Ski Winter Park: resort guide
Winter Park’s ski area is impressive. It was developed (and is still owned) by the nearby city of Denver for the recreation of its citizens, who pour in on weekends and powder days. When Intrawest (developer of resorts such as Whistler) got involved a few years ago, there was talk of a similarly impressive ‘destination’ resort at the lift base, too. The base village has certainly expanded and improved, but it’s still very small and quiet; there’s a bit more going on, though not much, in the small town of Winter Park, a bus ride from the hill.
Winter Park’s policy of grooming hardly any black runs, ever, means the step up from blue to black runs is a big one. We think the policy is a mistake.
Winter Park started life in the 19th century, when the Rio Grande railway was built; workers climbed the slopes to ski down. One of its mountains, Mary Jane, is named after a legendary ‘lady of pleasure’ who is said to have received the land as payment for her favours. The resort (at 2,745m) is one of the highest in the USA and there is some risk of altitude sickness if you go straight there from the UK – though we survived doing exactly that in 2015.
The approach road from Denver over the Continental Divide at Berthoud Pass is spectacularly high (3,450m) and Alpine in character, with very un-American hairpin bends. Driving over in the dark is not something to be done lightly if there is any sign of bad weather. Having a car permits day trips to resorts such as Copper Mountain, Keystone and Breckenridge.
We like
The best snowfall record of Colorado’s major resorts
Quiet on weekdays
Leading resort for teaching people with disabilities to ski and snowboard
Largely free of ski-resort glitz
Good terrain for all abilities, particularly mogul fans; but ...
We don't like
Nearly all steep slopes are never groomed, so always mogulled
‘Village’ at the lift base is still very limited, and dead in the evening
Town is a bus ride away and has few shops and restaurants
Some tough terrain is prone to closure by bad weather
Village charm
Most lodgings are in spacious condos scattered around either side of US Highway 40, the road that passes the lift base and goes on through the town. At night, the fairy lights and neon signs make it seem like a real ski resort town; in the cold light of day it’s different – plain and very limited in what it has to offer. You have to drive to Fraser to find a proper supermarket, for example.
Stylish lodgings have been built at or near the foot of the slopes, to form a very small but pleasant, car-free mini-resort known as The Village at Winter Park. Another area of lodgings between the mountain and the town is known as Old Town.
Convenience
The Village is right by the slopes. Shuttle-buses run between the town and the lift base, and hotels and condos also have their own shuttles.
Scenery
From the upper slopes there are wide views of the Continental Divide in one direction, and rolling hills in the other.
Where to Ski and Snowboard
This guide is taken from Where to Ski and Snowboard, edited by Chris Gill and Dave Watts. Chris now produces Where to Ski guides to individual countries. Find out more and receive an exclusive book discount.
