Ski Cooper Deals & Travel Info
Ski Cooper is located just to the north of Leadville, CO, and this small ski area has a long history in Colorado. The 10th Mountain Division trained on the slopes here during WWII, and Camp Hale is located just down the road from the entrance to Ski Cooper. The front side is beginner-friendly and you won’t find any high-speed quads or resort-style amenities here.
Ski Cooper Deals
Lodging Deals
Transportation Deals
Mountain Stats
- Trails: 64
- Skiable Terrain: 480 Acres
- Total Lifts: 5
- Avg. Snowfall: 260"
- Vertical Rise: 1,200'
- Peak Elevation: 11,700'
- Base Elevation: 10,500'
Ski Cooper Highlights
While the skiing here can’t be compared to Vail or Aspen, there is still a long list of reasons that people have been coming here for all of these years.
- Great for beginners
- Easy parking
- No lift lines
- Cheap lift tickets
Getting to Ski Cooper
Ski Cooper is located on Tennessee Pass on the Continental Divide. Skiers will come from the north and the south, and the pass does not close nearly as often as others like Loveland Pass or Vail Pass.
To get here from the north, just take the Minturn exit from I-70 and head south on Rt. 24. To get here from the south through Leadville, just take Rt. 24 heading north.
Ski Cooper, CO FAQ
Skiing began here in 1942, but the mountain did not open to the public until the war was over.
The staff does set up a small terrain park with a few features here each year. This would be considered a beginner’s park by most standards.
No, mostly mild pitch and great for beginners. Tennessee Creek Basin is a recent addition that added some challenging terrain, but most of Ski Cooper is very friendly.
Sorry, there is no night skiing at Ski Cooper.
Tips for Skiing & Riding at Ski Cooper
Take your kids here to learn how to ski. You will save money and they will be just as happy (or unhappy) as they would be if you took them elsewhere. There are fewer headaches here. The parking is easy and the lift lines are likely to be shorter.
Look for moguls by the Piney Basin Triple Chair. There are some black diamond runs in this area that descend towards the Piney Basin triple chair. These aren’t the toughest black diamonds in Colorado, but it is true that there is life at this ski resort and it is not all just flat green circle runs for the beginners.
Experts should head to Tennessee Creek Basin. This is all glade skiing in the trees and it is steeper than the front side of the mountain. This area opened to skiers for the first time during the 2019-2020 ski season.