Hesperus Ski Area Opens this Saturday

Photo by Scott DW Smith courtesy of Hesperus.

Resort officials announced Hesperus Ski Area, located in southwestern Colorado near Durango, is opening for the 2016/2017 season on Saturday, Dec. 17 at 9am with top to bottom skiing and riding, conditions permitting. To celebrate the start of the season, a DJ will provide a fun, family vibe, and guests can enjoy grilled hot dogs and bratwurst. The Hesperus lodge and snack bar, rental shop, and ski & ride school will be open. The ski area will be open Saturday, Dec. 17 from 9am to 9pm, and lift tickets are $39 for full-day adults; or $29 for adults night skiing from 4pm to 9pm (see below for all categories of lift ticket prices). Lift hours after Saturday are 9am to 4pm, daily through Jan. 1. After Jan. 2, Hesperus will be open regular operating hours, and will include night skiing. Check the Ski-Hesperus.com for more details.

Hesperus features 26 trails, and a double chairlift on 160 acres, and is the largest night skiing operation in the Southwest region. Its ski and snowboard rental fleet was upgraded for the 2016/2017 season. Hesperus is known as an affordable ski area. Kids under six years old, 4th grade students, and those who are 70 and better ski free every day. Hesperus is part of Colorado Ski Country USA and participates in its Gems program, and 5^th and 6^th grade passport program that provides access to Ski Countrys member resorts.

*Sundays only from 12:30 4pm
**4 9pm

New Lift Ticket Deals at Hesperus Start in January:

• Two for Tuesdays — buy one full-day, full-price lift ticket, and get one free, available on select dates starting in January.

• Car Load Days: everyone in one car skis for $50, limit five people per vehicle, available on select days starting in January.

• Local Appreciation Days adult and teen lift tickets are $25; kids & seniors are $15, available starting in January.

• College Night All Colorado colleges & universities receive 50% off regular lift tickets, on a select date in January.

• Super Bowl Special adult and teen lift tickets are $25; kids & seniors are $15, Sunday, Feb. 5.

Ski & Ride School Programs

Sno-Kat Kidz this favorite Hesperus program is back! For $189 (for lessons, rentals, and lift tickets), receive five weeks of afterschool ski (ages 5-15) or snowboard (ages 7-15) classes for kids in January. Parents may purchase a $20 lift ticket when their child is attending a Sno-Kat Kidz lesson. Refer a parent to Sno-Kat Kidz who registers their child, and receive two adult night skiing lift tickets. Program begins in January 2017. Check the Ski-Hesperus.com website for more details.

FREE Lessons for Never Evers!

Hesperus offers first-timers up to three FREE lessons with the purchase of one full-day, full-price lift ticket for $39. This offer is available every day.

Earlier in September, James Coleman, managing partner of the largest ski area collective in the Southwest, announced the acquisition of Hesperus Ski Area, which joins Purgatory Resort (CO), Arizona Snowbowl (AZ), Sipapu Ski & Summer Resort (NM), and Pajarito Mountain (NM), plus Colorados largest snowcat skiing operation, Purgatory Snowcat Adventures. Hesperus Ski Area is located 11 miles west of Durango, Colo. on US Highway 160.

For more information on the Hesperus Ski Area, visit Ski-Hesperus.com