12 Best Ski Resorts Near Denver (for 2024)
There are many Colorado ski resorts worth visiting, but commuters can especially appreciate the stellar ski resorts near Denver!
I’m a Denver local who can help you find the best destination for you — no matter your experience level, budget, or willingness to deal with weekend ski traffic. Note that this guide is organized by distance, starting with the ski resort closest to Denver. Discover laid-back ski areas, world-class resorts, and a few hidden gems with fresh powder!
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12 Best Ski Resorts Near Denver
Echo Mountain
⛷️ Closest ski area to Denver.
📍 Google Maps | Website | 👉 Book Your Stay on Booking
Echo Mountain is the closest ski area to Denver. It calls itself a “mostly intermediate mountain.” Although, Echo Mountain does have slopes for beginners.
It does not offer lessons, but it has Ambassadors who will give you advice if you want to try and learn on your own. Echo Mountain also has night skiing and boarding, a terrain park, and a tubing hill.
- 📅 2023-2024 Dates: December 12 – TBD
- ❄️ Average Annual Snowfall: 275 inches/ 699 cm
- 🎿 Elevation at Base: 10,050 feet / 3,063 meters
- 🏔️ Elevation at Summit: 10,650 feet/ 3,246 meters
- 🚗 Distance from Denver: 36 miles/50 minutes
- 🚠 Lift Ticket Cost: $
- 📚 Related Reading: Best Activities to Do in Denver, Top Places to Stay in Denver
Eldora Mountain
⛷️ Closest to Boulder.
📍 Google Maps | Website | 👉 Book Your Stay on Booking
Eldora Mountain is the closest resort to Boulder and second-closest to Denver. Eldora has ski and snowboard schools, an uphill alpine pass if you want to ski without using a lift, and cross-country skiing.
- 📅 2023-2024 Dates: November 3 – TBD
- ❄️ Average Annual Snowfall: 300 inches/ 762 cm
- 🎿 Elevation at Base: 9,200 feet / 2,804 meters
- 🏔️ Elevation at Summit: 10,600 feet/ 3,231 meters
- 🚗 Distance from Denver: 49.8 miles/ 1 hour and 12 minutes
- 🚠 Lift Ticket Cost: $$$
- 📚 Related Reading: Best Things to Do in Boulder, Where to Stay in Boulder
Loveland Ski Area
⛷️ Best close resort for inexperienced skiers.
📍 Google Maps | Website
Loveland is one of a few popular ski resorts for locals, thanks to how close it is to Denver. If you want runs for less-experienced skiers, hit up Loveland Valley. If you want more of a challenge, head to Loveland Basin next door.
- 📅 2023-2024 Dates: November 10 – TBD
- ❄️ Average Annual Snowfall: 422 inches/ 1,072 cm
- 🎿 Elevation at Base: 10,800 feet / 3,292 meters
- 🏔️ Elevation at Summit: 13,010 feet/ 3,965 meters
- 🚗 Distance from Denver: 57 miles/ 1 hour and 2 minutes
- 🚠 Lift Ticket Cost: $$
- 📚 Related Reading: Loveland Pass Guide
Arapahoe Basin Ski Area
⛷️ For intermediate and advanced local skiers.
📍 Google Maps | Website
Arapahoe Basin (known locally as A-Basin) is more popular with locals than tourists because it’s a quick day trip from Denver and doesn’t have any overnight lodging.
A-Basin is more of a challenge than Loveland — I’ve taken beginner kids here and they struggled with the runs. But it’s a great place if you have some skiing under your belt. “The Beach,” an area of the parking lot where people tailgate, is a fun place to relax between runs.
- 📅 2023-2024 Dates: October 29 – TBD
- ❄️ Average Annual Snowfall: 350 inches/ 889 cm
- 🎿 Elevation at Base: 10,780 feet / 3,286 meters
- 🏔️ Elevation at Summit: 12,408 feet/ 3,782 meters
- 🚗 Distance from Denver: 64.2 miles/ 1 hour and 15 minutes
- 🚠 Lift Ticket Cost: $$
Winter Park
⛷️ Great family-friendly ski resort.
📍 Google Maps | Website | 👉 Book Your Stay on Booking
Winter Park is a little more expensive than the other ski resorts near Denver I’ve shared so far, but it has trails for a variety of skiers from beginner to expert. Winter Park offers more of a resort feel than the other closest ski resorts, having lodging, shops, restaurants, and other winter outdoor activities.
- 📅 2023-2024 Dates: November 3 – TBD
- ❄️ Average Annual Snowfall: 327 inches/ 831 cm
- 🎿 Elevation at Base: 9,000 feet / 2,743 meters
- 🏔️ Elevation at Summit: 12,060 feet/ 3,676 meters
- 🚗 Distance from Denver: 66.1 miles/ 1 hour and 18 minutes
- 🚠 Lift Ticket Cost: $$$
Keystone Resort
⛷️ Best for families and beginning skiers.
📍 Google Maps | Website | 👉 Book Your Stay on Booking
Keystone Ski Resort is another family-friendly destination with activities like ice skating, dog sledding, tubing, sleigh rides, and more. It offers some of the best skiing near Denver for every skill level. Keystone also has night skiing that goes until 8 pm on weekends and holidays.
- 📅 2023-2024 Dates: November 1 – TBD
- ❄️ Average Annual Snowfall: 225 inches/ 571 cm
- 🎿 Elevation at Base: 9,280 feet / 2,829 meters
- 🏔️ Elevation at Summit: 12,408 feet/ 3,782 meters
- 🚗 Distance from Denver: 69.3 miles/ 1 hour and 22 minutes
- 🚠 Lift Ticket Cost: $$$
- 📚 Related Guides: Fun Things to Do in Keystone, Best Areas to Stay in Keystone
Copper Mountain
⛷️ Popular local overnight getaway.
📍 Google Maps | Website | 👉 Book Your Stay on Booking
Copper Mountain is a popular ski resort for locals who want a weekend getaway from Denver without going too far. It’s close enough that you don’t have to spend much of your precious weekend driving (if you time it right!), but it has the lodging, restaurants, shops, and other winter activities of upscale Colorado ski resorts.
- 📅 2023-2024 Dates: November 13 – TBD
- ❄️ Average Annual Snowfall: 305 inches/ 774 cm
- 🎿 Elevation at Base: 9,712 feet / 2,946 meters
- 🏔️ Elevation at Summit: 12,441 feet/ 3,792 meters
- 🚗 Distance from Denver: 78.2 miles/ 1 hour and 24 minutes
- 🚠 Lift Ticket Cost: $$$
Breckenridge Ski Resort
⛷️ Convenient lodgings to get you on the slopes.
📍 Google Maps | Website | 👉 Book Your Stay on Booking
Breckenridge Ski Resort has lessons and runs for beginners, as well as terrain for intermediate and advanced skiers. Peak 8 is an especially popular area with terrain parks and challenging bowls.
Historic downtown Breckenridge has restaurants, bars, and shops when you’re finished skiing for the day. Check out our guide to staying in Breckenridge for more details on the best places to stay.
- 📅 2023-2024 Dates: November 10 – TBD
- ❄️ Average Annual Snowfall: 366 inches / 930 cm
- 🎿 Elevation at Base: 9,600 feet / 2,926 meters
- 🏔️ Elevation at Summit: 12,998 feet / 3,962 meters
- 🚗 Distance from Denver: 80.7 miles/ 1 hour and 34 minutes
- 🚠 Lift Ticket Cost: $$$
- 📚 Related Reading: Top Things to Do in Breckenridge, Aspen vs Vail vs Breckenridge
Vail Ski Resort
⛷️ Most popular Colorado ski resort.
📍 Google Maps | Website | 👉 Book Your Stay on Booking
Vail Resort is the most popular ski resort in Colorado and one of the biggest in the world.
It’s more expensive than the ski resorts near Denver that I’ve listed so far, but it has every amenity you could possibly need at a ski resort. For more, read Abigail’s full guide to Vail Ski Resort.
- 📅 2023-2024 Dates: November 10 – TBD
- ❄️ Average Annual Snowfall: 189 inches / 480 cm
- 🎿 Elevation at Base: 8,120 feet / 2,475 meters
- 🏔️ Elevation at Summit: 11,570 feet / 3,527 meters
- 🚗 Distance from Denver: 96.9 miles/ 1 hour and 39 minutes
- 🚠 Lift Ticket Cost: $$$$
- 📚 Related Reading: Top Attractions in Vail, Best Places to Stay in Vail
Beaver Creek Resort
⛷️ Relaxed, upscale ski resort.
📍 Google Maps | Website | 👉 Book Your Stay on Booking
Beaver Creek Resort is only a little farther west of Vail. But fewer people drive the extra few miles to Beaver Creek, so there aren’t as many people crowding the resort.
When I took my kids to ski there, they got excellent lessons, and I found someone waiting at the top of the ski lifts to help me decide which runs suited me best.
- 📅 2023-2024 Dates: November 22 – TBD
- ❄️ Average Annual Snowfall: 325 inches/ 826 cm
- 🎿 Elevation at Base: 8,100 feet / 2,469 meters
- 🏔️ Elevation at Summit: 11,440 feet/ 3,488 meters
- 🚗 Distance from Denver: 109 miles/ 1 hour and 54 minutes
- 🚠 Lift Ticket Cost: $$$
Ski Cooper
⛷️ Best budget ski area.
📍 Google Maps | Website
We’ve been taking our family to Ski Cooper for years now. I love it because it’s a casual resort — not crowded or fussy. It’s inexpensive and small enough that I feel comfortable sending my older kids off skiing on their own. You’re not going to become a world-class skier here, probably, but you’ll have a fun, laid back day.
- 📅 2023-2024 Dates: December 6 – April 7
- ❄️ Average Annual Snowfall: 260 inches/ 660 cm
- 🎿 Elevation at Base: 10,500 feet / 3,200 meters
- 🏔️ Elevation at Summit: 11,700 feet/ 3,566 meters
- 🚗 Distance from Denver: 108.7 miles/ 1 hour and 56 minutes
- 🚠 Lift Ticket Cost: $
- 📚 Related Reading: Top Things to Do in Leadville, Places to Stay in Leadville
Granby Ranch
⛷️ Great place for beginning skiers.
📍 Google Maps | Website
Granby has been named one of the best places in Colorado to learn to ski. We’ve taken our kids there for lessons and I have to agree! It’s easy to navigate and I’m not afraid of losing track of people in my party, as it’s a great, smaller resort.
- 📅 2023-2024 Dates: December 8 – TBD
- ❄️ Average Annual Snowfall: 120 inches/ 305 cm
- 🎿 Elevation at Base: 8,202 feet / 2,500 meters
- 🏔️ Elevation at Summit: 9,202 feet/ 2,805 meters
- 🚗 Distance from Denver: 86.3 miles/ 1 hour and 42 minutes
- 🚠 Lift Ticket Cost: $$
FAQs About Ski Resorts Close to Denver
What is the closest skiing to Denver?
Echo Mountain offers the closest skiing to Denver. It’s a mostly intermediate mountain, so if you want beginner ski lessons and more amenities, a resort like Winter Park or Keystone will be a better bet.
What’s the closest ski resort to Denver International Airport?
Echo Mountain is the closest ski resort to Denver International Airport. Echo Mountain is fairly bare bones, however, so if you’re flying into our Denver airport for the sole purpose of skiing or snowboarding, you may want to travel a little further to Winter Park, Keystone, or Vail for the traditional ski trip experience.
Where should I stay in Denver to ski?
If you want to stay in downtown Denver and still be able to ski, these hotels are excellent places to make your home base!
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I hope some of these ski resorts near Denver piqued your interest. For more travel insights, be sure to check out our list of the best Colorado mountain towns!
- Abigail Bliss contributed to this list of the best ski resorts near Colorado.
