Winter Park

About Winter Park

If a casual, relaxing ski town with well-varied terrain for every skiing level, kids’ activities, and diverse lodging accommodations sounds like something you're looking for in a ski vacation, then Winter Park ski area is a great option.

Families and those on a budget will especially appreciate the menu of off-mountain activities, lodging and dining options at Winter Park Resort. The new Coca Cola Tube Park, off the Village Cabriolet, will provide endless laughs and excitement for the little ones, while the pristine tree skiing keeps the teens and adults entertained.

How to get to Winter Park

Winter Park is located about 67 miles west of Denver International Airport (DIA), making it easily accessible. The resort can also be reached via Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE) and Aspen/Pitkin County Airport (ASE) by car.

Winter Park offers a free shuttle service that runs between the base village and the resort called The Lift! The village is also pedestrian-friendly, with most attractions within walking distance.

Skiing in Winter Park

The Winter Park ski area offers numerous stashes and trails for every ability. Looker's right side of the mountain is a beginner and intermediate cruiser paradise. Novice skiers and those who prefer slower speeds and gentle slopes will find a multitude of trails to explore at their own pace. Plus, beginner skiers can find several green runs from the top of the 11,200-foot Mary Jane, which yields more than 2,000 vertical feet of beginner skiing, back to the base of Winter Park. Few ski resorts can offer beginners that kind of access.

Intermediate to advanced intermediates have so many terrain options they'll think that Winter Park was made just for them. From perfectly spaced glades and sustained cruisers that run the entire length of the mountain, the Winter Park intermediate skiing is standout. 

Beginner Skiing in Winter Park

The Winter Park side, as opposed to the Mary Jane of the resort, is an ideal "learn to ski" area, and also a great place for more experienced beginners to explore the mountain’s green runs. Nearly 30-percent of the terrain on the Winter Park side is designated as beginner trails, so novices have a large number of green runs to choose from. If you’re looking at a trail map, the right side of the mountain, from Gemini Express to High Lonesome Express lift, is nearly entirely beginner trails.

The best Winter Park beginner terrain is scattered all over looker’s right side of the resort. First timers will want to start at the surface area, or magic carpet, lifts at the Winter Park base area. There they’ll find a gentle slope to learn on, and namely beginner skiers in that area, since experts and intermediates stick to looker’s left side of the base area.

Once first time skiers area ready to ride up on the lift higher on the mountain, they’ll want to stick to Gemini Express. Off that lift, they’ll find short green runs that lead to short chair lifts like Discovery and Endeavor chairlift. 

As beginners progress and get more comfortable with the Winter Park terrain, they can pick their all the way up the mountain, nearly to the top, via the High Lonesome Express chairlift. From the top they can enjoy sustained, meandering green runs like Whistlestop and Village Way, which takes skiers all the way back the village. There are few areas that offer beginner skiers 2,200 vertical feet of novice terrain.

Winter Park Ski School

First time skiers at Winter Park have an incredible ski school right at their fingertips, so be sure to take advantage. Plus, it’s a great way to better acquaint yourself with the Winter Park beginner terrain. Winter Park Ski School offers half- and full-day ski or snowboard lessons for adults and children ages three to 14. Adults can opt for private lessons if they need a little more one on one attention. Lessons meet at the Sorensen Park area.

Expert Skiing in Winter Park

Mary Jane, the section of the resort on looker’s left side if you’re checking out a trail map, has a saying that pretty much sums up its skiing: No Pain, No Jane.  This area is renowned as having some of the most challenging mogul runs in Colorado. But it doesn’t stop there; Winter Park’s expert skiing includes bowl skiing and extreme steeps, cliffs and trees. 

Between Winter Park's exhilarating Vasquez Bowl to Mary Jane's famed bump runs, experts will find they have more than enough challenging terrains.  The hardest part isn't just the skiing but deciding where to go. Between Mary Jane, Vasquez Cirque and Vasquez Ridge, experts have a whopping 63-percent of most difficult to expert terrain to choose from.

If you like mogul skiing, then you’ll want to spent the majority of your time on Mary Jane’s famed-steeps. The trails off the Challenger chairlift yields leg-burning bump runs sure to challenge the best of the best. The Iron Horse chairlift accesses some shorter black diamond runs.

For some wide-open big mountain skiing you’ll want to head to Vasquez Cirque via the Panoramic Express chairlift. The Cirque is an extreme skier’s paradise. Here you’ll find steeps, chutes, cliffs, variable snow conditions, and technical tree skiing. The Eagle Wind lift brings skiers to a series of gladed trails that are shorter, but quite challenging to boot. Thunderbird is the longest black diamond trail off of the Eagle Wind lift and is sure to test the best.

Expert skiers in search of steep groomers will find several options off of both the Zephyr and Pioneer Express chairlifts. Both of these lifts features every type of terrain, from green to black, so they’re both great areas for groups or families with varying levels of ability. 

Zephyr’s Balch run is a great warm up run at the beginning of the day, and Pioneer’s Gambler and Ace and Eights are black diamonds that turn into blue runs, making them great runs for advanced intermediates looking to challenge their skills or experts looking for a little bit of a break.

Family vacations in Winter Park

Winter Park is a well-loved ski area by both visitors and Denverites, alike. The resort’s close proximity−67 miles−from Denver, and it’s perfectly varied terrain, has earned its accolade as “Colorado’s Favorite.” Families of all skiing abilities love Winter Park’s terrain options, the many family friendly dining options, and the new tubing park at the base area.