Colorado's Top Five Ski Resorts

By Christopher Bradford

Colorado is ski country USA with twenty eight ski resorts that include some of the most famous names in the ski business. Aspen, Vail, Beaver Creek, Steamboat Springs just to name a few are all in this fabulous state of Colorado. With twenty eight, how do we widdle it down to the top five?

Everyone has their own little perspective on what makes a great ski resort. Great night life, lots of snow, easy access to on hill lodging, celebrities walking around, high end restaurants are all aspects of what make a ski resort what it is. My perspective is from the skiing side. I like lots of snow, great runs, a mountain that spreads different abilities across different parts of the hill, smaller crowds and did I mention lots of snow. So here goes my top five Colorado ski resorts and why. These are in no particular order as I had enough of a hard time working it down to five.

Crested Butte Mountain Resort: In the southern part of Colorado sits in a great location to catch the best of Colorado's winter storms. It's also is a bit warmer than the other top four resorts on this list with an average daily winter temperature of 30F. The mountain is about 50% expert and most of the other 50% is intermediate. This is an old skiers hill that will test your ability. The town is nit overly developed but you can find something for almost everyone here.

Steamboat Ski Resort: In the northwest part of Colorado the mountain is comprised of six peaks, 165 trails spread out over 2,965 acres served by 20 lifts, including four high-speed quad chairlifts and an 8-passenger gondola, rising 3,668 vertical feet. Gladed areas of Sunshine and Storm Peaks are Steamboat's claim to fame, with Champagne Powder snow in the trees for the most avid powder hounds. If the snow is falling there is not a better place in the world to ski. A great town with working cattle ranches and an old west feel make this a can't miss destination.

Telluride Ski Resort: Surrounded by the highest concentration of 14,000 peaks in the US this is a skiers paradise. The small town of Telluride is out of the way enough that you feel as the whole mountain is yours. No lift lines at all and lodging that is almost all slopeslide. Great late season snow and again in southern Colorado where if the weather is right you talk of snow in feet not inches.

Copper Mountain Resort: The oly resort on the list that sits on the I-70 corridor but the mountain is worth dealing with I-70. This is the perfect ski mountain. From skiers left is beginner, middle is intermediate and right is expert. The expert terrain in the Far East area is breath taking. looking down at the valley below the terrain is perfect. Snow is usually very good also.

Winter Park Resort: Only 67 miles from Denver and the best and most snow in the state. Winter Park is as they say Colorado's favorite. Snow averages over 350 inches a year and it is sunny 70% of the ski season. That must mean some big storms!! The Mary Jane side of Winter Park has the best bumps in North America and there is great powder and great tree skiing. Winter Park is the place to go if you like snow so I would have to say WP is the favorite here.

So there is my top five Colorado ski resorts. What are yours lets here in the comments below.

For your Colorado ski vacation Christopher Bradford invites you to visit http://www.winterparklodgingcompany.com to find the best lodging in Winter Park, Colorado.

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For more information on Colorado Skiing, see www.bestskisource.com.