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.