Winter Park Deals & Travel Info
Winter Park is the closest major ski resort to Denver and one of only a few resorts that is on the eastern side of the Continental Divide (Loveland is another one worth noting). Winter Park is the “Jack of all trades” when it comes to CO ski resorts. It has all kinds of terrain and ranks pretty well across the terrain categories, but it is probably not the best in any particular category.
Winter Park Ski Resort Highlights
A fun all-around resort. Probably ranking between #5 and #10 for overall ski resort ratings in Colorado.
- Closest major resort to Denver
- Great terrain parks
- Something for everyone
Winter Park Vacation Deals
Lodging Deals
Lift Ticket Deals
Ski Rental Deals
Transportation Deals
Mountain Stats
- Trails: 171
- Skiable Terrain: 3,081 Acres
- Total Lifts: 23
- Avg. Snowfall: 344"
- Vertical Rise: 3,060'
- Elevation: Peak 12,060', Base 9,000'
Getting to Winter Park
The majority of you will be coming from I-70 and heading over Berthoud Pass. You should be aware that this pass can close in bad weather, so you may need a bit of luck to get here as planned during the winter months. Visitors can fly into the Denver International Airport and get here in less than 2 hours by only making a handful of turns.
Winter Park, CO FAQ
Yes. This departs from Union Station in Downtown Denver and it takes about 2 hours to get to the ski resort. The route first ran in 1940 and played an important role in the development of the ski industry in Colorado.
Sorry, no night skiing at Winter Park. If you want to ski at night, you can head down the road to Granby Ranch for night skiing.
Yes. Sorensen Park (lesson required) and Discovery Park are two areas near the base of the mountain that are designed for kids who are new to skiing. Sorensen Park can be accessed by foot.
No. However, Winter Park is on the Ikon Pass list, so anyone with an Ikon Pass can ski here.
Winter Park Skiing Tips
Park in the F Lot. If you get to the Mary Jane side early enough, you can snag a spot in this under-the-radar area. It’s just steps away from the lifts–no shuttle bus needed. If you’re not really a morning person, you can also pay $10 ($20 on peak days) to get a closer spot.
Tips for the Cirque. Drop in before turning above the headwalls if you’re early enough to get fresh tracks. This will give you the most open terrain, but this is the least steep and easier route. Or, keep traversing until you get to the Alphabet Chutes, because you will drop into perfectly pitched open trees that will leave you grinning.
Avoid the Edelweiss bottleneck. With so many trails feeding into it, Edelweiss can get chaotic–and even dangerous–as skiers and boarders merge from all directions. Avoid the stress by taking the Bluebell run instead, which leads to the same place but with less traffic.
Hidden Expert Gems. There are a few easy-to-miss, easy-to-get-to runs that are a must on a powder day. On Mary Jane, one can access a hidden bowl from the top of Challenger or Lunch Rock – named Jeff’s Chute, Baldy’s Chute, and Awe Chute on the map. Enter from the top or avoid steeps through the woods. It’s a wonderful bowl with a playful runout. When Panoramic lift is open, take mellow, open trees down on skiers right on a trail called Parry’s Peek. For experts wanting to lap one lift for intense runs, get over to the Eagle Wind lift via Thunderbid Traverse – Medicine Man trail will put you in a fun tree rollercoaster.
Choose your side. Winter Park is basically two ski resorts in one: the Winter Park side, which has something for everyone, and the Mary Jane side, which is steeper and more technical. You can access either side from either parking lot, but knowing which side you’re going to spend most of your time on will help you choose the most convenient parking area.
Soak it all in. For some great outside lounging on a sunny day, good food and drink, make a pit stop half-way up the mountain at Lunch Rock. Or stop at the base of Pioneer Express, for huge Adirondack chair lounging, BBQ, and cocktails.