One of Colorado and the world’s great ski towns, snow sure Winter Park is the closest major ski resort to Denver, just 67 miles away, and home to one of the biggest and most snowsure ski areas in America, with over 3,000 acres of terrain and a season that extends from November to May.
One of America’s longest-established major ski destinations, Winter Park Resort has been welcoming adventures and mountain enthusiasts for more than 80 years, having been established in 1940. Generations of Denverites have looked at Winter Park as their home ski mountain, and it’s also one of the quickest and easiest to reach for visitors flying into Denver International too. It has been voted North America’s number one ski resort by USA Today readers three times.
Despite that convenient proximity though, Winter Park still feels remote and a million miles away from the big city. It’s hidden away in a high country corner of the Rockies, within an area of 765,000 acres of public land. It’s a resort that can offer endless adventures on the slopes and in the surrounding snowy Arapaho National Forest and three wilderness areas, delivering an unfiltered Colorado experience.
The resort hasn’t rested on its laurels through that long history either, constantly innovating and upgrading, with winter 23-24 no different with the unveiling of a new six-seater high-speed chairlift. The ski area is also managed by the Alterra Group, a collection of 12 independently-minded major North American ski areas with common ideals.
The Ski Area
There’s extensive terrain for all tastes and abilities, extending to more than 3,000 acres of inbounds skiing, divided up into more than 170 ski slopes, the longest almost five miles (8km) long, with everything served by a queue-gobbling 28 lifts, ten of which are either high-speed 4 or 6 seater chairlifts or a gondola.
Winter Park’s huge ski area is spread over two distinct mountains Winter Park and Mary Jane. Some of the names of ski areas are so iconic that the resort has had them registered, including Mary Jane itself as well as the Parsenn Bowl®, Vasquez Ridge® and Eagle Wind® sectors.
Good skiers are well looked after with 19% of the total terrain rated advanced; 52% most difficult and 3% suited to expert only. But with such a huge area the 8% of slopes rated beginner and 18% intermediate provide plenty for novice and progressing skiers and boarders to enjoy as well.
Because the ski area is so big you’ll want to take advantage of one of the free mountain familiarisation tours on offer when you arrive in Winter Park and learn about the different characteristics of the seven sectors its two mountains are divided into. Some of these are perfect for beginners and intermediates, and others like cirque will suit advanced skiers and riders only!
Families
There are of course great childcare facilities if you have young children, and an excellent ski school for teaching all ages and abilities in group and private classes. Options for more experienced skiers include an introduction to uphill for those wanting to get a better understanding of ski touring opportunities. Sunset-guided skiing after the lifts close with a headtorch on your helmet is another great experience. And if you’ve ever fancied cross-country skiing, or are already experienced on ‘skinny skis’ one of the world’s best Nordic ski centres is on your doorstep here.
Lift Updates
This winter the new Wild Spur Express, a 6-passenger, high-speed detachable chairlift goes into service, able to move 2,800 people up the mountain per hour. It is designed to give skiers and boarders a new way to experience the resort’s exciting Vasquez Ridge terrain. The lift includes a new mid-point loading zone, allowing guests to make quicker laps on upper intermediate and advanced trails as well rather than needing to go all the way to the base. The Wild Spur Express is the only lift that serves nearly 285 acres of mostly blue intermediate trails and steeper, more advanced bump runs.
Freestyle skiers and boarders are exceptionally well catered for at Winter Park with no less than seven terrain parks ranging from the gentlest beginner park to the most challenging you’ll find anywhere with some of the biggest features in the business. Known as the Railyard Terrain Parks you’ll find jumps, jibs, and rails a-plenty and along with the incredible 18-foot superpipe, there’s a total of more than 80 other innovative, progressive features that are constantly being re-configuring to enhance your creativity.
Snow Safe
Snow surety, as well as quality, is a big part of Winter Park Resort’s success and it typically has a six-month season lasting from, November into May (even though the official closing date is usually in April). Average snowfall totals through the season are just under 345 inches (8.8 metres) of predominantly light fluffy powder. Part of all this is down to its high base at 9,000 ft (2,743 m) with the lifts climbing 3,060 vertical feet (933m) to a beautiful summit at 12,060 ft (3,676m). For added security about 10% of the key terrain ( 313 acres / 127 hectares / 27 trail) has snowmaking cover.
Off the slopes, Winter Park itself is a real community with a year-round population of 12,000 outdoor lovers, so you’ll find plenty of authentic local shops, cafes, bars and restaurants to visit, as well as the great lodging and facilities of Winter Park Resort.
There’s even more dining choice this winter with Winter Park giving its guests four new pop-up mountain dining spots on the slopes to meet fellow skiers and boarders and find respite wherever and whenever hunger strikes! They’ll serve up satisfying grilled cheese, Philly cheesesteaks, walking tacos and quesadillas.
You’ll find a huge range of activities to enjoy off the slopes as well, from ice skating or snowshoeing to an evening snowcat ride to enjoy smores up the mountain to high-adrenaline options like sno-biking, snowmobiling or tubing.
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