For that reason, the same sky-high Colorado ski resorts that bring us thrilling adventure each winter remain open for business in the beautiful summer vacation months with gondola-accessed mountain-top yoga, gourmet hiking lunches, wicked-awesome bike parks, challenging disc golf and more — all of which come with a hearty helping of panoramic Rocky Mountain views.
Fit a little high-altitude activity into your Colorado summer itinerary with these tippy-top-of-the-hill ideas, and check the resorts’ websites for even more options. Plan your trip around each town’s summer events so there’s plenty to do when you come down — literally — from your mountainous high. And find 8 Ways to Love Summer in Colorado.
Keystone Resort
Mountain-bike purists will find fat-tire heaven on Keystone Bike Park’s rock drops, gardens, bridges, berms, roller coasters and 60 miles of trails. Keystone Resort offers rental equipment that will give you the confidence to get out of granny gear and into a mystical singletrack zone. There's also two golf courses, ATV tours and mountain-top yoga.
Purgatory Resort (formerly Durango Mountain Resort)
You'll have to make some tough choices for how to spend your day at Purgatory, as there's too may things to fit in one day: alpine slide, zipline, mountain-bike uplift, Jeep and UTV rentals, and activities like stand-up paddleboarding on Twilight Lake and panning for treasure, like gemstones, with Durango Mining Co.
Copper Mountain
Soaring down 5,800 feet of track at speeds up to 25 miles per hour, Copper’s Rocky Mountain Coaster provides thrills for the whole family with beautiful views of the Ten Mile Range. The resort also offers plenty of activities in the base area, including the Woodward WreckTangle, a ninja obstacle course for all ages.
Steamboat Ski Resort
Mount Werner’s relatively flat (but un-relatively, amazingly scenic) Vista Nature Trail should only take you an hour to hike. Extend the day at Steamboat with a stop for lunch, a glass of wine and expansive Yampa River Valley views from the deck of Thunderhead Lodge. Also check out: scenic — and wheelchair-accessible — gondola rides, the Land Up Adventure Zone's family activities, guided hikes, sunset happy hours, Movies on the Mountain and golf.
Aspen & Snowmass Mountains
An hour of open-air Hatha yoga at 11,000 feet helps curate that summer glow (inside and out) and gets you loose for the optional backcountry wildflower hike. Gazing at the Elk Mountains sure beats staring at the hairy-backed fellow in your regular yoga class. Grab lunch at Elk Camp or Sundeck, take a guided hike and try your hand at mountain biking, the climbing wall, disc golf and more at Aspen and Snowmass.
Crested Butte Mountain Resort
Because 12,000-ish feet in elevation isn’t always enough, Crested Butte has raised a six-stage zipline tour and a series of suspension bridges for added mountain-top scampering and extra “woo-hoo!” You can also take a gander at twilight lift rides, the Crested Butte Bike Park, disc golf and hiking.