born to the Copper Creek pack in 2024 and dispersed from the pack in the fall. Dispersal is common for young wolves as they leave their birth pack, attempt to make it on their own and search for a mate. The animal was released in Grand County — a decision that sparked concerns from state and local elected officials as well as some wildlife advocates — in a location reportedly distanced from livestock and near to an unpaired female wolf as well as prey populations.

The watershed map shows that there was wolf activity in Conejos County along the New Mexico state border. It also shows wolf activity brushing up against the Wyoming border. Parks and Wildlife does not have an agreement with its northern neighbor. Instead, wolves that enter Wyoming lose their protections as an endangered species and can be hunted in the vast majority of the state. Three of Colorado’s reintroduced wolves have died after going north.

Colorado is nearly two years into its reintroduction of gray wolves, releasing a total of 25 wolves. Four packs had pups this year, but Parks and Wildlife has not released minimum counts of new wolf pups for all the packs. It says it will release the count in its annual wolf report, released each spring. Eleven wolf deaths have been confirmed.
While the agency was looking to conduct its third year of wolf releases in the southwest this winter, Parks and Wildlife has yet to secure a source of wolves. The agency had planned to return to British Columbia; however, the federal government, under a new director, said it could no longer import the wolves from outside the country.

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Opinion: Colorado must invest in evidence-based policies to prevent harm from substances, not costly criminalization

Published

18 hours ago

December 23, 2025

Press Room

Opinion: Colorado must invest in evidence-based policies to prevent harm from substances, not costly criminalization

Across the nation, the opioid epidemic has wreaked havoc on the health and lives of far too many, and Colorado is no exception. According to Mental Health America, Colorado ranks fourth and seventh in the country for adults and youth with substance use disorders, respectively. That means thousands of our friends, neighbors and loved ones are living with addiction and can’t get the help they need. Overdose deaths in Colorado have risen sharply since 2019, largely due to the proliferation of fentanyl, with 1,603 deaths in 2024 alone, according to the state.

It’s a public health crisis, and one we’re now at risk of making even worse. Last month, supporters turned in signatures to send Initiative #85 to the 2026 ballot, a measure that would increase criminal penalties for fentanyl crimes. We feel this threatens to drag us backward toward the failed policies and practices of the past rather than working toward a healthier future.

At the same time, state and federal funding for treatment and prevention is drying up. The recently passed federal spending bill HR1 will mean devastating changes to Medicaid, gutting the single most important source of funding for substance use treatment in the country. For the past several years, as more states have expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid has emerged as the leading source of coverage for addiction treatment in the nation.

A recent Brookings study found that nearly 90% of treatment for opioid addiction is paid for, at least in part, by Medicaid. These cuts will leave our already strained systems unable to meet the growing demand, particularly for low-income and disabled individuals who will have fewer treatment options and more barriers to care.

Meanwhile, Colorado faced a $1.2 billion budget shortfall this year, and even more deficits are on the horizon for 2026. The state is stuck in a cycle of annual budget shortfalls of roughly $1 billion, making it increasingly difficult to cover existing programs and skyrocketing Medicaid costs. That means fewer resources to fill in federal funding gaps, a fraying behavioral health safety net, and an increasingly stressed population that is highly vulnerable to substance use and harm.

Given this grim picture, it’s never been more critical to prioritize smart, effective policy to combat the overdose crisis. We should be focusing our scarce funding on evidence-based substance use prevention, treatment and recovery support, not costly, ineffective drug war criminalization policies that are historically discriminatory in their implementation and proven to fail.

Mitigating and reversing the drug addiction crisis in Colorado and across the nation is complex and has to involve multiple strategies working in tandem to decrease supply and demand. While increasing criminal penalties related to drug addiction among individuals may seem like a tough-on-crime approach, it has not and will not resolve the drug addiction crisis nor dissolve the supply or the demand for illicit drugs.

Decades of data show that criminalizing substance users doesn’t reduce addiction or overdose. Recently, researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz found the following: “Intensified drug enforcement laws have little deterrent effect on substance use and may worsen health outcomes. Fear of being arrested fosters riskier substance use behaviors and increased overdose risk. Incarceration and the subsequent stigma experienced by people with substance use disorder work in tandem to create barriers for treatment access and worsen mental health, creating a structurally reinforced cycle of isolation.”

The research is clear. Harsh penalties haven’t protected our communities from the dangers of fentanyl. They have only compounded harm and pushed people deeper into the shadows, making it harder to seek help, and saddling individuals with felony records that create lifelong barriers to employment, housing, and recovery.

Policies like the proposed 2026 ballot measure to increase felony charges for drug possession are not just misguided — they cost taxpayer dollars. They further overburden law enforcement agencies, flood jails, courtrooms and prisons that are already beyond their capacity, and ultimately do nothing to address the core of the opioid epidemic.

Instead of doubling down on punishing people who use substances, we need to expand what works: prevention programs in schools and communities, access to harm reduction tools like naloxone, and a robust continuum of care that includes outpatient and residential treatment. We need more support for peer recovery professionals, more public education and more investment in what keeps people healthy, which includes housing, food security and opportunities for connection. We need to act together, with assertive intelligence, to disrupt the black market drug trafficking that is the enemy of the people.

The opioid crisis is a public health crisis and demands a public health response. Colorado has the knowledge, data and tools to build a more effective and compassionate system. But we cannot do it if we are bleeding out resources to punitive policies that fail the people they claim to help.

Let’s not go backward. Let’s invest in health and safety and give Coloradans a real chance at recovery.

Vincent Atchity, of Denver, is the president and CEO of Mental Health Colorado.

José Esquibel, of Jefferson County, is the former vice chair of the Colorado Substance Abuse Trend and Response Task Force.

The Colorado Sun is a nonpartisan news organization, and the opinions of columnists and editorial writers do not reflect the opinions of the newsroom. Read our ethics policy for more on The Sun’s opinion policy. Learn how to submit a column. Reach the opinion editor at opinion@coloradosun.com.

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Bright Leaf helps grandparents raising grandkids in Colorado as they face holiday hardships

Published

1 day ago

December 22, 2025

Press Room

Bright Leaf helps grandparents raising grandkids in Colorado as they face holiday hardships

At a kitchen table in Arvada, backpacks and homework papers take over. It’s a common sight for Carla Aguilar, but one she never expected to repeat.

“I thought I was all done raising kids, you know?” Aguilar said.

Carla Aguilar and her 8-year-old granddaughter, Athena.

CBS

For more than a decade, Aguilar has been raising her two granddaughters, Ava and Athena. Ava, 12, was too shy to appear on camera, but 8-year-old Athena proudly showed how her grandmother helps her learn.

“She helps me read,” Athena said. “She taught me how to write correctly.”

Aguilar, 55, is disabled and lives on a fixed income. She says every day is a balancing act, and this time of year is challenging.

“Holidays are hard, so we’re kind of dealing with that right now,” she said.

Aguilar’s story is far from unique. According to the latest data from the American Society on Aging and the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 2 million grandparents nationwide are primary caregivers for their grandchildren. In Colorado, more than 36,000 families face the same reality, often with limited financial resources and little support.

“Most of these seniors are on fixed income, social security, disability, and you can’t really stretch that too far in Colorado these days,” said Steve Olguin, executive director of Bright Leaf, a nonprofit that helps older adults across the state.

Bright Leaf started as a small community group and now provides free home repairs, food assistance, and other essentials to seniors statewide. Its newest initiative, GrandCare Alliance, focuses on grandparents raising grandkids — offering help with school costs, activity fees, and holiday wish lists.

“We’re just trying to help out so it’s not as rough for them,” Olguin said.

For Aguilar, that support is a lifeline. She says her granddaughters are her world, and she’ll never stop fighting for them.

“They’re my heart, my soul, everything,” Aguilar said. “I will take care of them until my last breath.”

Steve Olguin, executive director of Bright Leaf.

CBS
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Bright Leaf is asking for the community’s help in supporting the GrandCare Alliance and its other services. Those who want more information on how to volunteer and donate can visit their website.

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