Good!3.8 / 5Jul 01, 2019
John O. expert snowboarder
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Learn more about Loveland
Pros
- Free cat skiing
- Enjoys a long season (often mid-October to mid-May)
- Few crowds
Cons
- Minimal amentities and no lodging at base
Loveland Ski Packages |
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|---|---|---|
| Lodging | Discount | Price |
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Streamside Lane Condos by CRMR
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22% off | $1,465 |
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Bay Club Town Homes by CRMR
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21% off | $1,279 |
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Lake Forest Condos by CRMR
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17% off | $789 |
View all ski packages for Loveland |
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Overall
A true local’s gem, Loveland Ski Area is one of the highest ski resorts in Colorado, with a free snowcat to take you to the 13,010 ft summit and the resort’s most gnarly terrain! Click into your powder ski’s because the high elevation here means longer seasons and plenty of light fluffy pow. Snowfall comes sooner and stays for longer than other resorts with an impressive 422 in falling per year, the most in the Summit County! It’s also one of the closest ski areas to Denver (53 miles west) and has all the chutes, bowls, steep slopes that’s perfect for powderhounds to get their ski fix!
Best month to go
February to April
Loveland’s high-altitude means snow is kept fresh longer, which means extended ski seasons are not uncommon (the 2016/17 season finished around mid-May!). The skiing season starts late November but like most resorts, the first few days, weeks, or even month provide spotty conditions with patches of grass peeking through the snow. It’s best to hold off until the later months from February onward to April when there’s a good base of snow coupled with bluebird days. You might also see a bit more skiers on the slopes during March and early April during Spring Break weeks and when the weather becomes a bit milder. The ski area also retains its untouched powder extremely well, perhaps in no small part due to the fact that they experience relatively limited traffic, so there’s plenty of freshies to find all season long. If you want estimates on the choicest bluebird days, the Loveland Ski Area website does a pretty good job of posting up-to-date forecasts for the best skiing conditions.
FLY TO
Denver International Airport
DRIVE TO
Loveland (1-2 hours)
Silverthorne (10-15 mi)
- Affordable lodging, more budget-friendly than Dillon
- Range of dining options
- Variety of hotels and motels
Dillon (10-15 mi)
- Affordable accommodation
- 20 minutes drive away
- Limited nightlife
For beginners
Loveland Valley is a separate ski area that's packed with groomed mellow terrain for beginners! Most of the more experienced skiers will be shredding the slopes at Loveland Basin, making the wide open slopes at Loveland Valley crowd-free and stress-free for those working on their skills! Once beginner's have mastered the bunny slope near the base, they can head up the mountain and try out Zig Zag, a great "S" shaped progression path.
For intermediates
Intermediates have a wide range options all over Loveland Basin! From groomed trails like Richard's Run to bowls like Bennett's Bowl and even tree-skiing in the north face of the Basin, Loveland has it all! Tickler Gulch and Hook em'Horns (an achievable black run) is our picks for those up for tree-skiing adventure, especially if you like bumps that give enough air to feel like you're flying!
For experts
The Ridge is where it's all for advanced and experts with plenty of gnarly terrain from bowls to chutes; all of the black and double black diamond type! Best of all, there's a FREE snowcat to take you along the Ridge so you can save your energy for shredding the slopes. Velvet Hammer, Field of Dreams, Marmot, Rock Chutes and Super Nova are only some of our favorites for the extreme stuff because there really is just too much to choose from! For off-piste, Cat's Nix Trees is also a favorite!
Find freshies
Snow stays fresher for longer at Loveland, all thanks to its high altitude! Freshies can be found across the mountain and the resort is also never crowded so the good stuff doesn't usually get tracked out. Sunburst Chutes and the North Chutes are especially great for finding stashes after high winds.
Ditch the crowds
Most skiers flock to the larger surrounding ski resorts such Breckenridge so crowds aren't usually an issue here. Chair 2 at Loveland Basin is the most popular chair as it acts as a gateway to a significant portion of the mountain. It's the busiest during lunch hours so avoid it until the rush dies down.
Non skiers
There's not much activities for non-skiers at Loveland but there are plenty of fun things to do around the Summit County. Shop til you drop at the Outlets at Silverthorne or perhaps give fly fishing a go on the Blue River! There's also tubing at Keystone or dogsledding at Breckenridge.
Families
A local's mountain that's close to Denver and has cheaper lift tickets than larger Colorado ski resorts, Loveland makes for an ideal family-friendly ski destination. For those with beginners and little ones, the small and mellow terrain at Loveland Valley ski area is perfect!
Save up to 32% when you book a Loveland package!
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Loveland Reviews
John O. Very Good!4 / 5Jul 01, 2019
Mark W. expert skier
Fabulous!4.4 / 5Jul 01, 2019
Joel S. expert skier
Superb!4.7 / 5Apr 29, 2019
Chris M. advanced skier
Average!3.4 / 5Feb 18, 2019
Joe B. advanced snowboarder
Good!3.7 / 5Feb 18, 2019
Ryan K. advanced skier
Very Good!4.1 / 5Nov 14, 2018
Dale L. advanced skier
Fabulous!4.4 / 5Nov 08, 2018
Carrie P. beginner skier
Fabulous!4.3 / 5Nov 06, 2018
David A. intermediate snowboarder
Superb!5 / 5May 16, 2018
Taylor H. expert skier