Get the Scoop on Skiing in Colorado 2022/2023
It’s not Colorado without skiing and October marks the start to ski season with storms producing natural snow at the higher altitudes and man-made snow operations underway. Arapahoe Basin, Loveland or Keystone historically open first each year and have a healthy competition with each other to vie for the bragging rights. Who will it be this year? Last year, Wolf Creek in Southern Colorado won the title opening on October 16th and Arapahoe Basin opened just one day later on Sunday, October 17th. UPDATE: Arapahoe Basin opened this past Sunday with one lift and one run and a 19″ snow base!
At this point if you haven’t started thinking about your turns this winter you’re behind the game! Let’s get you the information you need to be sure you have your passes and some ideas of what is going on in our high country this winter.
LOCAL TIP: If you have young kids rent their gear each year through Epic Mountain Sports junior Trade program. As they outgrow you trade it in for a discount. They also include one free trade out mid-season if needed.
CLICK HERE for a database to all the Colorado ski resorts. This includes opening dates and links to the resort websites.
ARE YOU EPIC OR AN IKON?
EPIC PASS Information: The Epic pass costs skiers and riders $899 currently and offers pass holders access to Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Crested Butte in state plus Park City in Utah. Telluride is a ‘partner’ resort and the pass offers many other resorts out of state and the country. A one day ticket on average costs $182 (average of 5 CO mountains) so 5 days of skiing pays off your pass!
PASS NOTES:
- Kid’s passes are $457 (5-12)
- Epic Local – $669
- Epic 7-day – $591
- Summit Value – Keystone unlimited plus Breck unlimited minus Holiday – $540 (adults)
- Epic school kids pass registration closed for 22/23 season.
Some EPIC news for the season: Been thinking of skiing the Swiss Alps, now is your chance with the addition of Andermatt-Sedrun located in Switzerland! Telluride has extended its limited partnership with Epic! Whistler Blackcomb added a new high speed gondola and made improvements to another. Keystone has completed their new Timber Ridge Lodge. Vail upgraded its Sun Down lift to a high speed quad. Game Creek bowl replaced its 4 person lift with a 6 person high speed. Breckenridge enhanced its learning area with a high speed quad and there are many more improvements to all of the Epic resorts around the country.
Click HERE for your pass!
Epic Resorts COVID information
NOW ONTO THE IKON PASS
IKON PASS Information: The Ikon Pass boasts 50+ destinations with 7 new this season including Lotte-Arai in Japan. Plus in Colorado you can enjoy access to Steamboat, Winter Park, Copper, Arapahoe Basin, Aspen and Eldora plus almost all the Utah resorts and other out of state resorts. The current cost is $1,229 and includes unlimited access to 14 destinations and limited access to 39 others.
PASS NOTES:
- Kids – $399
- IKON Base pass – 13 unlimited resorts (Winter Park, Eldora and Copper) $919 plus 5 days at 34 additional destinations
- Discounts for nurses, military and college
- Adventure assurance – you can defer your pass to the following season if you don’t use it.
- First Tracks – once per month you can take advantage of early slope access at select resorts January to March.
- 15% off food, beverage and retail
- 25% off friends and family tickets
Click HERE to purchase.
IKON updates: The Ikon pass is sticking with their convenient ‘adventure assurance’ program implemented the last few years which means should you choose not to use your IKON pass this season, you can elect for it to be transferred to next ski season by December 8th. You will also be offered a proportional credit back should any IKON pass destination be closed for any period of time due to COVID. This credit will be applied to the next year’s ski pass.
NOTE: please check all destination websites prior to planning your ski trip to ensure you understand individual resorts protocols.
Ski Resort updates:
Steamboat is celebrating its 60th Anniversary ski season plus the mountain continues to undertake its impressive Full Steam Ahead $200 million base area re-design with the addition of a new gondola and an ice rink!
Eldora is also celebrating its 60th Anniversary!
Copper Mountain and Telluride are both celebrating 50th Anniversary seasons!
Colorado Ski Country USA is a trade organization which represents 21 of Colorado’s 30 ski resorts and also offers passes and discounts! Take advantage of their CSCUSA kids Ski Passport or Gems Card.
- Kids Ski Passport is for students 3rd grade to 6th grade – 80 days for $59 (not valid on Epic Resorts)
- Gems Card – Discount card at 10 participating resorts for $42.
- The (coveted) Gold Medallion – $3550, Unlimited ski pass (not rider specific) to all 20 CSCUSA Colorado Resorts – limit 100 per year, must submit application.
Opensnow.com is a great website to check the snow report for your favorite resort!
The Winter Park Express: The Winter Park Express ski train through Amtrak is running this season starting in January it will run Friday through Sundays until April.
Colorado has over 30 ski resorts! CLICK HERE to check them out! This includes opening dates & links to the resort websites.
Happy Skiing Everyone! Lisa
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SKI COLORADO !!!