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Cheap Ski Accommodation In Colorado – Let’s face it, skiing is not the most useful outdoor activity. But that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the trails if you’re tight on cash. In fact, the cheapest ski resorts in Colorado can relax your wallet.
After living in Colorado for 12 years, I have been to almost every ski resort in Colorado. Some cost a lot of money, while others offer the same fun for half the price.
Cheap Ski Accommodation In Colorado
So, if you want to ski and ride in Colorado like a local, not a tourist, then you’ve come to the right place.
Best Ski Resorts In Colorado
Want to save on your ski vacation? Then you’ll want to keep reading. Here you will find:
The main ski season in Colorado runs from November to April. You can expect almost all resorts to be open then, although some resorts may not be open until December and some will remain open until May. And Arapahoe Pool is known for its extremely long season, often opening in October and not closing until early June!
February is probably the best month to ski in Colorado, with plenty of fresh powder, fewer crowds than the holidays, and one of the cheapest months in Colorado.
Local tip: If you ski during a week in February, you can usually pay lower ticket prices – save even more!
Best Colorado Ski Resorts For Families
Skiing and horseback riding are some of the best things to do in Colorado in the winter, and are at the top of everyone’s bucket list. But with lift tickets skyrocketing to $200, finding the cheapest ski resorts in Colorado has made the sport much more affordable.
Although it’s a long drive from Denver to Durango, it might be worth a visit to Purgatory Ski Area, which has some of the cheapest lift tickets in Colorado. And it’s an even better deal for families, as children under 12 ride for free! Chisztec is a great place for beginners and intermediate skiers and also has a great terrain park.
After a long day in Purgatory, relax aching muscles by bathing in the hot springs in nearby Uraj. With all the money you saved on lift tickets, you can still afford the $18 entrance fee to one of Colorado’s best hot springs.
Ski Cooper (not to be confused with Copper Mountain) is small and that’s the charm! With extremely cheap lift tickets and no crowds, everyone from families to serious skiers will enjoy what Cooper has to offer. Plenty of beginner and intermediate runs keep those new to the slopes entertained, while more advanced skiers can take advantage of the nearby (and also relatively inexpensive!) cat skiing on Chicago Ridge.
Yes, You Can Stay In A Ski Town For Under $150 A Night
Instead of big resort amenities, Ski Cooper offers several cafes and a great Irish pub where you can enjoy a pint. And Cooper is right next door to the charming mountain town of Leadville, which offers local lodging, dining and shopping – including the iconic Melanzana store.
Offering the closest ski area to Denver, Loveland also has some of the cheapest lift tickets in Colorado. Even though it’s on the I-70 corridor, you can avoid the worst of the traffic that continues through the tunnel to Vail Pass.
Loveland has a well designated area for beginners and free crab tours for experienced skiers. Loveland also offers a 4-pack of unlimited lift passes for $199, which is a great deal for Denver residents and other front-runners who can make a quick trip to Loveland at any time.
Arapahoe Basin, known locally as A-Basin, offers cheap lift tickets all season long – and usually has the longest ski season of any resort in Colorado! A-Basin has a pretty fun party atmosphere (probably because of the cheap lift tickets) so it’s a great place to hang out on the slopes and in the parking lot.
The World’s Most Beautiful Ski Lodges
Instead of the fancy après bars at the big resorts, A-Basin has “The Beach”. A portion of the parking lot is reserved for groups who gather in bikinis and Hawaiian shirts to grill, drink and party. Beach seats should be reserved for $100-$200, but if you split it up with a large group, it can still be a lot cheaper than eating at a fancy ski lodge.
Not only does Monarch Mountain have relatively cheap lift tickets (especially if you avoid holidays and popular days), but it’s also a lot steeper than the big resorts. While you won’t find resort amenities, you’ll almost never find cable cars here.
Monarch is a great family destination, with plenty of beginner and intermediate terrain, cheap rentals and lessons with inexpensive lift tickets. The nearby city of Salida also offers very affordable housing.
Crested Butte may not have the lowest prices, but the lift tickets are quite reasonable and much lower than the trendier resorts. The town of Crested Butte is an absolute gem, so you can enjoy a ski vacation in one of Colorado’s best mountain towns without breaking the bank.
How To Stay Near Ikon Pass Ski Resorts Using Hotel Points
Skiing at Crested Butte is a particularly good deal for advanced skiers, unlike other budget mountains that cater to beginners and intermediate skiers.
Although prices can go up significantly on popular days, you can still get a relatively cheap Winter Park ticket if you’re not picky about the dates. For the price, you get access to two mountains, Winter Park and Marie Jane. Mary Jane is a tycoon lover’s paradise, and Winter Park is full of quiet groomers.
Winter Park is only an hour and a half from Denver, but the trade-off for easy access is the crazy crowds. The resort recently installed a new gondola to speed up the cable car.
Purgatori Resort is the cheapest place to ski in Colorado. With $49 days, the price is absolutely impossible. Not to mention, Durango offers tons of affordable lodging, ski rentals, and restaurants!
Best Ways To Save On A Colorado Ski Trip
Colorado has a few lesser-known ski resorts that don’t have boring lifts. The least populated ski areas are Ski Cooper, Monarch Mountain and Crested Butte.
Meg, also known as Fox, is a 30-year-old born to explore. Her task is to take you on the biggest adventure. I’d rather be dirty than cum. Skiing in Colorado doesn’t have that much sticker shock, even if you buy your lift ticket at the box office the same day. Of course, sticker shock, or in this case window shock, is most common on weekends, holidays, and when you’re skiing at one of Colorado’s major ski resorts. But if you stick to Colorado’s small to medium-sized ski resorts, you can spend a day on the slopes without feeling the pain when the credit card bill comes. Let us show you how to ski in Colorado on the cheap. For more options in the US, check out our top ski resorts.
Before we get into the actual price, let’s talk about the best value for skis. First of all, you’ll definitely save money if you buy an IKON or Epic season pass (read our Epic vs. IKON comparison article for a full review). This means you plan to ski for a few days and buy your ticket early. The Colorado ski resort prices discussed in this article are for one-day lift tickets for adults purchased at the box office.
However, there are other factors that come into play when it comes to saving money. Buying multi-day tickets will also save you money, as well as buying senior, military, youth, local or other discounted tickets when available. Also, check out the Colorado Gems Pass, which is good at many of the smaller resorts in Colorado. Finally, some ski resorts offer discounts on individual lift tickets if you buy them online in advance. Now read about the most affordable ski resorts in Colorado.
Where To Ski Around Denver, Colorado
Note: Ticket prices vary by season, snow conditions and during special promotions. Find deals at the beginning of the ski season, at the end of the season and during the week.
Ski Cooper. Cooper is in the same mountain area as Vail, Breckenridge and Beaver Creek, so you can expect good snow conditions at a good price. Lift ticket prices are much lower than other ski resorts, often around $80 on weekdays and weekends. Cooper’s Ski Pass is also a great option, offering free days of skiing at many partner ski resorts across North America. Open since 1942, Cooper is a friendly resort with good conditions and great snow, with 5 lifts serving 59 runs on 470 acres. Leadville, population 2,700, has reasonably priced lodging and restaurants. Check out Cloud Hostel & Inn near downtown for affordable accommodation with ski storage.
Sunlight Ski Resort. Between Vail and Aspen, Snowmass awaits you at Sunlight Mountain Resort, where tickets are just $65 per adult. A great family-friendly ski resort, Sunlight gets more than 300 days of sunshine a year along with 250 inches (almost 21 feet) of snow per season. Let’s make an agreement
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