Dustin Schaefer, Loveland Ski Area
Its a great time to be a Colorado skier. Whether you buy a full season pass at your home mountain (often with reciprocal free days at nearby resorts) or pick up 4 packs and discount cards from a variety of mountains, its pretty easy to argue that skiing in Colorado is more affordable than ever.
Weve covered some of the fun, unique and great value deals available from Front Range resorts.
Today, heres a look at the best deals in the Central Mountains, the Western Slope and three special passes from Colorado Ski Country USA.
Silverton Unguided Pass:Silvertons most popular pass sold out in a matter of days in early summer. Mark your calendar for next June if you want to take advantage of unguided skiing at Silverton Mountain, five days at both Arapahoe Basinand Monarch, $79 Standby guided skiing at Silverton, half-price standby heli drops, $2.00 Premium draft beers and more.
Steamboat Night Skiing Add-On: $99 keeps you skiing under the lights all season long. Steamboat also offers a First-Track season pass, but it is sold out.
Powderhorn:Powderhorns P-Card is better than ever this season with direct-to-lift access. For $54, you get your first day free and every day after is at a 20% discount.In addition, the DECA Pack is a transferable pass that can be used by friends, family or even co-workers. With it, you can purchase 10 half-price tickets one-at-a-time, several-at-a-time or all at once. The cost is $175 upfront.
Crested Butte:Looking for year-round fun? Crested Buttes Peak Pass Plus may be your ticket. With unlimited winter and summer access at Crested Butte Mountain Resort, the Peak Pass Plus also has unlimited tubing, free days at Loveland, Steamboat, Copper Mountain, Winter Park and threefree days at both Winter Parks Trestle Bike Park and the Steamboat Bike Park. Act fast, because after 10/24 the price for an adult Peak Pass increases from $599 to $799.
Sunlight:As an add-on to their terrific season pass (with plenty of free days at other Colorado resorts), Sunlight skiers can purchase the Powder Pass upgrade to get on the lifts 30 minutes early, every day when it snows more than 6.
Aspen/Snowmass:With four mountains to choose from, Aspen/Snowmass may have actually invented the multi-mountain pass. The Classic pass, loaded with either 4 or 7 days of skiing and riding, is a perennial favorite. In addition, Aspen/Snowmass also offers a Flex Pass, with either 1 or 2 days of skiing per week, the Escape Silver Pass with steep discounts for skiers over 70, the Lower Lift pass for families who are just starting out on the bunny slopes and a Four Mountain Sightseeing Pass for foot travelers.
Purgatory:Get unlimited skiing and riding at Durango Mountain Resort, along with dining discounts in Durango, other on-mountain discounts and free days at Powderhorn, Monarch, Sunlight and Loveland.
Wolf Creek: Whether youve got a pass or not, Wolf Creek has some great deals for all skiers and riders. Check out their website for Local Appreciation Days (No I.D. required), midweek in November, December, January and February. Tickets are just $41 for adults and $24 for children and seniors.
College Days offer a similar deal on Sundays throughout the season, but this time you definitely do need an I.D. Other great deals, open to all, include the resorts Baby Boomers Clinics, Telemark Clinics and Womens Ski and Snowboard Clinics.
Telluride:Each season pass or multi-day pass provides additional benefits for passholders when you show your pass while you are in Telluride, including:
CSCUSA Passes:Three of the best deals in Colorado come from right here, at Colorado Ski Country USA.
For just $20 you can get Colorado Gems Card good for one buy-one/get-one adult lift ticket at Arapahoe Basin, Eldora, Loveland, Monarch, Powderhorn, Ski Copper, Ski Granby Ranch and Sunlight.
Even better, if youre a kid in 5th or 6th grade, or if youre that kids parents, are the 5th and 6th grade passports.Fifth graders get 3 free days at 20 Colorado resorts thats up to 60 days of FREE skiing. First-timers can also get a free rental and lesson, usually during Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month in January.Sixth graders have to pay $99 for their passport, but they get even more skiing, with 4 days at each of CSCUSAs 20 resorts. Thats up to 80 days of skiing and riding for less than $100.Applications are required and are available now.
Last but not least, the Colorado Gold Pass is the single most valuable ski pass in Ski Country. With unrestricted, fully transferable access to twenty of Colorado’s finest ski resorts, Gold Pass holders belong to an exclusive club of Colorado snow connoisseurs.
