These 10 Resorts Have the Best Corduroy in the West
You don't have to worry about rough patches and death cookies at these resorts.
Copper does lots of things well: The 2,465-acre resort has an excellent variety of naturally differentiated terrain that gets more challenging from west to east, and a seriously underrated high alpine filled with adventure terrain—plus a free snowcat to maximize your time there. For families, Copper is one of the best resorts to learn to ski thanks to stellar learning programs, (slightly) lower prices, and a down-to-earth vibe that makes you want to hang a little longer.
The vibe here is somehow simultaneously hip and refreshingly old-school: Go have some damn fun. Copper sees—and markets—itself as the rebel force to the corporate imperial army down the road. It works. “It is the great alternative,” says one reader.
Both next-gen Woodward and the U.S. Ski Team’s speed center call Copper home, which tells you a lot. Copper is quietly one of the better skiable mountains in all of Colorado. “There’s no other resort where you can ski in two hours the vertical and terrain that you can here,” a reader says. The East Village is family headquarters with its easy-riding Super Bee six-pack. There’s no cover charge on the Super Bee, but we’ll institute a two-run minimum when ripping with the kids. A ski resort reveals its bona fides in a variety of ways, but “I named my dog after Copper” is as good as any we’ve heard in a while.
Average Snowfall | Acres | Lifts | Trails |
305″ | 2,490 | 23 | 140+ |
Copper is on the Ikon Pass. Pass holders get unlimited access to the resort.
From lodging and and dining to off-slope activities and local tips, here are the SKI editors’ picks for what to do in Copper Mountain, Colo.
As part of POWDR Corp.’s 100 million dollar transformation of Copper’s base area, Element 29, a new 127-room hotel, opened last season. Check it out!
Take the Alpine chair for some mogul leg burners. Great lap-able area for early season pow days when the bowls aren’t open.
Copper’s multi-week youth ski programs are a deal for families driving in from the Front Range, and are not as pricey as the nearby competition.
C.B. Grille is still the go-to for fine dining; hit Ten Mile (where Endo’s used to be) for casual fare.
Mountain Melt is a creative take on the world’s greatest comfort food: mac and cheese. Lobster mac, buffalo chicken mac, bacon cheeseburger mac… You get the idea.
Send your kids to a Woodward at Copper camp. It’s like Disney for park rats.
You don't have to worry about rough patches and death cookies at these resorts.
A Fast Tracks pass will allow skiers to skip long lines via an express lane at four ski resorts this season.
Two ski areas in Colorado and Oregon have taken a decidedly more chill approach to spend time outside up high this summer.
The Golden Eagle Awards recognize three ski resorts and one individual working to further environmental initiatives across the industry.
Don't forget, there's all sorts of cool events happening at ski areas this summer, including these road, gravel, and mountain bike events.
From extreme steeps to top-to-bottom groomers, these are the 10 resorts in the West with diverse enough terrain to please all comers.
An excellent variety of naturally differentiated terrain.
When you've got groms in tow, consider these 10 ski resorts for the ultimate kid-friendly experience.
Copper Mountain hosts a spring skiing tradition with an unconventional twist.
Looking for something new at an old favorite? These are the spots to visit this season.