Skiing & Snowboarding

There’s no substitute for a Colorado winter vacation, where having so many of America’s best ski resorts makes Colorado the nation’s No. 1 ski and snowboard destination — and bluebird skies and tons of fresh, dry powder reign supreme as the lifts turn during ski season.

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An adult and child swish down a snow run lined with corduroy as the sun sets behind them — America's Best Skiing

Four skiers are lined up at the top of a slope with the sun shining down on them — Skiers at Beaver Creek

A gathering of snowboarders in helmets and googles waits their turn to hit the halfpipe as the sun sets behind the mountain — Snowboarding at Vail Mountain

A mom and two kids ride a chairlift with all their ski gear. Behind them, we see snowy peaks. — Skiing at Vail Mountain

Two adults and two kids on skis stop to soak up the view of snowy peaks under a bight-blue sunny sky. — Skiing in Winter Park

At a picnic table on a snowy mesa, a group of kids and adults gather for lunch. One giant, snow-covered peak rises behind them — A view of Mount Sopris from Sunlight Mountain Resort in Glenwood Springs

At the top of a very snowy, very powdery hill, a snowcat is parked. In the foreground, a skier plows through kneed deep powder with poles outstretched — Snowcat skiing at Copper Mountain

A red snowcat lets its passengers out at the top of a backcountry ski slope. They all pose for the camera before heading down the mountain. — Snowcat skiing and boarding at Copper Mountain

A far away view of snowcat that trundles away from its passengers, who have been left to find fresh tracks down the mountain on a bluebird sunny day — Snowcat skiing with Aspen Powder Tours near Aspen, CO

From family ski trips with leisurely days spent gliding down the slopes to intense, expert-only terrain for adventurous skiers and boarders, there’s a slope in Colorado for everyone in your group. And oftentimes, Colorado’s ski resorts offer lift ticket and lodging packages that make planning a ski trip a cinch.

Whether you're a first-timer or already comfortable going lip-to-lip in a pipe, there are classes and special clinics for you. A lot of Colorado resorts offer multiday lessons, so — if you're headed to ski country this winter — consider wrapping your vacation dates around a skills clinic.

Fun fact: There are many different styles of skiing and snowboarding to try. Downhill skiers love speeding around Colorado’s miles of groomed corduroy. Telemark skiers, whose ski boots are only attached at the toe, like nothing more than making deep lunges through fresh powder. And daredevil freestyle skiers practice their tricks — like riding rails and going off jumps — in Colorado’s numerous terrain parks. As with skiing, there are different styles of snowboarding. Free-riding is all-mountain snowboarding on the slopes, in the trees, down the steeps and through the moguls. Freestyle is snowboarding in a pipe or park filled with rails, fun boxes and other features. Colorado's skiing and snowboarding parks are designed for specific skill levels, from beginner parks with tiny rails hugging the ground to terrain parks with roller-coaster rails, fun boxes and tabletops for more experienced skiers and riders.

Book Your Vacation This Colorado Ski Season

Need more reasons to choose Colorado for your ski or snowboard adventure? Here are three:

1. Most years, Colorado’s 28 ski and snowboard resorts open earlier and stay open later than anyone else (roughly early October to late April, although one noteable exception — Arapahoe Basin Ski Area — can stay open well into June or even the Fourth of July as conditions allow).

2. Colorado has some of the largest ski resorts in the nation, but we also treasure the hidden-gem ski areas, which still offer great snow, family-friendly amenities and plenty of space to perfect your skills.

3. And we have the highest altitude lift-served terrain in the country — a factor that contributes to massive amounts of our famous, incredibly dry, fluffy Colorado snow.

All of this adds up to the undeniable fact that Colorado ski slopes offer some of the most epic trails and thrilling rides you’ll find in North America.

But for those seeing a slower snow experience, a simple pair of cross-country skis can launch you into thickets of snow-laden trees, silent white meadows and tracks running parallel to frozen creeks. Colorado’s more than 20 Nordic centers (many of which are attached to ski resorts), 43 Colorado State Parks, four national parks and 9 national monuments plus scenic forestland are another way to get on the snow quickly and start discovering the state’s winter wonderland.

No matter your skill level, budget or desire for adventure, Colorado has a downhill ski, snowboard or cross-country route to suit your every need this ski season. Find the ski area that fits your group’s desires and plan the Best. Ski. Trip. Ever.

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