Colorado has 28 lift-served ski areas, and they’re spread across the whole western half of the state. Some sit an hour from Denver. Others take six hours of mountain driving or a flight to a small airport. This Colorado ski resorts map sorts every area by how long it takes to get there, which pass covers it, and which airport is closest.
The 2026–27 season is already underway. Arapahoe Basin opened October 28, Keystone October 30, and Wolf Creek October 31. Most other resorts open in November. Use the Colorado ski resorts map below to pick a mountain that fits your time, your pass, and your budget.
Key Takeaways
- This Colorado ski resorts map numbers all 28 areas from closest to farthest.
- Nine ski areas sit within about 2 hours of downtown Denver in good weather.
- Aspen, Crested Butte and the southwest resorts are 3.5 to 6+ hours away, so many visitors fly closer.
- Epic covers six Colorado resorts, Ikon covers nine, and Indy covers six smaller areas.
- Seven areas are independent, and some, like Monarch, share days with partner resorts.
- The Traction Law applies on I-70 from September 1 to May 31.
- Check the Colorado ski resort guide for trail, terrain, and lodging details on each mountain.
The Colorado Ski Resorts Map for 2026–27
Each dot on this Colorado ski resorts map is one ski area. The number shows its place in the drive-time order from Denver, and the color shows its main multi-resort pass. The I-70 corridor is crowded, so it gets a zoomed inset.
How to Read This Map
You can use the Colorado ski resorts map three ways:
- By drive time. Low numbers are closest to Denver. Numbers 1 to 9 make easy day trips.
- By pass. Blue is Epic, orange is Ikon, green is Indy, and purple is independent. Stick to one color if you already own a pass.
- By airport. The triangles mark airports. If your resort sits near one, you can skip the long drive.
Drive times on this Colorado ski resorts map assume dry roads and light traffic from downtown Denver. Snow, weekend crowds and pass closures can add an hour or more.
Ring 1: Day Trips Under 2 Hours From Denver
This is the busiest part of the Colorado ski resorts map. Nine areas sit along I-70, US 40 and the Peak to Peak Highway. You can ski in the morning and sleep at home that night.
- Echo Mountain, near Idaho Springs, Colorado. About 1 hour. Indy Pass. A small hill with night skiing and a terrain park, and the closest lift-served skiing to Denver.
- Loveland Ski Area, near Georgetown, Colorado. About 1 hour. Indy Pass. It sits right at the Continental Divide, below the Eisenhower Tunnel, with a top elevation above 13,000 feet.
- Eldora Mountain, near Nederland and Boulder, Colorado. About 1 hour 15 minutes. Ikon Pass. It’s the easy pick if you live in Boulder or north Denver, since you skip I-70.
- Arapahoe Basin, near Dillon, Colorado. About 1 hour 30 minutes. Ikon Pass. A-Basin was the first Colorado resort to open this season and often stays open into late spring.
- Keystone Resort, in Keystone, Colorado. About 1 hour 30 minutes. Epic Pass. It’s known for night skiing and long, gentle cruisers.
- Winter Park Resort, in Winter Park, Colorado. About 1 hour 30 minutes over Berthoud Pass. Ikon Pass. Mary Jane’s moguls draw strong skiers, and the resort is reachable by train.
- Copper Mountain, in Copper Mountain, Colorado. About 1 hour 35 minutes. Ikon Pass. Its terrain splits neatly by skill level from west to east.
- Breckenridge Ski Resort, in Breckenridge, Colorado. About 1 hour 45 minutes. Epic Pass. Five peaks, a historic Main Street and one of the highest lifts in North America.
- Granby Ranch, near Granby. About 1 hour 50 minutes. Indy Pass. A quiet, beginner-friendly hill that works well for families.
Summit County holds four of these resorts, the tightest cluster on the Colorado ski resorts map. Our winter in Summit County guide covers what to do off the slopes there.
Ring 2: Overnight Trips of 2 to 3 Hours
Past Vail Pass, the Colorado ski resorts map opens up. These seven areas make better weekend trips than day trips, especially when storms slow I-70.
- Vail, in Vail, Colorado. About 2 hours. Epic Pass. It’s the largest ski area in Colorado, with more than 5,300 acres and its famous Back Bowls.
- Ski Cooper, near Leadville, Colorado. About 2 hours. Independent. A low-key, lower-priced hill where the 10th Mountain Division once trained.
- Beaver Creek, near Avon. About 2 hours 10 minutes. Epic Pass. Groomed runs, slopeside villages and warm cookies in the afternoon. See our Beaver Creek page.
- Monarch Mountain, near Salida, Colorado. About 2 hours 45 minutes via US 285. Independent. Short lift lines, natural snow and a laid-back feel.
- Steamboat Resort, in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. About 3 hours over Rabbit Ears Pass. Ikon Pass. Known for light, dry “Champagne Powder” and tree skiing.
- Howelsen Hill, in downtown Steamboat Springs. About 3 hours. Indy Pass. Colorado’s oldest operating ski area, with ski jumps and night skiing.
- Sunlight Mountain, near Glenwood Springs, Colorado. About 3 hours. Indy Pass. Ski in the morning, then soak in the hot springs in town.
Steamboat and Howelsen Hill share one town, so they sit almost on top of each other on the Colorado ski resorts map. One trip covers both.
Ring 3: Long Drives of 3.5 to 5 Hours
These seven areas sit deep in the mountains. On this part of the Colorado ski resorts map, driving takes most of a day, so many skiers fly into a nearby airport instead.
- Aspen Mountain, in Aspen, Colorado. About 3 hours 45 minutes via Glenwood Springs. Ikon Pass. It rises straight out of downtown Aspen and has no beginner runs.
- Aspen Highlands, near Aspen. About 3 hours 45 minutes. Ikon Pass. Highland Bowl is a hike-to expert classic.
- Buttermilk, near Aspen. About 3 hours 45 minutes. Ikon Pass. Gentle terrain for beginners and the Winter X Games venue.
- Snowmass, in Snowmass Village, Colorado. About 3 hours 45 minutes. Ikon Pass. The biggest of Aspen’s four mountains and a strong family pick.
- Powderhorn Mountain Resort, near Grand Junction, Colorado. About 4 hours. Indy Pass. It sits on the Grand Mesa, one of the largest flat-top mountains in the world.
- Crested Butte Mountain Resort, in Crested Butte, Colorado. About 4 hours 15 minutes. Epic Pass. Steep, extreme terrain above a colorful old mining town.
- Wolf Creek Ski Area, near Pagosa Springs, Colorado. About 4 hours 30 minutes. Independent. Wolf Creek is known for getting the most snow in Colorado.
Aspen’s four mountains cluster tightly on the Colorado ski resorts map, and one Aspen Snowmass lift ticket covers all four. Independence Pass on Highway 82 closes in winter. You must reach Aspen through Glenwood Springs, which adds time.
Ring 4: Fly-In Country, 5+ Hours
The southwest corner of the Colorado ski resorts map is far from Denver but close to Durango, Montrose and Telluride airports. Plan at least two nights here.
- Purgatory Resort, near Durango, Colorado. About 6 hours. Independent. A friendly, mid-size mountain about 25 miles north of Durango.
- Hesperus Ski Area, near Durango. About 6 hours. Independent. A tiny hill with night skiing and cheap lift tickets.
- Telluride Ski Resort, in Telluride, Colorado. About 6 hours 30 minutes. Epic Pass (limited days). A free gondola links the town with Mountain Village.
- Silverton Mountain, near Silverton, Colorado. About 6 hours 30 minutes. Independent. Expert-only terrain with guided skiing much of the season.
- Kendall Mountain, in Silverton. About 6 hours 30 minutes. Independent. A small town-run hill for beginners and families.
Telluride, Silverton and Purgatory look close together on the Colorado ski resorts map, but high mountain passes separate them. Allow 1.5 to 2 hours between each.
Fly In Instead: Which Airport Serves Which Resort
Flying closer saves hours on this Colorado ski resorts map. Regional airports have fewer flights and often higher fares, so compare the total cost against a rental car from Denver.
The table below pairs each airport with the resorts it serves best.
| Airport | Code | Closest resorts | Typical drive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver International | DEN | I-70 resorts, Winter Park, Eldora | 1.5 to 2.5 hours |
| Eagle County Regional | EGE | Vail, Beaver Creek | About 30 to 45 minutes |
| Aspen/Pitkin County | ASE | Aspen Mountain, Highlands, Buttermilk, Snowmass | Under 20 minutes |
| Yampa Valley Regional | HDN | Steamboat, Howelsen Hill | About 30 minutes |
| Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional | GUC | Crested Butte, Monarch | 45 minutes to 1 hour |
| Montrose Regional | MTJ | Telluride | About 1.5 hours |
| Durango-La Plata County | DRO | Purgatory, Hesperus, Silverton | 30 minutes to 1.5 hours |
| Grand Junction Regional | GJT | Powderhorn, Sunlight | 1 to 1.5 hours |
Drive times can double in a storm. Check flight schedules early, since many regional routes run only in peak season.
Which Pass Covers Which Resort
Color is the second layer of the Colorado ski resorts map. If you plan to ski more than four or five days, a multi-resort pass usually beats daily tickets.
This table groups the 28 areas on the Colorado ski resorts map by their main 2026–27 pass.
| Pass | Colorado resorts | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Epic Pass | Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Crested Butte, Telluride | Telluride has limited days. Epic Local limits Vail and Beaver Creek. |
| Ikon Pass | Winter Park, Copper Mountain, Steamboat, Eldora, Arapahoe Basin, Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk, Snowmass | Base Pass now includes unlimited A-Basin. Aspen days are limited. |
| Indy Pass | Loveland, Echo Mountain, Granby Ranch, Howelsen Hill, Powderhorn, Sunlight | Two days at each area. The 2026–27 Indy Pass has sold out. |
| Independent | Monarch, Ski Cooper, Wolf Creek, Purgatory, Silverton Mountain, Kendall Mountain, Hesperus | Buy tickets or season passes from each area. |
A few independent season passes come with partner perks. Monarch’s 2026–27 pass, for example, includes days at partners such as A-Basin, Loveland, Ski Cooper and Purgatory. Pass rules and blackout dates change each year, so check each pass site before you buy.
Plan Around the Roads
Most of the Colorado ski resorts’ map depends on a handful of mountain highways. A smart driving plan saves more time than any shortcut.
Beat the I-70 Rush
- Head west before 6:30 a.m. on Saturdays, or ski on weekdays.
- Come back east after 6 p.m. on Sundays, or stay one more night.
- Check road cams on COtrip before you leave. Our CDOT webcams guide gathers the main pass cams in one place.
Know the Traction Law
The Colorado Department of Transportation enforces the Traction Law on I-70 between Morrison and Dotsero from September 1 through May 31. Your tires must have at least 3/16-inch tread and a winter, all-weather, or M+S rating. Otherwise, you must carry chains or an approved traction device. Drivers who get stuck without proper tires face fines.
Pack a winter car kit too. Our winter driving survival kit tips list what to bring.
Leave the Car at Home
You don’t have to drive every resort on the Colorado ski resorts map. CDOT’s Bustang runs Snowstang buses from Denver to select resorts on winter weekends. The Amtrak Winter Park Express runs from Denver Union Station to the base of Winter Park on select days. Routes and dates change each season, so check before you book.
Nordic Centers on the Map
The Colorado ski resorts map shows downhill areas, but Colorado also has dozens of Nordic centers. Many sit right next to a downhill resort, such as the Nordic centers in Breckenridge, Crested Butte and Steamboat. Others stand alone, like Devil’s Thumb Ranch near Tabernash and Snow Mountain Ranch near Granby.
Aspen and Snowmass maintain a large free Nordic trail system. New for 2026–27, the Indy XC Pass adds Steamboat Ski Touring Center and Haymaker Nordic Center. Find more trails in our Nordic centers and cross-country skiing guide.
Plan Your Ski Trip in 2026-27
Once you’ve picked a spot on the Colorado ski resorts map, check the snow on our Colorado ski resort webcams before you go. Book a bed with our resort town lodging guide, and read up on altitude if you’re coming from sea level. Families can compare kid-friendly mountains in our family-focused Colorado ski resorts guide, and budget skiers can check current travel deals. For more ideas on the snow, see our skiing and snowboarding guide and winter in Colorado. Save your resorts, routes, and lodging in the free Itinerary Planner.
Colorado Ski Map Questions
These short answers cover what most skiers ask when they study a Colorado ski resorts map.
How many ski resorts are in Colorado?
There are about 28 lift-served ski resorts in Colorado. That count includes big destination resorts like Vail and small town hills like Kendall Mountain and Howelsen Hill. Every one appears on this Colorado ski resorts map.
Which Colorado ski resort is closest to Denver?
Echo Mountain is the Colorado ski resort closest to Denver, at about 1 hour. Loveland is the closest large ski area, also about 1 hour away on I-70.
Which Colorado ski resorts are on the Epic Pass and the Ikon Pass?
The Colorado ski resorts on the Epic Pass are Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Crested Butte and Telluride (limited days). The Colorado ski resorts on the Ikon Pass are Winter Park, Copper Mountain, Steamboat, Eldora, Arapahoe Basin and Aspen’s four mountains.
What is the best airport for Colorado ski resorts?
Denver International is the best airport for Colorado ski resorts near I-70 and for the most flight choices. For Vail, Aspen, Steamboat, Crested Butte, Telluride or Purgatory, a regional airport cuts the drive to an hour or less.
Do you need chains to drive to Colorado ski resorts?
You don’t need chains to drive to Colorado ski resorts if your tires meet the Traction Law. On I-70 from September through May, you need at least 3/16-inch tread and winter, all-weather, or M+S tires. If your tires don’t qualify, you must carry chains or an approved device.
