Things You'll Need:
- Skis or a snowboard
- Cash for a lift ticket or a season pass
- A Colorado Gems Card from Colorado Ski Country for added savings
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Step 1
Colorado Ski Country's eight Colorado gems of the Rocky Mountains.Colorado is home to eight gems, what Colorado Ski Country calls the state's "best hidden treasures." These small ski resorts offer big fun for marginal prices: Arapahoe Basin, Eldora, Loveland, Monarch, Powderhorn, Ski Cooper, SolVista Basin and Sunlight.
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Step 2
A-Basin, located on the west side of the Continental Divide, starts early and finishes late. Opening day is in October and the season finishes with parties on the resort' s beach into June. Located close to Denver and a stone's throw from Boulder, Eldora Mountain Resort features terrain parks and cross-country skiing formulated for easy-access, family fun.
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Step 3
Loveland Ski Area is also close to Denver and offers a forgiving area for beginners, as well as terrain suitable for intermediate and advanced levels. Monarch Mountain, perched between Salida and Gunnison, boasts more than 350 inches of natural snow, exciting snowcat tours and pristine tree runs that make for a memorable family vacation.
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Step 4
Powderhorn Resort, on Colorado's Western Slope, features scenic runs and heralded glade skiing just 35 miles from Grand Junction. This affordable resort is 4,000 feet above the Grand Mesa valley floor, which is a sight to behold. Leadville's Ski Cooper offers plenty of fresh powder and backcountry skiing, plus a new Children's Center to teach the little ones how it's done in Colorado.
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Step 5
Located 80 miles from Denver and 15 miles from Winter Park, the new SolVista Basin at Granby Ranch calls itself "a ski area fueled by hot cocoa, not adrenaline." Cocoa is good for the heart, and soul. Sunlight Mountain Resort in Glenwood Springs, home of the world's largest hot springs, is a friendly and often times challenging mountain with a view of Mt. Sopris picture-perfect for family portraits.
