If you’re a fan of skiing or riding on Route 40, you might feel like you’ve seen it all at these world-class ski resorts, but think again. We’ve compiled a list of the new upgrades, old favorites and best-kept-secrets you can’t miss on this breathtaking scenic highway. Whether you’re a Route 40 resident skier or a first-time explorer, this Route 40 Ski Season Checklist will be a trusty companion on your next powder day.
Winter Park Resort – Ride the Winter Park Express. Skip the weekend traffic on I-70 and ride from Denver’s Union Station straight to the lifts of Winter Park. If you’re a true Winter Park warrior, you can also strive to ski all seven territories of the resort this season, including the breathtaking views of Parsenn Bowl and the extreme double-black diamond terrain in The Cirque.
Granby Ranch – Take a Snow School lesson with Chris Anthony, an international competitor in both alpine racing and big mountain skiing. While you’re there, don’t forget to snap an Instagram picture from the Wedding Site, a beautiful area with stunning views of the Continental Divide.
Steamboat – Ride the Outlaw Mountain Coaster, which operates year-round and descends more than 400 vertical feet with a riding length of more than 6,000 linear feet, making it the longest mountain coaster in North America. Steamboat also offers the opportunity to ski with Olympians Billy Kidd and Nelson Carmichael.
Howelsen Hill – Try a ski jump. Howelsen Hill has the largest and most complete natural ski jumping complex in North America, and has been the training ground for more than 88 Olympians making over 130 Winter Olympic appearances. The largest ski jump has a vertical drop of 114 meters (370 feet).
Are you looking for the Front Range Checklist or the Southwest Checklist? Keep an eye out for the Ski Season Checklist in the West/Central region of the state in part 4 of our series.
