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Best of Colorado

Best Ski Resorts in Colorado 2026/27: Largest, Highest & for Beginners

By Book & Ski · Sources checked

The short answer

By mapped runs, the biggest ski areas in Colorado are Vail (215 km), Beaver Creek (167 km) and Steamboat Ski Resort (122 km). The highest is Loveland Basin Ski Area, with runs from 3,937 m (12,917 ft); the biggest vertical is at Aspen Snowmass (1,342 m); and Beaver Creek has the largest share of easy terrain (53%).

Skiers, chairlifts and slopes at a Colorado ski resort
A Colorado ski resort in winter. Photo: Quang Vuong / Pexels.
Top elevation of the highest resorts in this list1,500 m2,000 m2,500 m3,000 m3,500 mBreckenridge: top 3,910 m (12,828 ft)3,910BreckenridgeTelluride Ski Area: top 3,821 m (12,536 ft)3,821Telluride Ski A…Aspen Snowmass: top 3,815 m (12,516 ft)3,815Aspen SnowmassKeystone: top 3,803 m (12,477 ft)3,803KeystoneCopper Mountain: top 3,765 m (12,352 ft)3,765Copper MountainWinter Park Resort: top 3,654 m (11,988 ft)3,654Winter Park Res…Vail: top 3,526 m (11,568 ft)3,526VailBeaver Creek: top 3,484 m (11,430 ft)3,484Beaver CreekPurgatory Resort: top 3,294 m (10,807 ft)3,294Purgatory ResortSteamboat Ski Resort: top 3,219 m (10,561 ft)3,219Steamboat Ski R…
Top elevation of the highest mapped run, in metres. Full figures in the table below.
Largest ski areas in Colorado by mapped runs
ResortTop elevationVerticalMapped runsEasy terrainSource
Vail3,526 m1,074 m215 km25%source
Beaver Creek3,484 m1,233 m167 km53%source
Steamboat Ski Resort3,219 m1,118 m122 km22%source
Aspen Snowmass3,815 m1,342 m119 km10%source
Keystone3,803 m974 m116 km19%source
Copper Mountain3,765 m806 m115 km28%source
Winter Park Resort3,654 m883 m112 km27%source
Breckenridge3,910 m993 m111 km23%source
Telluride Ski Area3,821 m1,186 m101 km26%source
Purgatory Resort3,294 m598 m68 km24%source

Highest ski resorts in Colorado

Higher resorts generally hold snow longer into spring. These have the highest mapped runs in Colorado.

Loveland Basin Ski Area: 3,937 m (12,917 ft) →Breckenridge: 3,910 m (12,828 ft) →Telluride Ski Area: 3,821 m (12,536 ft) →Aspen Snowmass: 3,815 m (12,516 ft) →Arapahoe Basin: 3,815 m (12,516 ft) →

Biggest vertical drop

Vertical is the height difference between the highest and lowest mapped runs: a guide to how long the longest descents can be.

Aspen Snowmass: 1,342 m vertical →Beaver Creek: 1,233 m vertical →Telluride Ski Area: 1,186 m vertical →Steamboat Ski Resort: 1,118 m vertical →Aspen Highlands: 1,075 m vertical →

Best for beginners (most easy terrain)

Ranked by the share of mapped run length graded novice or easy. A big share of gentle runs gives beginners more room to progress; also check where the ski school meets.

Beaver Creek: 53% easy (167 km total) →Buttermilk: 35% easy (40 km total) →Crested Butte Mountain Resort: 31% easy (56 km total) →Granby Ranch: 30% easy (24 km total) →Copper Mountain: 28% easy (115 km total) →

How we chose

“Best” here means measurable: size (km of mapped downhill runs), top elevation, vertical drop and the share of easy terrain, across the 22 ski areas with at least 20 km of runs and five lifts in Colorado. Figures come from OpenStreetMap via OpenSkiMap, retrieved 2026-10-01, and can differ from resorts’ own published numbers.

All ski resorts in Colorado →

Frequently asked questions

What is the biggest ski resort in Colorado?

By mapped runs, Vail, with about 215 km and 32 lifts.

What is the highest ski resort in Colorado?

Loveland Basin Ski Area, with mapped runs starting at about 3,937 m (12,917 ft).

Which Colorado ski resort is best for beginners?

By share of easy terrain, Beaver Creek (53% of runs graded novice or easy). Also consider ski school locations and lift access.

Official sources

Checked on . Prices and timetables change; confirm with the operator before you pay. How we research.