Best Peaks Overall in
The rank-order of Colorado ski resorts we’ve been to based on overall mountain experience.
#1 of 20 in Colorado
VailVail, CO
Vail, CO
MOUNTAIN SCORE
78
- Size
- Lift infrastructure
- Terrain diversity
- One-of-a-kind Back Bowl and Blue Sky Basin aesthetics
- Lack of truly extreme terrain
- Ease of navigation
With expansive, diverse terrain and modern lifts, this top-of-the-line resort competes well with the best in the country.
#2 of 20 in Colorado
SnowmassSnowmass Village, CO
Snowmass Village, CO
MOUNTAIN SCORE
78
- Striking, expansive footprint
- Diverse terrain for all abilities
- Considerable lift-serviced vertical drop
- Widespread on-mountain facilities
- High-speed lifts in most areas
- Lift logistics at the main base
- Most demanding expert lines hard to find
The largest resort in the Aspen conglomerate is one of the best in Colorado, delivering a well-rounded experience worthy of the asking price.
#3 of 20 in Colorado
TellurideTelluride, CO
Telluride, CO
MOUNTAIN SCORE
77
- Diverse terrain for all ability levels
- Striking resort scenery
- Relatively low crowds
- Unique variety of lodging options
- Lower average snowfall than some other Colorado resorts
- Variable openings and long hikes required for some extreme terrain
- Slow lifts in some areas
Despite its modest size and reputation for extreme terrain, this beautiful, remote resort delivers an experience that can be enjoyed by everyone.
#4 of 20 in Colorado
Beaver CreekBeaver Creek, CO
Beaver Creek, CO
MOUNTAIN SCORE
76
- Diverse below and near-treeline terrain
- Exceptional longevity of certain expert runs
- Modern lift infrastructure
- Thoughtfully-designed on-mountain facilities
- Price
- Lack of true above-treeline terrain
- Flagrantly moneyed atmosphere in some areas
Despite its family-centric reputation and lack of above-treeline terrain, Beaver Creek delivers an experience that visitors of all ability levels will enjoy. Just don’t expect anything to be cheap.
#5 of 20 in Colorado
Arapahoe BasinDillon, CO
Dillon, CO
MOUNTAIN SCORE
73
- Snow quality
- Extremely demanding expert terrain
- Lower crowds than other Colorado resorts
- Season regularly extends into June
- Slow, wind-exposed lifts
- Hiking required for some trails
- No on-site lodging
- Altitude that can be overwhelming for some
While slow lifts and a lack of on-site lodging may turn some people away, this local favorite offers some of the most extreme terrain in Colorado.
#6 of 20 in Colorado
BreckenridgeBreckenridge, CO
Breckenridge, CO
MOUNTAIN SCORE
73
- Terrain diversity
- Conveniently accessible high-alpine bowls
- Well-placed mountain facilities
- Lively town
- Ease of navigation
- High wind exposure in some areas
- Altitude that can be overwhelming for some
This high-elevation resort offers diverse terrain, including conveniently accessible alpine bowls. However, the altitude and navigation logistics will be overwhelming for some.
#7 of 20 in Colorado
CopperCopper, CO
Copper, CO
MOUNTAIN SCORE
73
- Excellent high-alpine terrain experience
- Natural insulation for skiers of different ability levels
- Relatively local feel
- Slow, difficult-to-load lifts outside base areas
- Altitude that can be overwhelming for some
- Lack of lodges in backside areas
This Colorado favorite offers very competitive terrain, but many lifts outside base areas are slow.
#8 of 20 in Colorado
Aspen HighlandsAspen, CO
Aspen, CO
MOUNTAIN SCORE
72
- Snow quality
- Isolated feel
- Extensive selection of long, demanding expert terrain
- Iconic bowl skiing
- Modest footprint
- No beginner runs
- Scant single-black terrain
- Lack of lower-mountain lift redundancies
While modestly sized, this Aspen resort offers a surprisingly local feel and a diverse, demanding expert footprint.
#9 of 20 in Colorado
KeystoneKeystone, CO
Keystone, CO
MOUNTAIN SCORE
72
- Solid mix of groomed, mogul, and tree terrain
- High-alpine bowl terrain for all ability levels
- Uniquely-designed footprint
- Night skiing
- Long travel time to and from furthest mountain areas
- Smaller lift-served footprint than many competitors
- Very limited true expert features
This Colorado resort offers unique, enjoyable slopes and finally boasts lift-serviced high-alpine bowls, but it still falls somewhat short in its lift-served footprint size and expert terrain.
#10 of 20 in Colorado
Winter ParkWinter Park, CO
Winter Park, CO
MOUNTAIN SCORE
72
- Snow quality
- Wide variety of tree terrain
- Long, demanding mogul runs
- Available intermediate bowl terrain
- Expansive footprint
- Lack of easily accessible advanced and expert bowl terrain
- Crowd flow in some popular areas
Although it can get crowded, this conveniently located Colorado destination has a lot to offer for a wide variety of visitors.
#11 of 20 in Colorado
SteamboatSteamboat Springs, CO
Steamboat Springs, CO
MOUNTAIN SCORE
71
- Distinctive glade terrain
- Snow quality
- Sizable footprint
- Lively local town
- Less striking footprint than some competitors
- Underwhelming bowl terrain
- Ease of access to expert terrain
While it’s not the most striking ski resort in the world, standout tree terrain and significant recent lift and terrain improvements help this northern Colorado resort hold its own against the other destinations.
#12 of 20 in Colorado
Crested ButteCrested Butte, CO
Crested Butte, CO
MOUNTAIN SCORE
70
- Extremely demanding expert terrain
- Iconic topography
- Isolated feel
- Natural insulation for skiers of different ability levels
- Reasonable ticket prices
- Modest, ordinary footprint for beginner-to-advanced visitors
- Lower snow totals than other Colorado resorts
- Hiking required for some expert trails
- Altitude that may be overwhelming for some
This striking Colorado resort is an expert’s paradise. Reasonable ticket prices counterbalance limited terrain offerings for other demographics.
#13 of 20 in Colorado
Aspen MountainAspen, CO
Aspen, CO
MOUNTAIN SCORE
68
- Stunning town views
- Enjoyable intermediate cruisers
- Demanding advanced and expert terrain
- Long vertical drop for the size
- Poorly designed lift system in lower-mountain areas
- Modest footprint
- No beginner or above-treeline terrain
- Lack of lodges on Shadow Mountain side
The oldest Aspen ski area offers incredible views of town on a relatively compact footprint, but the resort could use logistical enhancements in lower-mountain areas.
#14 of 20 in Colorado
Wolf CreekPagosa Springs, CO
Pagosa Springs, CO
MOUNTAIN SCORE
66
- Top-tier snow quality
- Excellent glade terrain
- Unparalleled early season
- Lack of crowds
- Meager vertical drop
- No on-site lodging
- Limited or impractical beginner terrain
This local ski area offers the highest average snow totals in Colorado, although its vertical drop is short compared to the destinations.
#15 of 20 in Colorado
LovelandDillon, CO
Dillon, CO
MOUNTAIN SCORE
64
- Easy access from Denver
- Heavy annual snowfall
- Wide variety of bowl skiing
- Price
- Inconsistent conditions due to wind exposure
- Slow lifts in many areas
- No on-site lodging
This local Colorado ski area doesn’t deliver the same well-rounded experience as destination resorts, but it’s hard to beat the quality for the price on a powder day.
#16 of 20 in Colorado
PurgatoryDurango, CO
Durango, CO
MOUNTAIN SCORE
64
- Striking, remote location
- Family-friendly terrain
- Limited crowds
- Cozy base village
- Free tickets for kids 12 and under
- Modest footprint
- Lower snowfall than some other Colorado resorts
- Some terrain zones difficult to find or reach
- Poorly placed backside lodge
This San Juan resort’s local feel, stunning vistas, and decent variety of terrain make it a strong regional choice for those in the southwest.
#17 of 20 in Colorado
ButtermilkAspen, CO
Aspen, CO
MOUNTAIN SCORE
58
- Top-tier terrain park experience
- High-speed lifts
- Family-friendly atmosphere
- Colorado snow
- Similar-feeling terrain with very little in the way of challenge
- No lift redundancies
- Best large terrain park features closed to public for large portions of the season
- Value
Aspen’s beginner-centric mountain offers a good learning environment and excellent terrain parks, but the area is otherwise uncompetitive and overpriced.
#18 of 20 in Colorado
EldoraNederland, CO
Nederland, CO
MOUNTAIN SCORE
57
- Convenient location
- Good snow preservation
- Strong terrain park offerings
- Lower snowfall than competing mountains
- Small footprint and vertical drop
- Lackluster beginner terrain
- No on-site lodging
- Extremely limited parking
This small Colorado resort is seriously outclassed by destination competitors, but its convenient location makes it a decent day trip option.
#19 of 20 in Colorado
MonarchSalida, CO
Salida, CO
MOUNTAIN SCORE
54
- Local feel
- Distinctive glades
- Continental Divide views
- Unique, hike-to Mirkwood expert zone
- Small footprint with diminutive vertical drop
- Outdated, low-capacity lift infrastructure
- No on-site lodging
- No directly-lift-accessed expert terrain
- Crowds on Saturdays
This Colorado ski area is way too small and underbuilt to be a destination mountain, but several facets make it a strong regional choice.
#20 of 20 in Colorado
Ski CooperLeadville, CO
Leadville, CO
MOUNTAIN SCORE
52
- Snow quality
- Lack of crowds
- Great views of multiple 14ers, and near a great mountain town
- Some of the best beginner terrain in the state
- No high-speed lifts
- Short vertical drop
- Lack of expert terrain
- Some frustrating navigation logistics
- Altitude that can be overwhelming for some
While most folks won’t want to plan a weeklong vacation here, this modestly-sized hill stands out from the destinations with an easy-to-handle footprint and lack of crowds.