Location. Location. Location.
Colorado’s location in the middle of the country has always attracted skiers and riders from around the globe to play in Colorado’s majestic mountains. The state’s central location makes it an accessible place for skiers to travel, but with new flights offered, transportationincluded packages, and other alternative means of getting around the mountains, snow enthusiasts from around the world are quickly charting the best way to get here for the 2009-10 ski season.

Colorado Ski Country USA’s (CSCUSA) 22 member resorts boast a whopping 28,286 skiable acres. CSCUSA resorts cover almost the entire north-south span of Colorado, and stretch from the state’s westernmost
boundaries eastward over hundreds of miles of mountainous terrain. From Steamboat in the north to Wolf Creek in the south, CSCUSA resorts extend over approximately 300 miles of the Centennial State and operate in nearly every major Colorado mountain range. Travelers coming from any direction are sure to find a resort to their liking and an easy way to get there.

Because more than half of Colorado’s ski areas are located within 35 miles of an airport, and Colorado’s eight regional airports offer more than 8.6 million passenger seats annually, access is a breeze. Colorado is also home to Denver International Airport (DIA), which has been rated the best-run airport in North America and consistently ranks as one of the most efficient airports in the United States.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

There are a host of options for transportation to and through Colorado. Each has its own advantages and depends on a traveler’s preference. Colorado resorts also do their part to make getting here as easy as possible. By plane, Colorado has 14 commercial service airports, with eight directly serving communities with ski resorts. Denver International Airport is Colorado’s largest airport and connects travelers to regional mountain airports multiple times each day.

Airports servicing mountain towns include the Aspen/Pitkin County Airport, Durango/La Plata, Eagle County, Grand Junction, Gunnison/ Crested Butte, Montrose, Steamboat/Hayden, and Telluride. Many of these airports allow skiers to hop off the plane and onto a lift in minutes, often with free ground transportation from the airport to the resort or easy car rental services with major companies, like Hertz, which offers rentals at most airports.

By car, road-trippers have many options no matter from which direction they come. Some drivers prefer to spend their time at one or two resorts, whereas others try the “Colorado marathon” and seek to conquer all of CSCUSA’s 22 resorts throughout the state. Either way, Colorado’s resorts are accessible for skiers and riders preferring to travel by car. As a result, drivers on Colorado’s mountain highways can not only spot the new
Colorado ski license plate, but also can see license plates from every part of the country, showing that Colorado is truly a Mecca for snow-loving road warriors. Colorado ski resorts also do their part to encourage environmentally friendly transportation options. Many resorts have recently launched new carpool and bus incentive programs. Resorts will continue to offer preferential parking, giveaways, and great deals on lift tickets during the 2009-10 ski season to guests who drive up together. Others will offer premier bus and rail service to make the commute effortless for ski season travelers.

The recent push among resorts to encourage carpooling is aimed at
helping skiers and riders economize, relieving traffic congestion, and
reducing the environmental impact of driving to the mountains.

Below, join us on a road trip through some of the powder-packed terrain for which Colorado is known, every once-in-a-while jumping out of the car and on to a plane or a train to explore the diverse mountains and fun events in Ski Country USA.

Charting Your Mountain Tour

From The West

Drivers road-tripping from the west can enter Colorado on I-70 near one of the state’s most scenic resorts, Powderhorn. On the Western edge of the Grand Mesa, just east of Grand Junction on Colorado’s Western Slope, Powderhorn offers breathtaking vistas viewable from nearly every run.

Traveling further east along I-70 will bring drivers to Sunlight, a picturesque ski resort tucked away at the northern end of the Elk Mountains between Aspen and Glenwood Springs, Colorado. The resort is located more-or-less equidistant between Denver and the Western border of Colorado.

Just 30 miles from Sunlight down CO-82 is Aspen/Snowmass. Aspen/Snowmass’ four mountains— Snowmass, Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, and Buttermilk—are located in the Roaring Fork Valley of the White River National Forest.

From The North

Colorado’s northern neighbors can easily drop into northern Colorado from I-80, one of the country’s longest interstate highways. Just past the Wyoming border is Steamboat Springs, home to two unique Colorado resorts — Steamboat Resort and Howelsen Hill Steamboat is known for its Champagne Powder™, its western flare, and its vibrant local community.

Just miles from Steamboat is Howelsen, a perfect place for beginners. Also home to the largest natural ski-jumping complex in North America, many present and future Olympians can be found skiing there on any given day.

The Steamboat Springs/Hayden airport allows skiers to fly into the area easily. The airport will carry nonstop direct flights from nine cities across the US during the 2009-10 winter season, with daily arrivals and departures plus connecting flights providing access across the country and around the world. Four major US carriers— American, Continental, Delta/Northwest and United Airlines—offer nonstop jet service from Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Denver, Houston, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Newark, New York/LaGuardia and Salt Lake City.

From The East

Midwestern skiers and snowboarders coming in from the east can enter the state via I-70 to find multiple ski resorts dotting the roadside once they pass Denver.

Just 35 miles past Denver, travelers can find Colorado’s newest resort, Echo Mountain. Wired with music capabilities and lights for night skiing, this resort was built for energetic fun. Echo is also home to six terrain parks, the ideal place to practice park perfection.

Further down I-70 are two local favorites, Arapahoe Basin and Loveland. Also known as ‘The Legend’, A-Basin has a reputation for attracting skiers and riders of all kinds to its high-alpine groomed runs, chutes and glades. The recently opened Montezuma Bowl occupies the backside of A-Basin and rounds out the resort’s terrain with a more natural, ungroomed feel. Nearby Loveland Ski Area is the first ski area along the I-70 corridor coming from Denver, so skiers and riders can drive less and ski more at Loveland. The resort is conveniently located right off the highway, and boasts expansive terrain and a friendly, low-key attitude.

Continuing along I-70, Copper Mountain provides a highly accessible option for skiers and riders of all abilities. With renowned bowl skiing and three base villages, Copper welcomes guests with a variety of on and-off-mountain fun.

Coming from Denver, Winter Park can be accessed after a short trip over Berthoud Pass on Highway 40. known for huge annual snowfalls, averaging 350 inches each year, Winter Park satisfies seasoned powderhounds while also pleasing families who want to

ski together on some approachable beginner terrain. SolVista Basin, another family-friendly resort, lies just past Winter Park along Highway 40. The resort is known for its inviting ski school programs, family friendly atmosphere, and year-round programs that attract cyclists, golfers, and hikers in the warmer months.

Eldora Mountain Resort is also near to Denver and is a very short drive from the vibrant city of Boulder. Eldora is also the only resort accessible from the Denver/Boulder public transportation system, RTD. Riders who take the RTD Ski-n-Ride bus enjoy an affordable and convenient bus ride to the resort and are dropped off only a few steps away from Eldora’s chairlifts. Located only 21 miles from Boulder and 45 miles from Denver, Eldora Mountain Resort is a locals’ favorite but worth the easy trip for out-of-state visitors too.

Ski Cooper can also be found nearby to Colorado’s Front Range, after just a short drive down CO-91. Located atop Tennessee Pass, just nine miles north of the historic mining town of Leadville, Ski Cooper offers guests a family-friendly atmosphere in a location that’s easy to get to.

There are several easy flying options for guests wanting to access these resorts by air. Denver International Airport is United Airlines’ second largest hub, home to Frontier Airlines, and one of the most active centers for Southwest Airlines. The airport has seen healthy passenger growth in recent years, which can be attributed to competitive fares offered by the airport; since 2000, fares out of DIA have decreased 23 percent and become some of the lowest in the country. From DIA, guests can rent a car or take ground transportation to the best skiing near Colorado’s Front Range.

Located near to Copper Mountain along I-70, the Eagle County airport offers another air option for accessing CSCUSA resorts. During the winter, Eagle County Airport takes flights from five airlines with nonstop connecting flights from 12 cities, and connecting service from cities throughout North America and the world.

From The South

As drivers enter Colorado on US-160 in the state’s southwestern reaches, they can hit Colorado’s most powder-packed resort without turning the wheel. Wolf Creek sits atop Wolf Creek Pass, which is the highest point on US-160 in Colorado, and consistently tops the charts for most annual snowfall.

A bit further west, the historic Million Dollar Highway (Highway 550) is the most direct way to the three other southwestern Colorado resorts in the San Juan mountain range. Besides offering a directroute to get to world-class Colorado skiing, the Million Dollar Highway is also one of the most breathtaking drives in the country. Old relics from the mining era dot the roadside and vast acres of mountain wilderness are visible in all directions.

Drivers going north along the Million Dollar Highway will find Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort first, just a short drive north of the New Mexico border. Set in the heart of the San Juan Mountains, Purgatory is an ideal family vacation destination. Next on the northern journey up US-550 is Silverton Mountain, the only ski resort in the U.S. that offers exclusively advanced and expert terrain. The resort does not groom any of its runs and tries to provide its guests with the most unfiltered Colorado skiing experience possible.

Located just around the corner from Silverton is Telluride, a peak known for its magnificent snow-capped façade. Once drivers get to the city of Telluride, they can park the car and take advantage of one of the most innovative transportation options in the country, a town-to-town gondola known simply as “The Gondola”. This unique cable car transports passengers between the town of Telluride and Mountain Village, a town located mid-mountain at the ski resort.

Monarch Mountain and Crested Butte Mountain Resort are also in the southern part of the state, but are located just north of the other southern Colorado resorts. Driving from the south along Colorado’s biggest interstate highway, I-25, road-trippers can turn onto Highway 50 from Pueblo or Highway 24 from Colorado Springs to head west to the resorts. Drivers on these scenic routes will get to Monarch first and then can head down the road westward to get to Crested Butte.

Monarch is a Colorado gem, known for its growing cat skiing operation, high annual snowfall, and friendly character. Crested Butte Mountain Resort is also a Colorado staple, a serious skiing mountain that peeks over the charming ski towns of Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte.

By air, there are three options that service the southwestern corner of the state. Durango/La Plata airport is closest to Purgatory and to Wolf Creek resorts. Durango airport currently takes daily, direct service from Denver on United and Frontier Airlines and from Phoenix on US Airways. The Alamosa airport is another option for flyers wanting to access Wolf Creek Resort.

Additionally, the Telluride Regional Airport is situated very close to Telluride and Silverton resorts. Telluride is the nation’s highest commercial airport at 9,078 feet above sea level. The airport als is putting finishing touches on a new runway to be ready for the 2009-10 ski season, which will give guests an even more comfortable landing as they arrive in the area. Nearby Montrose Airport is also a major travel hub for skiers visiting Telluride Ski Area.

For air access to Monarch and Crested Butte, flyers can book tickets to the Gunnison/Crested Butte Regional Airport or to the Colorado Springs airport, where visitors can rent a car and be on their way to an unforgettable Colorado skiing experience the same day. Whether by plane, train, or automobile, Colorado Ski Country’s central location and unbeatable transportation networks make access to world-class skiing easier than ever.