Accommodation: Where to Stay in Pagosa Springs. Pennsylvania just doesnt have the same sort of trails. I always felt like my learning days were so expensive because I wasnt enjoying the full mountain yet! But what these ski resorts lack in modern efficiency, they make up for in old-school ski-vacation charm. By subscribing I agree to the terms and privacy policy. 
It's well worth a look if you haven't skied here in a while.
Wolf Creek is well positioned for skiers based in the southern portion of the state those from New Mexico, and even people from Texas. Monarch Mountain is known for itsdeep snow, diverse terrain, excellent tree skiing, crowd-less slopes, and backcountry snowcat operation. Ben and Jenna Thomas are a pair of newlyweds who both grew up exploring the mountains of Colorado. Scattered across the state, these hills harken back to an older time. The fun and funky town of Leadville is just down the road. The Colorado Gems are a series of eleven small and affordable ski resorts in Colorados Rocky Mountains that still have old-school charm with far fewer crowds. 14 Best All-Inclusive Spa Resorts in the U.S. Off most people's radar, Monarch Mountain is an affordable destination that receives 350 inches (29 feet) of snow each year. Due to its proximity to the city, its best to make a reservation, especially for tubing. Plus, it not only offers affordable lift tickets, but its also close enough that theres no need to pay an arm and a leg for pricey lodging unless you really want to there are a number of options in nearby in Georgetown and Silver Plume. haha) Will definitely try and swing over and check it out. Back in the mid-twentieth century when mining towns were shutting down, it was skiing and tourism that saved them from extinction (the lucky ones anyway). Winter Park basically reinvented itself in 2020 through investments of over 30 million dollars spread across critical infrastructure and new chairlifts. Five lifts service 59 trails spread out across 470 acres. While it may not sound as exciting as Aspen, here lodging is far less expensive and the atmosphere is less pretentious too. Lift tickets are an incredible bargain here; they cost half as much as the large resorts just down the road. Echo Mountain is only 36 miles from Denver, making it an ideal day trip destination and a good option for saving on gas and accommodation. Have fun out there this winter. Follow their journey at WildImagining.com and make sure to check out their awesome photography on Instagram and Facebook. Layer on local charm instead of glitz, and friendly locals instead of competitive crowds, and the idea of trying somewhere new and saving money has a lot going for it. The lift lines are fast, there are few skiers out on the slopes, and it also has an outstanding beginner area which features a double chair lift, allowing novices to learn new skills. Since then, the Colorado resort lifestyle has gotten bigger and more glamorous. Telluride and Aspen are the closestover 100 miles away. Pineapple Beach Club Antigua | 5th Nt Free, 7-Day Caribbean Cruise w/ All-Inclusive Upgrade, 8-Day Greece Cruise w/ All-Inclu. Awesome Jessi! A wide variety of hotels and inns are available to suit every budget. Cooper is in the same mountain neighborhood as Vail, Breckenridge, and Beaver Creek, so you'll get all the same amazing snow conditions but without the high prices. * You can not add any links to your comment as was previously mentioned above. Although the budget-friendly resorts may not have the fastest chairlifts, this is more than offset by the absence of lift lines. Snow here is plentiful, averaging about 23 feet a year, but the mountain also has extensive snowmaking capabilities. Though its 300 vertical feet isnt extreme, you honestly cannot get a cheaper ski trip than this in a more picturesque place. This resort is a low-key place, with locals and visitors interacting and having a good time enjoying the beautiful surroundings. I also had no idea about the gem pass so thanks for the tip. Skiing is the lifeblood of Colorado. If youre looking for a unique place to stay, check out the top Airbnb rentals in the area. Warm up with cocoa in the charming town of Silverton once youre off the slope. Their smaller size creates a relaxed atmosphere, and their old-school charm will draw you in and help you escape the stresses of everyday life. Skiers leaving from Denver can avoid the congestion on I-70 by heading to Monarch Mountain, zipping along Highway 285 across the South Park Valley rather than being stuck in the endless traffic between Idaho Springs and Georgetown. Companion to Hesperus in the San Juan National Forest, Ski Kendall is nearest to the town of Silverton. As ski season approaches, Colorado locals are gearing up to take their families on an excursion for their favorite snowy season pastime, skiing! Its location also means that skiers have access to nearby Glenwood Hot Springs for soothing those sore muscles at the end of a day out on the slopes. For those looking for a bit more challenge, they can head to the glades. Located in the southern region of the state, Wolf Creek is all about snow, 430 inches, nearly 36 feet, in fact.
Only 67 miles from Denver, Winter Park has long been a popular choice for those looking to save money on fuel and get the most resort amenities for their buck. A-Basin has the highest in-bounds skiable terrain in North America. Time your visit with an up-slope storm the kind that shuts down Denver. Lift lines here are a rare occurrence. Nearby, Glenwood Springs offers a wide variety of budget and mid-range accommodation options. Purgatory Resort, located just outside Durango, is one of the larger ski resorts that those on a budget can appreciate. Colorado Travel Guide: Plan Your Perfect Trip, 17 Top-Rated Attractions & Places to Visit in Colorado, USA, 16 Top-Rated Attractions & Things to Do in Denver, CO, 16 Top-Rated Attractions & Things to Do in Colorado Springs, CO, 11 Top-Rated Weekend Getaways in Colorado, 12 Top-Rated Ski Resorts in Colorado, 2022, 25 Top-Rated Ski Resorts in the World, 2022, 10 Best Campgrounds near Breckenridge, CO, 12 Top-Rated Things to Do in Breckenridge, CO, 22 Best Places to Visit in the United States, 20 Best Luxury All-Inclusive Resorts in the World, Photo Copyright: Sunlight Mountain Resort, Glenwood Springs is fun town with plenty of things to do, Where to Stay in Denver: Best Areas & Hotels. Echo also has a tubing park for those not interested in skiing. Not only is the accommodation and food inexpensive, you have two cheap ski hills to choose from: Purgatory and Hesperus. In many cases, the drive times are less, the traffic is less, and the lift lines are almost non-existent. Loveland has incredible deals on advance lift tickets, especially if you pre-purchase them in blocks of four. Loveland is only 53 miles from Denver, making it an easy spot to get to fast from the city or the Denver International Airport. I havent been skiing since high school but am encouraged that there is a lot of easier terrain at many of these resorts. Hi there! Ski Granby Ranch, formerly known as Solvista Basin, is sandwiched halfway between Winter Park and Steamboat Springs on US Highway 40. These two are much smaller than other ski areas in Colorado, but you cant beat the stunning beauty. If you add up the cost of fuel, accommodation, lift tickets, and food on the hill, you'll see why Eldora ranks high on the list of affordable ski destinations in Colorado. Eleven lifts service nearly 100 runs and are spread strategically around the mountain. That might be another less visited mountain your readers might enjoy and I think passes at Monarch work there too, or there is some sort of exchange system. Understandably, major ski resorts arent an option for everyone theyre expensive and often very crowded. Official site: https://www.purgatoryresort.com/. Right now, theyre working their way around the world, from one exciting adventure to the next. Sunlight is a favorite with families. Thirty-six miles from downtown, this is a great place to take your family skiing or tubing for cheap. While there is no lodging onsite, there are lots of options in Boulder and an increasing number of accommodation options in Nederland, including vacation rentals and inexpensive Airbnbs, located just minutes from the resort. Monarch Mountain can be experienced as its own trip or as a warm-up mountain to those heading over to Crested Butte. The reciprocal benefits provide three free ski days at many other resorts that basically pay for the cost of the pass. If you want something more extreme and personal, it also offers snowcat access skiing on Chicago Ridge, that features terrain thats similar to the back bowls of Vail. Written by Michael Law and Lana LawUpdated Oct 26, 2021, We may earn a commission from affiliate links (). Considering the resort gets the most snow in Colorado, and it's a budget place to ski, you might be led to believe the place is overrun with skiers. Official Site: https://www.skimonarch.com/. Im not sure why this popped up in my news feed this morning (1/22/2020) but its a fantastic piece. A great way to ski at Winter Park and save even more money is to take the Winter Park Express Train to the mountain. Small tow-ropes and single and double chairlifts eventually turned places like Aspen, Telluride, and, Since then, the Colorado resort lifestyle has gotten bigger and more glamorous. Back in the mid-twentieth century when mining towns were shutting down, it was skiing and tourism that saved them from extinction (the lucky ones anyway). Cooper, (formerly Ski Cooper) is situated at the top of Tennessee Pass above Camp Hale, just west of Vail and Copper Mountain. Hesperus Ski Area is one of the most affordable ski resorts in Colorado. For those into self-catering, the large and well stocked City Market in the center of town is a good go-to grocery store. Arapahoe Basin is located over the Loveland Pass from 1-70 outside of Denver. Not to mention, tourists tend to flock to the more popular ski spots in the state of Colorado. Africa Safari Cruise, 8-Day Tahiti Cruise w/ Air, Hotel & All-Inclu. A longtime family favorite, theres also a good lesson program, free snow play area and sledding hill for the little ones, along with lift-served tubing on select Saturdays, and night skiing. Your ski ticket dollar goes a long way here with 23 lifts, including a 10-passenger gondola. Fortunately, that is not the case. If you are looking for something a bit more extreme and personal, Cooper also offers snow-cat access skiing up on Chicago Ridge with terrain similar to Vails back bowls. It spans around and over the Eisenhower Tunnel and it sits at the Continental Divide.
Perfect for those in the heart of Denver and without a car, the train leaves from the historic Union Station. Even if you plan on skiing just a few times this winter, a season pass might still make sense. But for families that want a more laid-back and budget-friendly spring break, this is a smart way to go. An easy drive down the road from the resort is the lively town of Durango. But what these ski resorts lack in modern efficiency, they make up for in old-school ski-vacation charm. One of Colorados best-kept ski secrets, Sunlight Mountain Resort plays second fiddle to Aspen-Snowmass just above Glenwood Springs in the Roaring Fork Valley. Just 53 miles west of Denver, Loveland hosts 1,000 acres of terrain with high alpine bowls and long bump runs as well as free snowcat skiing along the Continental Divide. Discover destinations, find outdoor adventures, follow the journeys of our travel writers around the world, and be inspired. Im learning how to ski this winter up at Alta above salt lake. A lot of people overlook this little mountain because it has gentle terrain. Is it possible to ski and snowboard and not break the bank in Colorado? Arapahoe Basin joined the Ikon Pass with 5 or 7 days. Also, look out for their free ski days once a month. The fun doesn't stop at Hesperus when the sun goes down.
Skiing is the lifeblood of Colorado. Copyright 2022 PlanetWare Inc. All rights reserved. Let us know in the comments below! Boarders and freestylers will be able to rack up an impressive number of laps at the two terrain parks due to the non-existent lift lines. Glitz, modern gondolas, and champagne bars turn into humble, old-school double-chairs and hot chocolate from the tiny ski patrol hut. Absolutely! Hesperus is part of the 2021/22 free season pass for children 12 years and younger. But dont let the kiddos trick you into thinking this mountain is all beginners luck: the Gibson and Sundown Glades on a powder day is the definition of steep and deep, peaking out at a vertigo-inducing 52 degreesinbounds. From the top, you'll not only have impressive views out over Durango, but your choice of 26 named runs. Have you been to one of these affordable ski resorts in Colorado or are you making plans to visit some? Well, these selections of Colorado ski resorts are budget-friendly and tend to be low on crowds, so you dont have to hesitate to hit the slopes! Its got a reputation for being a challenging mountain but as it turns out there is plenty of easier terrain. Lift ticket prices and crowds are significantly reduced, the mountains are smaller, and the lifts are a bit slower. For those who prefer cross-country skiing, Eldora has 40 kilometers of groomed trails of varying difficulty winding their way through the forest.
This area outside of Leadville was the training ground for the 10th Mountain Division during World War II. Small ski resorts exist all over the West, including Colorado, which is typically known for glitzy resorts such as Vail and Aspen. Enjoy the slopes this winter! Situated just outside of Salida, it gets a ton of fresh powder, offering the ultimate Rocky Mountain ski experience along with reasonable prices and runs that naturally return to a single base area. Bearfoot Theory / Outdoor Adventure Blog / Colorado Blogs / Colorado Gems: 11 Affordable Ski Resorts. Note: Some businesses may be temporarily closed due to recent global health and safety issues. While Cooper plays little brother to Vail and Copper, Sunlight Mountain Resort is second (well really, fifth) fiddle to the four-mountain monolith that is Aspen-Snowmass. Cooper, in operation since 1942, is a friendly place with good facilities and great snow. New in 2021/22: Kids under 12 ski free. The mountain has 67 runs, many of which are long cruisers. This is a small operation with just 13 runs, but that's okay because the price of a lift ticket is commensurate with the facilities. Just like at Cooper, you might be tempted to try cat-skiing.
On a powder day at Loveland, riding the bowls from the second-highest quad lift in the world is the best feeling in the world! Stoked for your winter. Definitely come back and let me know how it goes! When I say there are no mega-resorts nearby, I mean it. Situated on the worlds largest flattop mountain, Grand Mesa, its sometimes referred to as a diamond in the rough. It even has a weather system thats practically all its own in fact, you may enjoy a dry, sunny day in Grand Junction, and look over to see a cloud hovering over Grand Mesa, which means its probably getting buckets of fresh snow. But as the holidays near, were all trying to stay mindful of our budgets. For those more advanced skiers, the Loveland Basin area has a strong mix of intermediate through to advanced trails, including some exceptionally good wide-open bowl skiing. Upgrade, All-Incl. Cooper, formerly known as Ski Cooper, is one of the most affordable ski resorts in the United States. Intermediate skiers will love it here. Hopefully you can make it out here for a visit sometime this winter! The extra effort is worth it though! Dining in town is also affordable, as you won't be paying ski-town prices; you'll just pay what the locals pay. The mountain has 94 named ski runs spread out over 1,800 acres all serviced by nine lifts.
The Ranch hosts a number of dining options too, including the Granby Ranch Grill, where you can sip a drink on the sun-soaked patio while enjoying the breathtaking panoramic views.