Colorado is known for its epic snowboard terrain shared between 26 different resorts. But with so many ski resorts, which one should you choose? Which will make the most of your shred time?
Here are the 6 best places to snowboard in Colorado.
- Vail Mountain Resort
- Aspen Snowmass
- Telluride
- Beaver Creek
- Breckenridge
- Keystone
In this article, I’ll go into each of the best Colorado ski resorts for snowboarding. You’ll learn about the terrain, the atmosphere, and other cool aspects of these fantastic snowboard destinations.
1. Vail Mountain Resort
Elevation: 8,150 ft (2484m) to 10,250 ft (3125m)
Trails: 5,317 acres (21.4 km2)
Snow Parks: 2
Lifts: 31
Off-Piste: Incredible terrain, especially in the back bowls.
Bonus Tip: Head to Blue Sky Basin for tree runs and ungroomed slopes
Description:
Vail is famous for its excellent snowboarding, as it is one of the largest ski resorts in the world. It also has some of Colorado's best snow-covered terrain. One of Vail's highlights is that it's home to 7 back bowls, offering seemingly unlimited potential for powder days.
However, you can have plenty of fun carving up the endless groomers that are well looked after.
The size of the area means there's enough terrain for snowboarders of all levels. Even though Vail isn't exactly a high-altitude resort, it still gets 350" of snow every winter. So there's a good chance you'll experience great conditions during a trip.
How To Get To Vail:
Book flights to Denver International Airport or Eagle Regional Airport. Vail is 120 miles from Denver and 30 miles from Eagle Regional Airport.
Fun Fact:
Vail is home to the Burton Open, the world's longest-running snowboard competition.
Lift Ticket Price:
$564 - $792 for 6 days
- Award-winning terrain
- Huge area
- Great snow
- Quality lift system
- Great après
- Not great for intermediate riders, but beginners and advanced riders will love it.
- It gets really crowded!
2. Aspen Snowmass
Elevation: 8,100 - 12,500 ft (2468 - 3810m)
Trails: 5,527 acres (22.36km2) with 362 marked trails
Snow Parks: 3
Lifts: 20
Off-Piste: Lots of terrain accessible from the town.
Additional: Popular with the rich and famous!
Description:
Aspen Snowmass is made up of four ski areas:
- Snowmass
- Aspen Mountain
- Aspen Highlands
- Buttermilk
This provides a huge amount of terrain to explore! The area isn't just one of the best places to snowboard in the world, it's one of the world's best snowboard destinations! It's therefore no surprise that it has become the home of the X-Games.
However, you don't need to be a pro rider to enjoy Aspen Snowmass. The 22-foot Snowmass Superpipe is open to anyone brave enough to give it a go. There's also a wide range of features and kickers in the park at Buttermilk.
How To Get To Aspen Snowmass:
Fly to Aspen, Vail/Eagle airport, or Denver International Airport. Be warned though, the small local airports are prone to closing in bad weather.
Fun Fact:
A new $10.7-million-dollar high-speed quad chairlift was opened for the 2021/2022 season.
Lift Ticket Price:
$714 for 6-days
- Huge area
- Excellent lift system and amenities
- Nice town
- Superb nightlife
- Lots of other activities
- It's not a cheap trip
- The resorts are not connected by lifts or slopes; you need to catch a shuttle
3. Telluride Ski Resort
Elevation: 8,100 - 12,500 ft (2468 - 3810m)
Trails: 5,527 acres (22.36km2) with 362 marked trails
Snow Parks: 3
Lifts: 20
Off-Piste: Lots of terrain accessible from the town.
Additional: Popular with the rich and famous!
Description:
Telluride is a stunning ski resort located in the San Juan Mountains. But you'll love the terrain, too, especially as it gets consistently great snow each winter.
One of Telluride's big attractions is the incredible 3,845 feet (1,172m) of vertical drop. This makes it one of the best places to snowboard in Colorado. There's also a good mix of slopes of varying difficulties, so you'll be able to have fun no matter your skill level.
If you're an advanced snowboarder with a craving for freeriding, Telluride has you covered... especially if you like to hike or split-board. Earn your turns my friend! Telluride also gets about 300" of snow every year, which certainly helps.
How To Get To Telluride Ski Resort:
Fly to Denver, Telluride, or Montrose. Telluride is a 7-hour drive from Denver, but Telluride and Montrose regional airports are much closer.
Fun Fact:
Telluride is an old mining town, named way back in 1887. Some say that "Telluride" comes from the phrase "To hell you ride," describing the dangerous journey you had to take to get there back in the day.
Lift Ticket Price:
$1,074 for 7 days
- Voted the best ski resort in the U.S
- Great terrain for all abilities
- Lots of activities
- It takes lots of effort to get there
- It's not a cheap ski resort (a little bit of a theme in Colorado it seems).
4. Beaver Creek
Elevation: 8,100 - 11,400 ft (2468 - 3352m)
Trails: 2,082 acres (8.4km2)
Snow Parks: 1
Lifts: 24
Off-Piste: Some great backcountry accessed with a small hike.
Additional Thoughts: Terrain not super gnarly, but there are great spots for advanced riders.
Description:
Beaver Creek is owned by Vail Resorts and is just down the road from Vail. It is the place to go if you want to be spoiled, as Beaver Creek is well-known for its superior customer service, friendly atmosphere, and perfectly manicured runs.
The ski area has something for everyone, but if you're a beginner snowboarder, you'll benefit from how well-groomed the runs are. This is also good news for speed freaks and carvers.
Beaver Creek is the lowest of the area's big resorts, but this makes it easy to get to and you'll enjoy the milder temperatures. This is another reason why beginners love Beaver Creek. In addition to this, you can use it as a base to try out the other local resorts.
How To Get To Beaver Creek:
2 hour's drive from Denver or 25 minutes from Eagle County Airport.
Fun Fact:
You can enjoy freshly baked cookies at 3pm handed out for free by resort staff in chef's hats. Also, the sidewalks are heated, so there's no ice to slip on.
Lift Ticket Price:
$275 per day
- Great all round ski resort
- It has a lot of ski-in-ski-out accommodation.
- Excellent amenities
- Not the best resort in Colorado for powder
- Quiet nightlife
- Long lift lines
5. Breckenridge
Elevation: 9,600 - 12,998 ft (2,926 - 3962m)
Trails: 184 runs covering 2,358 acres (9.54km2)
Snow Parks: 4
Lifts: 34
Off-Piste: Lots of backcountry terrain accessible from the Imperial Chairlift.
Bonus Tips: There are some excellent places to eat all around the mountain
Description:
Breckenridge is one of the best places to snowboard in Colorado. It has everything you could wish for! If you want to blast groomers, pick your way through trees, or get nipple-deep in powder-filled bowls, Breckenridge delivers.
The back bowls are regarded as Breckenridge's best parts by most advanced skiers and snowboarders. They look intimidating, but you can have the ride of your life once you drop in.
You don't have to be an advanced rider to enjoy Breckenridge, though. It has something for everyone, and finding your way around is easy. It's also a good option for late-season riding. The snow at higher altitudes remains good, but you can also have fun in the slush lower down.
Breckenridge is a well-refined ski resort with a laid-back atmosphere, all while being a world-class snowsports destination. Therefore, you can't fail to have a fantastic time there.
How To Get To Breckenridge:
Breckenridge is 104 miles (166km) from Denver International Airport.
Fun Fact:
Breckenridge became Colorado's first major resort to allow snowboarding, way back in 1984!
Lift Ticket Price:
$179 for 1-day
- Great nightlife
- Excellent layout with ski-in-ski-out accommodation
- Great for beginners and intermediate snowboarders
- World-class snowparks
- Close to other ski resorts for exploring
- Horrendously long lift lines, you'll need to be patient
- Some of the lifts are painfully slow
- Day passes are expensive, but you can find deals for season and weekly passes
6. Keystone
Elevation: 9,280 - 12,408 ft (2828 - 3782m)
Trails: 3,148 acres (12.7km2)
Snow Parks: 1, but it's amazing
Lifts: 20
Off-Piste: Great bowls for powder days
Bonus Tips: You can access the bowls on a snowcat - which makes for a bucket-list day trip.
Description:
Keystone's ski area gives you access to three mountains, and each one takes you further from town, giving you a sense of being in the wilderness. So if you like to get away from the crowds, Keystone is one of the best places to snowboard in Colorado.
As you get further away from Keystone resort, the terrain gets more challenging. Therefore, beginners and those who like to cruise should stay close. But the North Peak and The Outback mountains have great terrain for intermediate and advanced riders.
How To Get To Keystone:
Keystone is 74 miles west of Denver. Take the scenic route on Highway 6, which is just a few minutes from I70.
Fun Fact:
Keystone has "Colorado's longest ski day," as it has night skiing.
Lift Ticket Price:
$1,140 for a week
- Excellent allround resort
- Family-friendly
- Great infrastructure
- Excellent snowpark
- Snowcat snowboarding is epic
- Doesn't get as much snow as other local resorts
- Super busy close to the town
- Extreme terrain is limited, but it's there.
Final Thoughts
These are the 6 best places to snowboard in Colorado. They are truly epic, and all offer something slightly different.
What do you think?
Have I got the shortlist spot on, or am I completely off the mark? Let me know in the comments below!
If Colorado has failed to impress you (which is unlikely) then it’s worth checking out my favorite snowboard resorts in Utah or the best snowboard destinations in the Midwest.
Happy riding!
