Mountain Cheers, Take Two

If one of skiing and riding’s biggest draws is its inherent sense of community, there’s no better way to further the power of coming together than raising a collective glass after the lifts close. That could be a cold beer, a Dram sparkling water, or a craft cocktail. What’s in the glass hardly matters, what’s memorable is being together on the slopes and celebrating the conquests.

Of course, the key to après lies in its very definition: “after.” Imbibing after putting your skis or board up for the day still allows you to be in compliance with #9 of the Your Responsibility Code: “Do not use lifts or terrain when impaired by alcohol or drugs.” In addition, you’ll still want to be mindful of the altitude and getting home safely.

In this series we’re exploring the many ways one can après, and here, we’re looking at festivities that are what we consider a medium splurge—they offer big fun without a big financial dent.

We can only guess, but we think après has been a thing at Winter Park’s Mary Jane for a looooong time—since 1976 to be exact! Which is why WP is throwing MJ a 50th birthday bash all season long with live music and food and drink specials every Saturday from 1:30–4:30 p.m. at Club Car. If you’re lucky, you might score some free swag to go along with the refreshments. Bonus: Real die-hards might even spring for a pair of Mary Jane 50th 4Front skis!

One of Steamboat’s most brilliant ideas to date is the Taco Beast. This snowcat-turned-taco-truck (maybe a more apt name would have been the Taco Cat?) roams the mountain 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. dispensing tacos and esquites, plus Mexican beer and sodas. OK, so maybe those aren’t typical après hours, but we won’t tell if you don’t tell! For a true end-of-day celebration, don’t miss Sunset Happy Hours on Thursdays and Sundays from 5-9 p.m. Ride the gondola to Thunderhead Lodge for live music), drinks and apps for purchase, and picture-perfect views of the sun going down over Yampa Valley.

There’s nothing like a DJ spinning tracks to up the fun factor. And that’s exactly the point at Eldora, where you can make laps in the a.m. and jam in the p.m. at the Timbers Tap House on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from noon to 3 p.m. There are, of course, drinks and snacks for purchase.

If you haven’t been to Granby Ranch lately (or ever!) put it on your to-do list for a) the skiing and b) the vibe. Make some turns and then head up the Quickdraw Lift to The Outpost, a newly debuted snack hut and deck on the top of East Mountain. There, you can pair your panoramic views with mac and cheese (upgrade to lobster, bacon cheeseburger, buffalo chicken, or chili mac and cheese), cream-stuffed churros, or funnel cake fries. Back at the base, sip on a well-earned signature gin and tonic with bruised rosemary and lemon peel. Bonus: We love how this gem thinks outside of the box and offers craft workshops.

If you think the fare at Purgatory is just staples like chicken tenders and fries, it’s time to take another spin through chef de cuisine John Feely’s on-mountain menus. Of course the ever-popular burgers and tendies are always available, but you can also expect Provençal-style honey-dijon duck wings served with arugula at Backside Bistro, hearty bibimbap rice and gochujang bowls at Dante’s Cafeteria, and bacon burnt ends—available in a rice bowl, sandwich, or mac and cheese bowl—at Powderhouse. It’s enough to make you want to set up a culinary scavenger hunt, ending at Purgy’s Slopeside for its après menu of fried polenta cakes topped with sautéed wild mushrooms and shaved manchego and bite-size tacos with shredded brisket, pickled red onions, Cotija cheese, and cilantro-lime crema.

Powderhorn was built for families and so, you could say, is its après scene. Low on pretense but big on vibe, check out Sunset Grill for pints of beer and end-of-the-day cheese curds. Also, major props to the resort for its Tiny Home Village at the base. Rent one of the six available properties for night and après right on your mini front porch or at the shared fire pit.

The thing about sweet little Sunlight is that it reminds you of the way skiing should be—fun, low-key, and accessible. Whether you’re crushing a sammie on the sunny slopeside deck or riding Segundo to the Cassanova Glades (more snow please!), there’s something uniquely homey about this place. New this season is an extended après with twilight skiing until 6:30 p.m. on March 13, 20, and 27. There will be live music and, of course, Todd’s Tavern will be slinging drinks.

You can’t count yourself a fan of Echo Mountain if you don’t also count yourself a fan of The Cafe’s waffle fries. Hot, crispy, waffly, salty perfection—they are the way to fuel up at this tiny resort. (Some would say it’s worth the 30-ish minute drive from Denver just for the snack, especially if you order them loaded.) Bonus: Get yourself up to Echo on Valentine’s Day for chairlift speed dating and drink specials. If all goes well on the lift, you might be sharing those fries!

February at Colorado Ski Resorts: Events, Après, and Midseason Ski Days

February arrives with a familiar rhythm in Colorado Ski Country USA. By now, the season feels settled in. Favorite runs have been rediscovered, layers are dialed, and the mountains feel less like a destination and more like a second home. It’s the heart of winter, and it invites you to slow down and savor it… linger on a sunny deck, take one more lap, or stay a little later for après.

February is also a month built around connection. On the slopes, that can look like skiing side by side, striking up a conversation on a chairlift, or realizing you’ve taken three runs in a row with someone you just met. Whether you’re flirting, friending, or forever-ing, there’s a chairlift with your name on it this February.

Love Is in the Lift Line

On February 14, several resorts are leaning into the social side of skiing and riding. At Echo Mountain, Chairlift Speed Dating brings a playful structure to night skiing, creating space to meet new people between runs. At Sunlight Mountain Resort, Palentine’s Day Chair Speed Friending focuses on connection and community, welcoming anyone looking to expand their ski circle. And at Loveland Ski Area, the 35th Annual Mountaintop Matrimony continues a long-standing Valentine’s tradition, with couples exchanging vows high in the Rockies.

Each event reflects a different side of February on the slopes, from playful to communal to deeply meaningful, and all of them tap into what skiing and riding already do well: bringing people together.

February, in Full Swing

Valentine’s Day is part of the February calendar, but at Colorado Ski Country USA resorts, the month is shaped just as much by long-running traditions and community.

On February 13, Arapahoe Basin hosts VNTRbirds Galentine’s Day, creating space for friendship, laps, and après with a like-minded crew.

Mid-month brings a mix of celebration and reflection. Snowmass hosts its Mardi Gras celebration on February 17, while Ski Cooper honors mountain history and service during the Rucksack Challenge on February 18 and 10th Mountain Day on February 27, both paying tribute to the legacy of the 10th Mountain Division.

Later in the month, energy stays high with Copper Subaru Winterfest at Copper Mountain (February 20–22), the kickoff of the Rail Rodeo Series at Granby Ranch on February 21, and the start of Telluride Gay Ski Week at Telluride Ski Resort (February 28–March 7), one of the longest-running LGBTQ+ ski weeks in the country.

Après, Naturally

Après starts when skis come off, gloves get stuffed into pockets, and someone asks what everyone’s doing next. Plans are loose. Groups overlap. A quick stop turns into something longer. It’s where the day has space to breathe, and where connections that started on snow have time to take shape.

If you’re looking for ideas, we’ve rounded up a variety that keep things easy and social, from budget-friendly après spots to mid-range options that are comfortable without feeling overdone. Both are built around the same idea: good food, good company, and no rush to head out the door.

A Valentine’s Gift That Gets Used

If Valentine’s Day gifting is on your mind, ski gear is an easy place to start. It’s something that goes straight into rotation on the mountain and often stays in use for the rest of the season, and for seasons of skiing together to come. Right now, Christy Sports is running a sale, making it a good moment to pick up essentials or replace gear that’s seen a few winters.

Helmets, goggles, gloves, and layers are part of every ski day. They get used, relied on, and folded into the rhythm of the season in a way that lasts well beyond Valentine’s Day.

The Heart of the Season

February brings people onto the mountain in all kinds of ways. Events put dates on the calendar, ski days stretch a little longer, and time together continues after lifts stop turning. Valentine’s Day falls right in the middle of it, another moment in a month that’s already busy with time on snow.

Mountains High, Après Low

If one of skiing and riding’s biggest draws is its inherent sense of community, there’s no better way to further the power of coming together than raising a collective glass after the lifts close. That could be a cold beer, a Dram sparkling water, or a craft cocktail. What’s in the glass hardly matters. What’s memorable is being together on the slopes and celebrating the conquests.

Of course, the key to après lies in its very definition: “after.” Imbibing after putting your skis or board up for the day still allows you to be in compliance with Point 9 of Your Responsibility Code: Do not use lifts or terrain when impaired by alcohol or drugs. And you’ll still want to be mindful of the altitude and getting home safely.

In this series, we’re exploring the many ways one can après, and especially the kinds of impromptu festivities that are low-key, casual, and on-a-budget. In many ways you could call these buzzy tailgate scenes mountain-high DIY.

Parking lot vibes

The Beach, Arapahoe Basin’s famous dirt lot at the resort’s base, is the king of the tailgate every day of the week, but on the weekends, Loveland Ski Area and Howelson Hill get in on the action too.

The way to do it right is to start the day off with the skier’s breakfast (scrambled eggs, potatoes, and a biscuit) at A-Basin, the stacked biscuits and gravy at Loveland Grill, or the breakfast sammy at Howelson’s Outrun Snack Bar. Add a pocket granola bar or PB&J, and you’ll be fueled until the end of the day. That’s when the tailgate comes down and the chips, snacks, and coolers come out. Bring a few chairs (just make sure cars can still pass by) and turn up the tunes. Soon you’ll be swapping stories and taking tailgate notes from neighboring parties (cue the charcuterski).

Bang for your buck

Should you choose to forgo the parking lot festivities (or want to bolster them), the resorts are full of ways to maximize your day without emptying your wallet. Check out these insider-y amenities:

• Nothing beats Howelsen Hill’s ski free Sundays. Every Sunday throughout the season, the oldest operating ski area in North America, opens its lifts and Nordic trails gratis just for the pure love of the sport.
• The best way to refuel at Monarch is either bring a sack lunch and buy a beverage or stop by the Fly by Burritos food truck parked right off the deck of the main lodge. The burritos (and bowls) are massive and easily shared, and they’ll keep you energized until the end of the day.
• Did you know that A-Basin’s legendary Bacon Bloody Mary comes with a $1 Coors sidecar? Talk about a steal! The brunch cocktail is the Basin’s most famous, and they sell more than 30,000 a season—some might even consider it Colorado’s signature drink. Also look for a hot chocolate and DIY cookie bar pop-up at Legends Cafe and an ice bar at Black Mountain Lodge in March.

• Loveland is also sporting a gourmet hot chocolate bar this season. Queue up for different cocoa flavors and toppings inside the Loveland Basin Lodge. Skiers and riders in the know make the most of the ski area’s slopeside cabins, which are free to use and are stocked with propane grills. Pack a picnic (hot dogs, brats, burger patties, you name it) and enjoy some high-alpine grilling. In case you don’t want to pack it all in, a couple of the huts have beverage and/or food service.

If you’re making the trek to Silverton, you’ll want to stuff your pack with snacks and sign up for a box lunch. The resort is famously no frills, and the same goes for the vittles. You can purchase drinks and a handful of candy and snacks but, given the demands of skiing this terrain (Silverton is the highest and steepest ski area in North American), you’re better off bringing your own.

Ski the Spirit of the West

Take a trip into the heart of Colorado, where stories of the West are wild—and written in snow.

Long before high-speed lifts and RFID access gates, skiers chased powder from pass to pass, linking small towns, backcountry routes, and ski hills into one long, rolling adventure. Today, that same idea lives on in a very Colorado way: pick a direction, watch the weather, and head toward wherever the snow is stacking up.

From the Divide to Durango: Ancient Paths, Mining Towns & Timeless Turns

This land has always been shaped by those who came before, a living reminder carried in every peak, pass, and trail.

• Monarch – On the drive from Denver to the southwest, the ski resort with the majestic name is Colorado through and through: independent, soulful, and perched atop the Continental Divide. Its new No Name Basin expansion adds 377 acres of high-alpine terrain, with lift and run names that honor the prehistoric and historic stories of the land, including the Tomichi Lift, a Ute word believed to mean “of rocks and water.”
• Telluride – A mountain town carved out of mining heritage, where Old West storefronts sit beneath towering peaks. Ski terrain that drops into a National Historic Landmark district and soak in stories of gold rush grit that still shapes the San Juans today.
• Silverton – Once a mining outpost, now a proving ground for experts, where one lift opens access to some of the most rugged, backcountry-style skiing in Colorado.
• Powderhorn Mountain Resort – Tucked on the Grand Mesa above Grand Junction, Powderhorn is an easygoing mountain with big-sky vibes and a strong connection to Colorado’s Western Slope.
• Purgatory – Closer to heaven, fun as hell, and right down the road from Mesa Verde’s ancient cliff dwellings, Purgatory is where wide-open skiing meets the ancient history of the Southwest.

Echoes of Silver & the Skiing Soldiers Who Helped Win WWII

Only in Colorado do streets built by silver booms and slopes first carved by soldiers come together in one journey.

• Aspen Snowmass – While it’s known worldwide for luxury, at its heart, Aspen is a historic mining town, with Victorian streets, a legendary après scene, and a mountain culture shaped by dreamers who saw metaphorical gold in its snow-capped peaks.
• Sunlight Mountain Resort – Down the road in Glenwood Springs, Sunlight offers a hometown vibe with sprawling trails and a family-friendly spirit. It’s classic Colorado skiing at its best: unassuming, soulful, and true to its roots.
• Ski Cooper – One of Colorado’s most historic ski areas, where the famed 10th Mountain Division trained for alpine warfare before heading to Europe in WWII, today Cooper is a laid-back local fave, with soft snow, affordable turns, and history carved into every run.

A Western Welcome

Just west of Denver, the Continental Divide opens into familiar passes, hometown hills, and mountains that feel like old friends. These are the slopes where locals learn, return, and carry the spirit of snowsports forward.

• Arapahoe Basin – Known as The Legend, A-Basin is pure Colorado skiing: high-alpine, no-frills, and fiercely beloved by locals. With steep chutes, expansive bowls, and an enviable tailgate culture (See you at The Beach!), it’s a backyard mountain with outsized character.
• Loveland Ski Area – High above the Eisenhower Tunnel, Loveland feels like skiing on the roof of the Rockies, and visitors can look forward to deep snow, quick access, and a familiar warmth that keeps them coming back.
• Winter Park Resort – A mountain of many moods, from Mary Jane’s legendary bumps to sweeping alpine bowls and cruiser runs, Winter Park has been the place where Colorado skiers have carved their stories for over 80 years.
• Granby Ranch – A valley favorite with approachable terrain and a neighborly spirit, Granby is the kind of place where kids learn to ski and ride and families grow together on snow.
• Eldora – Right outside Boulder, Eldora is a Front Range mainstay with a loyal local following. Weekday turns fit between workdays, and familiar faces make the mountain feel like home.
• Echo – Just west of Denver, Echo is a favorite for quick laps, night skiing, tubing, and the warmest welcome for skiers and riders of all—or no—abilities.

Where the West Raises Champions

Generations have grown up on these slopes, from first turns to Olympic podiums, grounded in a deep connection to the high country and a long tradition of training and community.

• Copper Mountain – Copper is known as the Athlete’s Mountain, and it’s where the sport’s best come to test themselves. With naturally divided terrain, elite training facilities, and a calendar full of World Cup races and Olympic qualifiers, this member resort is a home base for top competitors and rising stars alike.
• Steamboat Resort – Steamboat is where ranching roots and cowboy grit meet Olympic legacy, and it’s produced more winter Olympians than any other town in America.
• Howelsen Hill – North America’s oldest continuously operating ski area, Howelsen has been open for business since 1915, and to this day, it’s the literal jumping off point for world-class snowsport stories.