Colorado

The 6 Best Ski Resorts In Colorado

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2 years ago

February 27, 2024

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Kim Peiffer, Forbes Staff

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Colorado offers some of the best skiing in the country, thanks to the state’s plethora of world-class mountain towns that attract families and solo travelers alike. Whether you’re looking to embark on an advanced heli-skiing adventure or you’re interested in something a little less risky (bring on the bunny hill), the best ski resorts in Colorado have slopes for every adventure level.

From Vail to Telluride, we’ve selected the Colorado ski resorts with the most to offer, from towns with an abundance of fine dining and nightlife to family-friendly mountains that are great for the little ones. Below, our selections for the best places to shred some powder in the Centennial State in 2024, as well as some of our favorite accommodations to call it a night.

Where To Stay Near The Best Ski Resorts In Colorado:

Vail: Four Seasons Resort Vail, The Arrabelle At Vail Square, A RockResort
Aspen: The Little Nell, The St. Regis Aspen Resort, Limelight Hotel
Beaver Creek: The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch, Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort And Spa
Crested Butte: Eleven Scarp Ridge Lodge
Breckenridge: Gravity Haus, One Ski Hill, A RockResort
Telluride: Madeline Hotel and Residences, Auberge Resorts Collection, Fairmont Heritage Place, Franz Klammer Lodge

Vail

Vail Mountain Resort in Vail, Colorado.

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Vail Mountain Resort

Who Will Love It: Those looking for a picturesque ski town with a European vibe; foodies; world-travelers

Skiable Terrain: 5,317 acres (18% beginner, 29% intermediate, 53% advanced)

All-Star Amenities: World-class dining; scenic mountain chalets

What Not To Miss: Michelin-recognized Japanese restaurant Osaki’s

Where To Stay: Four Seasons Resort Vail; The Arrabelle At Vail Square, A RockResort

As Colorado’s largest mountain resort, Vail is a bucket list ski experience for a reason. Over 5,300 acres of ski and snowboard terrain, including some world-renowned back bowls, makes this a popular destination for ski lovers of all kinds (the terrain is seemingly endless). But Vail also has more to offer beyond just a stellar experience on the slopes. The picturesque locale has all the charm of a European ski town, with cobblestone streets, a Bavarian-themed village with plenty of glittering trees and luxury restaurants at every turn. To round out the experience, call it a night at one of the town’s many five-star accommodations and awake relaxed and refueled, ready to take on another perfect bluebird day.

Where To Stay:

Four Seasons Resort Vail: At the base of Vail Mountain, this luxury resort offers a little bit of everything, from an all seasons outdoor pool to a luxurious spa. For families or those traveling in groups, some rooms feature fully equipped kitchens.

The Arrabelle At Vail Square, A RockResort: From its rooftop pool and hot tubs to its ski-in/ski-out access, The Arrabelle is a great choice for those who favor amenities and location.

Aspen

The resort at Aspen Snowmass

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Aspen Snowmass

Who Will Love It: Those who drool over opulence; high rollers; couples; nightlife lovers

Skiable Terrain: 3,342 acres (5% easiest, 48% more difficult, 17% most difficult, 30% expert)

All-Star Amenities: Four ski resorts for all levels; fine dining experiences on-mountain

What Not To Miss: An Afternoon at Snow Beach; Apres-ski experience at Cloud Nine Alpine Bistro; a romantic dinner for two at Pine Creek Cookhouse

Where To Stay: The Little Nell; The St. Regis Aspen Resort; Limelight Hotel

Jet-setter and celebrity-favorite hotspot Aspen is beloved for many reasons, from its four different ski resorts that combine to offer some of the most interesting terrain in Colorado, to its extremely luxurious dining, hotel and après scene. Here, where you dine and hang post-slopes is just as important as where you’re carving through powder during the day. Both are a highly coveted part of Aspen lifestyle, and there are plenty of five-star options to boot. To start, pamper yourself with a luxurious stay at The Little Nell, the town’s only ski-in/ski-out hotel, and book yourself a one-of-a-kind experience on-mountain at Aspen Highland’s Cloud Nine Alpine Bistro (if you can snag a reservation, that is.) Legs sore from skiing? Pay a visit to The St. Regis for an incredible afternoon couple’s spa experience; you’ll emerge feeling like new.

Where To Stay:

The Little Nell: As Aspen’s only only ski-in/ski-out hotel, The Little Nell is the hottest location in town, and not only for its VIP spot on the mountain. Here, the who’s who of Aspen floats in and out, from the sunken living room bar, to 5-star dining at Element 47.

The St. Regis Aspen Resort: Upscale, cozy and chic, The St. Regis Aspen Resort boasts relaxation and inviting mountain luxury at every turn. From its highly coveted spa—where you can spend hours unwinding in steam caves, cold plunges, hot tubs, an oxygen lounge and a waterfall pool before your treatment—to its well-appointed rooms and suites, a world-class experience awaits.

Limelight Hotel: Limelight Hotel’s flagship property in the heart of downtown Aspen is a stylish mountainside retreat, featuring well designed rooms with ample storage, making it easy to pack a lot of ski gear in for the whole crew without feeling cramped.

Beaver Creek

Beaver Creek Resort Winter Skiing at Dusk; a scenic view of village illuminated at night.

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Beaver Creek

Who Will Love It: Luxury seekers; foodies; those who appreciate high-end amenities; families

Skiable Terrain: 2,082 acres (28% beginner, 38% intermediate, 34% advanced )

All-Star Amenities: Warm chocolate chip cookies served daily at the base of the mountain

What Not To Miss: A sleigh ride to dinner at Beano’s Cabin

Where To Stay: The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch; Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort And Spa

From meticulously groomed corduroy runs to over 2,000 acres of skiable grounds, Beaver Creek attracts the who’s who of the ski world thanks to its many luxurious offerings, both on and off the mountain. Here, not a single detail is left untied, from the daily freshly baked cookies served at the bottom of Haymeadow and Centennial Express Lifts, to the spectacular culinary program at many of Beaver Creek’s restaurants. Don’t miss a trip to Beano’s Cabin for a bucket-list culinary experiences featuring a gourmet menu and wine list, complete with stunning mountain views via log cabin (you arrive by sleigh ride). A charming alpine village welcomes plenty of off-slope activities, from high-end boutiques to world-renowned hotels (The Ritz Carlton, Bachelor Gulch offers an array of amenities and a concierge team that will make any vacation dream a reality).

Where To Stay:

The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch: From its incredible ski-in/ski-out location at the foot of Beaver Creek Resort, to its multitude of upscale dining options, this Ritz property is a no brainer if its luxury you’re craving.

Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort And Spa: Another great option for ski-in/ski-out access, Park Hyatt calls Beaver Creek Village home. Book slopeside lodging and a private balcony and savor those mountain views, or reserve an oversized fireplace suite with cabin-style décor.

Crested Butte

The historic buildings along Elk Avenue in Crested Butte.

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Crested Butte

Who Will Love It: Advanced skiers; adventurers; those who appreciate small town charm

Skiable Terrain: 1,547 acres (14% beginner, 24.6% intermediate, 24.8% advanced, 36.6% extreme)

All-Star Amenities: Breakfast at Highlife Crust & Crafts; dinner at Uley’s Cabin

What Not To Miss: Skiing “Rambo,” considered the steepest lift-serviced tree-cut trail in North America

Where To Stay: Eleven Scarp Ridge Lodge

With 561 acres of double-black-diamond terrain that accounts for nearly two-thirds of the mountains overall acreage, Crested Butte is the go-to mountain town for thrill seekers and expert skiers, offering a ton of extreme skiing at every turn with the no-frills charm of an old school mining mountain town (you won’t see a single stoplight in this town). But that’s part of the charm of it, after all.

After thousands of calories burned on the slopes, refueling is an essential part of the equation at Crested Butte, and plenty of options for cozy comfort food and local drinks abound. Paradise Warming House is a go-to spot for a classic ski lodge experience, while a fun après scene is always on the menu at The Umbrella Bar at Ten Peaks, offering sweeping views of Gunnison Valley.

Where To Stay:

Eleven Scarp Ridge Lodge: A former saloon-turned European ski chalet, the flagship Eleven Resorts property boasts private backcountry cat skiing and a host of elevated mountain activities, coupled with six unique accommodations and even a saltwater pool.

Breckenridge

The streets at night in the winter with holiday lighting in Breckenridge, Colorado.

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Breckenridge Ski Resort

Who Will Love It: Families; beginners; friend groups

Skiable Terrain: 3,000 acres (11% beginner, 31% intermediate, 24% advanced, 34% expert)

All-Star Amenities: Nearly the entire town is ski-in/ski-out

What Not To Miss: Sleigh rides; ice skating; tubing

Where To Stay: Gravity Haus; One Ski Hill, A RockResort

Breckenridge is a great family resort just 104 miles from Denver. Thanks to its abundance of green trails and plenty of areas for lessons, it has become a popular place for adult beginners and little ones alike. But that doesn’t exclude those more advanced skiers—187 total trails mean there is something here for every level. One of the coolest and most unique elements of the town of Breck is its direct access to the mountain from Main Street. Ski right from the top of North America’s highest chairlift at the close of the day directly to your favorite après watering hole—nearly the entire town is ski-in, ski-out. Speaking of the town, its historic mining town charm is one-of-a-kind. Here, you’ll find plenty of shops and restaurants, sans the stuffy feel of some of the other more expensive ski towns in Colorado.

Where To Stay:

Gravity Haus: This boutique hotel at the base of Peak 9 offers eco-friendly and pet-friendly accommodations with plenty of unique amenities—including a Japanese-inspired Onsen with hot and cold tubs and a dry sauna.

One Ski Hill, A RockResort: For groups, One Ski Hill is a great choice thanks to its condo-style rooms with plenty of space. The resort is nestled at the base of Peak 7 and just steps from the BreckConnect Gondola that shoots you right into downtown Breck in a matter of minutes.

Telluride

Telluride, Colorado and Mountain Village glow beneath the San Juan Mountains on a cold, winter night.

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Telluride Mountain Village

Who Will Love It: Advanced skiers; adventurers; those looking for old-school mountain charm mixed with modern amenities

Skiable Terrain: 2,000+ acres (23% beginner, 36% intermediate, 41% advanced)

All-Star Amenities: A 13-minute free gondola ride up to Mountain Village

What Not To Miss: Lunch at famed slope-side restaurant Alpino Vino; shopping on historical Main Street

Where To Stay: Madeline Hotel And Residences, Auberge Resorts Collection; Fairmont Heritage Place, Franz Klammer Lodge

It may not be the easiest ski resort to get to, but that’s one of the many reasons that Telluride has largely stayed somewhat of a hidden gem. Tucked within the gorgeous San Juan Mountains, under a two-hour drive from the Montrose Regional Airport, this historic mountain town is rich with rustic charm and offers some of the most stunning mountain views you’ll find in the United States. Surrounded by 13,000 and 14,000-foot peaks, the town itself is nestled cozily into the canyon and bustling with boutiques, restaurants and unique bars that round out this incredible vacation spot. Up in the mountains, skiers of all levels will find their grove with a wide variety of terrain for intermediate and advanced skiers (plus plenty for this just learning the sport).

Where To Stay:

Madeline Hotel And Residences, Auberge Resorts Collection: This Auberge Resorts property has it all, from stunning views of the surrounding mountain ranges to plenty of upscale amenities to help make a ski vacation a seamless experience. Bonus for the gorgeous guest rooms that marry modern design with alpine charm.

Fairmont Heritage Place, Franz Klammer Lodge: If you’re coming with a group or family, the spacious two- and three-bedroom residences found here are sure to make everyone feel comfy. A great location at the base of Telluride Ski Resort seals the deal.

About Kim Peiffer, Your Colorado Ski Resorts Guide

I have been covering travel for nearly two decades, from reviewing luxury hotels to visiting off-the-beaten path locations throughout the world. I’m always in search of a new ski town, a remote beach and a stellar cocktail (and the perfect spot to sip said cocktail, of course). I’m also always down for adventure on a vacation, whether its doing aerial acrobatics in a fighter jet over the desert or heli-skiing down a glacier in Italy. I’ve been skiing since the age of 6 and have been skiing in Colorado for decades. As Forbes Vetted’s Executive Editor, I oversee our travel and hotel coverage. I’ve also written for Vogue, Robb Report, Travel + Leisure, InStyle, GQ, DuJour, Glamour, Oprah and many others. Follow my adventures on Instagram: @peifferk1.

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Colorado

‘It doesn’t look good’: Colorado transportation officials will use $12 million in leftover snowplowing funds to up roadside wildfire mitigation amid drought

Published

12 hours ago

March 28, 2026

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‘It doesn’t look good’: Colorado transportation officials will use million in leftover snowplowing funds to up roadside wildfire mitigation amid drought

Amid a historically hot and dry winter, the Colorado Department of Transportation will repurpose $12 million in unused snowplow funds for summertime wildfire mitigation efforts along the state’s highways.

CDOT Deputy Director of Operations Bob Fifer told the Colorado Transportation Commission at its work session this month that amid a record-low snowpack statewide, the transportation department is shifting its strategy to proactively address wildfire risk.

“It just doesn’t look good for us,” Fifer said at the March 18 meeting. “We are expecting a drought across the state.”

Almost the entire state saw snowfall totals well-below average this past winter, Fifer said. Most years, the state’s snowpack doesn’t peak until April, but this year the snowpack has already peaked and has melted off rapidly, he said.

According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor report, more than half the state is experiencing severe drought, Level 2 of 4, with the northwest corner of Colorado experiencing extreme drought, or Level 3 of 4, and parts of Summit, Grand, Eagle, Routt, Garfield and Pitkin counties facing exceptional drought, or Level 4 of 4.

By June, Colorado’s Western Slope — including the Interstate 70 mountain corridor — is expected to be at above-average risk of significant wildland fires, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.

To determine where to focus the highway vegetation management, Fifer said the transportation department will leverage a Colorado State Forest Service Wildfire Risk Map to target roadside mitigation to the areas of the state that have the highest probability of burning.

“When you have 9,000 miles, or 24,000 lane miles, of road, where do you start mitigation?” Fifer asked. “What’s the most surgical area? How can we do it to get the most bang for the limited dollars we have? We’re going to use this data to drive that decision-making and we’re going to start with the most vulnerable areas.”

After choosing priority areas, Fifer said the transportation department will remove diseased trees and trees that are 50% dead or more, especially within the first 15 feet of the right-of-way. He said most of the wood will be chipped and slashed, then left on site to decompose, while larger blocks and diseased trees will be removed.

Ladder fuels, like lower branches, that could carry a fire up into the crown of the forest, will also be removed from trees within the right-of-way, Fifer said. He said stumps will be cut to about 4 inches off the ground.

In addition to their importance as evacuation routes, Fifer noted that “the highways are natural fire lines or fire breaks” that can help slow the spread of wildfires and that firefighters can use to strategically hold the fire at bay.

CDOT Deputy Director of Maintenance Jim Fox told the Transportation Commission that crews typically mow the right-of-way along the state’s highways twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall.

So far this fiscal year, which began last July, Fox said the transportation department has already completed nearly 28,000 swath miles of roadside mowing, or slightly more than it did in the previous one-year period. He said the transportation department has also removed 3,848 trees from the right-of-way so far this fiscal year, compared to 2,453 trees in the previous fiscal year.

CDOT Director of Maintenance and Operations Shawn Smith noted that the $12 million in snow and ice contingency funds that are left over from the winter, due to the low snowfall, are among the dollars that will help fund the increased roadside wildfire mitigation.

Although the transportation department already has some funds to dedicate toward increasing roadside wildfire mitigation, Fifer said, “We’ll probably need more to handle this.”

He did not provide an estimate for what the additional wildfire mitigation might cost.

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Colorado

Grand jury indicts over half the officers in a rural Colorado county

Published

24 hours ago

March 27, 2026

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DENVER — Five of the seven law enforcement officers in a rural Colorado county, including the sheriff, have been indicted in an investigation into allegations of misconduct, prosecutors said Friday.

A grand jury indicted Costilla County Sheriff Danny Sanchez and former Deputy Keith Schultz on charges of allegedly mishandling human remains discovered in October 2024, according to court documents. A man who found the remains and reported them to the sheriff’s office said Sanchez and Schultz took only the skull and left the other remains behind, including teeth, court documents state.

Two months passed before Schultz wrote a report, saying he left bones in a bag on his desk and went on another call, the documents state. A coroner’s official said he received the skull in an unlabeled paper bag from the sheriff’s office, the documents state.

Separately, Undersheriff Cruz Soto, Sgt. Caleb Sanchez — the sheriff’s son — and Deputy Roland Riley are charged in connection with the use of a Taser against a man who was suffering a mental health crisis in February and tried to leave when they insisted he go to the hospital, according to the documents. The man said he was “roughed up” by deputies and was left with broken ribs, according to the indictments.

Soto was charged with failing to intervene and third-degree assault, according to court documents. Caleb Sanchez and Riley were charged with second- and third-degree assault.

In announcing the indictments, 12th District Attorney Anne Kelly said she’s committed to investigating and prosecuting crimes no matter the offender.

“I cannot and will not ignore violations of the trust that a community should have in their police. No citizen of the San Luis Valley should have any doubts about the integrity of their police force,” Kelly said at a news conference Friday evening.

A person who answered the phone Friday at the sheriff’s office said it had no immediate comment but planned to post a statement online. Phone numbers listed for Danny Sanchez, Soto and Riley did not work. Caleb Sanchez did not have a listed number. An unidentified person who answered a number for Schultz referred The Associated Press to an attorney, Peter Comar. The AP left a message Friday for Comar seeking comment.

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Colorado

Colorado residents face earliest water restrictions ever — a harbinger of worse to come

Published

1 day ago

March 27, 2026

Press Room

Colorado residents face earliest water restrictions ever — a harbinger of worse to come

As a result of a snow drought and a heat wave that have both set records, some Colorado residents face the earliest restrictions on their water use ever imposed.

Denver Water announced Wednesday that it is seeking a 20% cut in water use, asking people to turn off automatic watering systems until mid-May and restricting the watering of trees and shrubs to twice a week.

“The situation is quite serious,” said Todd Hartman, a spokesperson for the utility. “We’re in such a dire situation that we could be coming back to the public in two or three months and saying you’re limited to one day a week.”

It is the earliest in the year that Denver Water has ever issued a restriction, Hartman said.

Colorado’s snowpack peaked at extremely low levels on March 12 — nearly a month earlier than usual — then cratered during the recent heat wave that cooked nearly every state in the West.

“We already had the lowest snowpack we’ve seen since at least 1981, and now, with the heat wave conditions, we’ve already lost about 40% of the statewide snowpack” since the March 12 peak, said Peter Goble, Colorado’s assistant state climatologist. “Conditions are looking more like late April or early May.”

The water restrictions are a harbinger of what’s to come in many Western states as officials try to manage widespread drought concerns. Nearly every snow basin in the Mountain West had one of its warmest winters on record and is well behind normal when it comes to water supply, according to the U.S. drought monitor. The dwindling snowpack is likely to raise the risk of severe wildfires, hamper electricity generation at hydropower dams and force water restrictions for farmers.

Hartman said nearly every community east of the Rockies, along Colorado’s front range, is in much the same boat as Denver.

City Council members in Aurora are considering similar water restrictions; reservoirs there stand at about 58%, according to the city’s website. In the town of Erie, officials declared a water shortage emergency on March 20 after they observed a massive spike in consumption.

Gabi Rae, a spokesperson for the town, said Erie was perilously close to having taps run dry because so many residents had started watering their lawns early amid the unseasonable heat.

“We were a day away from running out of water. That’s why it was such an emergency,” she said.

Erie officials demanded that residents stop using irrigation systems altogether.

Goble said this month’s heat wave has set records in every corner of Colorado, sometimes by double digits.

“I can’t remember seeing a single heat wave that broke this many records, and seeing it across such a large portion of the country is certainly eye-popping,” he said, adding: “I’m located in Fort Collins, and we got up to 91 last Saturday. The previous record for March was 81, so we smashed that record. And it wasn’t just one day, either.”

Skiers at Breckenridge Ski Resort as temperatures reached into the 50s this month. Michael Ciaglo / Getty Images

Denver Water, which serves about 1.5 million residents in the city and its surrounding suburbs, gets about half of its water from the Upper Colorado River Basin and the South Platte River Basin. The latter’s snowpack was at about 42% of normal Tuesday, the utility reported. The Upper Colorado River Watershed was at 55%.

Systemwide, Denver Water’s reservoirs are about 80% full, which is only about 5 percentage points lower than in a typical year.

“That sounds pretty good,” Hartman said. “Except that what we’re not going to be able to rely on is that rush of water that will bring those reservoirs back up, because the snowpack is so low.”

In other words, the snowpack — a natural water reservoir — is mostly tapped already and won’t replenish reservoirs later this spring and into summer, when runoff usually peaks.

In Erie, city workers plan to aggressively police water use until sometime next week using smart meters that monitor residential usage. Rae said the city is also sending utility workers to patrol neighborhoods and look for sprinklers that are turned on.

“People have been kind of annoyed with how aggressive we were, and I don’t necessarily think they understand the ramifications if we weren’t,” Rae said. “It is an actual serious emergency situation. We were so close to reaching empty, there would literally be no water coming out of the taps — hospitals, schools, fire hydrants, your home would have no water.”

Although the limits on outdoor watering will be lifted soon, Rae expects more restrictions later this spring and summer.

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