Summit County, Colorado has a lot of big players when it comes to ski resorts. Breckenridge, Keystone, and Arapahoe Basin are usually the first that come to mind but for some weird reason, the westernmost mountain in the county is also the one that often gets overlooked. In fact, Copper Mountain is low-key one of the best ski resorts in North America. If you don’t believe us, we’ve come to bat with some reasons why this gem is worthy of repeat visits.
[Cover Image: Zach Dischner]
WHY COPPER IS LOW-KEY ONE OF THE BEST SKI RESORTS IN AMERICA
NEARLY 360 DEGREE SKIING
Copper Mountain is one of the few ski areas in Colorado that offers nearly 360-degree skiing via three separate peaks: Union Peak, Copper Mountain, and Tucker Mountain. This unique abundance of orientations allows skiers to take laps in the sun or head to the shade of the mountain’s north-facing aspects to find leftover powder from the last storm. And did we mention the out-of-this-world views of the Sky Chutes, Tenmile Creek, and the Gore Range?
WOODWARD COPPER, TUBING, AND PLENTY OF OTHER KID-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES
Copper Mountain is not only great for expert skiers and riders, it’s also one of the best resorts in the lower 48 for beginners and children. Beyond skiing, Copper Mountain is a kid’s paradise with plenty of on-mountain and off-mountain activities to keep them happy, including an expansive tubing center, Snow Playground, and the world-famous Woodward Copper, an adventure sports center that includes trampolines, foam pits, and dry ramps to try out new ski tricks. On mountain, the great beginner and intermediate terrain is ideal for perfecting skiing or snowboarding technique.
Woodward Copper – BARN CURRENTLY CLOSED DUE TO COVID-19. STAY TUNED FOR UPDATES
THE BEST GROOMED TERRAIN IN COLORADO
Although Copper features tons of expert and off-piste, above-treeline ski terrain, what everyone will tell you is that the groomers here are bar none. Served mostly by high-speed chairlifts, and in some cases six-pack chairs, the groomed terrain in Copper follows a fall-line path that includes everything from mellow, rolling terrain, to steep and speedy runs that flow all the way to East and Center Villages. It’s very tough to beat the runs directly under the six-person Super Bee Lift, which are the perfect option on a sunny, bluebird Colorado day.
Go To Groomers: Andy’s Encore, Bouncer, American Flyer, and Collage
HIGH-SPEED LIFTS, AND PLENTY OF THEM
Copper’s plethora of high-speed, high-capacity lifts spreads out skiers and riders and makes lift lines move extremely fast, if they exist at all in the first place. This is evident at the separate base areas (East, Center, and West Villages), where high-speed 6-pack and 4-pack chairs sweep you to upper-mid mountain in just a few, quick minutes. If you’re looking for a quiet stay where the focus is on skiing, stay in East Village and ride the 6-person Super Bee, which puts you on top of some of the best groomed terrain at the resort; the perfect way to start and end each day.
Must ride lifts: Super Bee, American Eagle, American Flyer, Excelerator
AFFORDABLE SLOPE SIDE LODGING AND QUAINT VILLAGES
The beautiful thing about Copper is how the resort and its lodging are laid out. If you’re vacationing, you stay right on the slopes, where a variety of affordable slopeside and ski-in ski-out accommodations offer access to the mountains at a remarkable value for the amenities and activities. The resort is broken into three separate base areas: the East Village, Center Village, and West Village, each of which features its own style of accommodation. The Center Village features the most bars, restaurants, hotels, and shops while the East Village features some shopping, condos, and cafes. The West Village offers great proximity to the slopes and some larger condos for families and groups.
Where to eat: CB Grill
Where to drink: Downhill Dukes
Where to stay: Tucker Mountain Lodge, Copper One (ski-in ski-out)
BONUS: THIS SEASON, COPPER IS OFFERING CHAIRLIFT ACCESS WITHOUT RESERVATIONS FOR GUESTS STAYING AT THE RESORT. THOSE VISITING FOR THE DAY MUST GET PARKING RESERVATIONS. (EFFECTIVE AS OF 12/8/20)
COPPER MOUNTAIN STATS:
Annual Snowfall: 305″
Vertical Drop: 2,738′
Skiable Terrain: 2,465 acres
Base Elevation: 9,712′
Summit Elevation: 12,441
Lifts: 24
Start planning your Copper Mountain ski vacation now! Our Mountain Travel Experts can help you customize and book your flights, rental cars, lodging and more. They’re standing by at 800-610-8911. You can also get started by filling out a free custom quote.
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