Rocky Mountain Ski Report: Winter Park

Welcome to my first installment of the Rocky Mountain Ski Report! As a native of Colorado with a family of avid ski and snowboarders, I bring a local perspective to your upcoming ski vacation. I will feature the best of Colorado Ski Country along with recommendations to make sure your Rocky Mountain Ski Vacation exceeds your expectations regardless of your level of expertise. So enjoy as I share the grandeur and beauty of this beautiful state that I am so blessed to call home. 

We finally have received that much needed snow that our ski resorts have been waiting for. Most major areas are reporting 5-10 inches of fresh powder over the last 48 hours! 

Photo by Flickr user halseike

Some of my fondest memories on the slopes come from when my children were younger and just learning to ski and ride. One of our favorite “family friendly” resorts is Winter Park. Located about 1 ½ hours from Denver, Winter Park is an easy and beautiful drive from Denver. There also is shuttle service available from Denver International Airport and a free town shuttle for those of you that don’t want to worry about winter driving conditions over Berthoud Pass. 

 

Winter Park’s ski school is a favorite among locals. This is where my kids learned to ski and snowboard. The instructors are top notch and love kids! At the base of Winter Park you will find Sorensen Park, the first stop for all beginner skiers and riders young and old. It is where my hubby decided to try his hand at snowboarding and gave up the skis! Even though my kids quickly outgrew the “Bunny Slope” and were ready to take on bigger and more challenging terrain, Sorensen Park is a great place to learn to ski or ride. You can then move onto Discovery Park with 2 chair lifts to this area and the easiest routes to the base of the mountain. You can even take the Gemini Lift back down to the base if you are too tired. 

Now that the beginners are in school and ready to take on their day, it is time to hit the slopes. Winter Park offers something for everyone with almost 50% of the mountain dedicated to beginner and intermediate runs. For those of you looking for a bit more of a challenge head over to Mary Jane (where their motto is “no pain, no Jane”) , Parsenn Bowl, and Vasquez Cirque reserved for those advanced to expert skiers, riders, and extreme thrillseekers. 

Winter Park has come a long way in developing mountain side lodging and the ski village. Our favorite ski-in/ski-out Zephyr Mountain Lodge now has company with the brand new properties Fraser Crossing and Founders Pointe located 150 yards from the base of the mountain. With added dining venues and comfortable slopeside accommodations Winter Park is now a one-stop family friendly destination. 

The Rocky Mountain Ski Report comes to you from Lisa Hulbert out of our Arvada, Colorado office. Specializing in ski and golf vacations, wine and culinary tours of the world, and destination weddings, Lisa has 32 years of experience planning extraordinary travel experiences for her clients. She can be reached by phone at 303-577-2725, or email at lisa.hulbert@frosch.com.