Ranking the Epic and Ikon Resorts of Colorado

Back in November I started thinking about goals for the upcoming winter, and I kept coming back to one specific idea: What if I could ski every Epic and Ikon resort in Colorado, in one season? I wasn’t 100% sure how I was going to make it happen, but with a bit of planning and some help from friends, I made it to all of them by early April. After repeatedly being asked what my favorite resort was I decided to take a shot at ranking them, and I’m excited to share that list today.

*Quick Disclaimer: What I’m prioritizing are resorts that have a large variety of terrain. Powder days, tree skiing, bump runs, and steep groomers, I want a mountain that can offer it all. The town the resort is in, the size of the mountain, and its proximity to Denver were also considered, but secondary to the variety and quality the of terrain.

With that being said, let’s get started. For those who want the TL;DR I’ve made a short infographic, and my expanded thoughts are below:

#12: Eldora

Am I a bit jaded because I got injured here? Definitely. Is there any debate about Eldora being last on this list? Maybe, but I don’t think there’s a strong case for it. If you live in Boulder and are just looking to get a few runs in during the week, it’s a nice option to have. Outside of that I wouldn’t recommend Eldora, especially not when there’s so many other amazing resorts in Colorado.

#11: Keystone

Keystone has some nice runs, and when Elk Run or Bighorn are freshly groomed these steeper blues are fun to charge down. Even though it’s one of the biggest resorts in the state by skiable area, because of its layout it doesn't feel particularly big. I didn’t have a chance to ski the hike to terrain this season, which may give me a different perspective on the mountain overall. But I’ve just always found something lacking at Keystone despite its size.

#10: Arapahoe Basin

I want to rank A Basin higher, and if I’d had more time at the mountain I might have moved it up a few spots. What’s keeping it lower on the list is the lack of terrain diversity. It’s a smaller mountain that has a ton of potential for powder days and tree skiing, but outside of that it’s a bit limited. The only days I got here were dust on crust, and while I’m looking forward to revisiting it next year on a proper powder day, for this season I can’t justify ranking it any higher.

#9: Steamboat

Steamboat’s a great resort. A group with everyone from beginners up to advanced skiers or snowboarders would find something here for them. Does it present the most challenging terrain in Colorado? I don’t think so, but it's a good time and if you’re lucky enough to be there for a powder day like I was, you can spend a full day lapping Pony Express and finding new ways down the mountain playing in and out of the trees. All in all a very fun time, but lacked the “wow” factor for me.

#8: Crested Butte

A few of my best powder days of the year came at Crested Butte, and if nothing else I would recommend coming here for the views. It’s strikingly beautiful, and if you’re an advanced skier the Teocalli Bowl is a must visit. There’s a good diversity of terrain with an awesome top end that includes some fantastic tree skiing and cliffs. I do think it’s a bit lacking when it comes to steeper groomers, but otherwise it’s a very complete mountain.

#7: Vail

Vail, in fact, does not suck. I had a great time here, but I’ll admit I got lucky with great weather and snow. The back bowls were fantastic, and with how big Vail is, the crowds have to be huge for there to be any issues waiting in lines. Now admittedly this does happen, but for skiing at the end of March and April there wasn’t much of anyone around when I was there. Views on the backside looking at Mount of the Holy Cross, one of Colorado’s 14ers, are not to be missed. There’s also a small museum about the history of the 10th Mountain Division near the Vail Village parking structure that’s worth checking out as well.

#6: Aspen

Probably the most difficult to properly review, given that there are actually 4 separate mountains that make up Aspen (Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Snowmass, and Buttermilk). Buttermilk is basically all green runs and meant for beginners so right now it’s not a priority for me to visit. I would like to go back and ski Snowmass as I’ve heard good things but wasn’t able to make it on this year’s trip. So I only skied at Aspen Mountain and the Highlands, both of which have the longer, steep groomers that I tend to enjoy. However each is relatively small, and the logistics of having to choose between these areas is definitely a downside of Aspen’s overall layout. The hike up the Highlands Bowl was one of my favorite runs this season, and I loved getting to see the World Cup race at Aspen Mountain. Back in 2010 yours truly raced that downhill course for the US Nationals, which ended up being the most high profile race I ever competed in after I decided to stop racing at the end of that season. I hadn’t been back to Aspen since that race, so coming back and seeing the course was a special moment.

#5: Winter Park

Honorable Mention: Best Tree Skiing

Oh Winter Park, boy was I surprised by you. I had heard about the tree skiing here but frankly was skeptical going into my first trip. However it did not disappoint, and while it gets crowded quickly the tree skiing on Mary Jane was my favorite of anywhere in the state this season. When MJ starts getting really crowded, head over to the trees under and around the Challenger lift. It’s a slower two seater, perfect for giving your legs a rest after a non-stop run through the trees. While the mountain overall lacks that diversity of terrain and steeper groomers, the tree skiing excels so far and above the other resorts that I have no hesitation ranking this smaller resort in the top 5.

#4: Copper

Honorable Mention: Best Groomers

Copper advertises itself as “The Athlete’s Mountain” and when you show up it’s pretty clear why. Between halfpipe events, big air and big mountain competitions, or ski racers training, I’ve yet to visit Copper when there isn’t some sort of training or competition going on. Copper has always been looked at as a spot for racing to take place, and was included in Denver’s 1968 bid to host the 1976 Olympics, before the resort had even officially started construction. For front side groomers and firm, responsive snow, this is my favorite spot. That firm snow can be icy and make it a tricky spot for beginners, and it’s certainly not the most forgiving mountain. Copper also isn’t known for powder days, but when it comes to challenging groomers, I don’t think another mountain specializes in it better.

#3: Breckenridge

When I think of a complete mountain in Colorado, the first to come to mind is Breckenridge. From getting powder out on Whale’s Tail or carving down Reverie, I had some amazing days trying to fit in as many runs as possible between Peak 6 and Peak 10. Part of what I value at Breckenridge is that I could go by myself, a couple friends, or an entire group ranging in skill level, and we could all have a great time. Whatever I’m looking for in a day, whether it’s powder, groomers, tree skiing, or moguls, Breck is always on the short list of resorts that I would consider. That kind of diversity is hard to find in a single resort.

#2: Telluride

Honorable Mention: Most Scenic

As my friend and I were driving away after our long weekend in Telluride, the first thing I said was, “I would come back here literally any time of the year.” That feeling has only grown as I’ve reflected back on this trip. Tucked away in the San Juan mountains and a good 6 hour drive from Denver, you don’t get as many people coming here from the major Colorado cities because there’s just too many good ski resorts that are significantly closer. But of all the resorts, nothing struck me as a more idyllic resort and ski town than Telluride. Even on a list with some of the most beautiful ski resorts in the country, it stands above the rest. While the resort itself is on the smaller side, the terrain has excellent variety, including an abundance of backcountry opportunities. Within the resort the Gold Chutes, Black Iron Bowl, and Palmyra Peak are rewarding hike to terrain. Start with a few runs there in the morning and then get some aggressive groomer runs off Plunge Lift (9) in the afternoon for a challenging but very fun day. The only real downside I could find with Telluride was that the terrain tends to be either expert or beginner, not a ton in the intermediate category, but that’s splitting hairs on what is otherwise one of the best resorts in Colorado.

#1: Beaver Creek

Have you ever had the experience of showing up somewhere new and, for whatever reason, it just automatically feels like home? I can’t fully explain it but from the first time I parked at the Elk Lot to start this season, Beaver Creek has been that place. Like the other resorts near the top of this list it has it all, powder, steep groomers, moguls, tree skiing, and I got to experience all of these at one time or another this season. While it’s on the smaller side in terms of skiable area, it somehow seems to have the exact mix of terrain that I would want if I was creating a resort from scratch. Add to that how close it is to the crowd magnet that Vail can be, and even over busy times like President’s Day Weekend, I hardly ever hit a line at Beaver Creek. Between hosting some amazing events like the Birds of Prey downhill, the lack of crowds, the all encompassing terrain, and even the cookies that get handed out at the end of the day, Beaver Creek is my top resort in Colorado for 2023.

I’m sure people will have opinion about this, and I’d love to hear’em. Leave a comment, or feel free to reach out to me on Instagram @codylwheat. Your feedback is appreciated, and I’ll get back you as soon as I’m able. Wishing you all the best.