Fabulous!4.3 / 5May 07, 2018
Dan M. intermediate skier
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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
Dan M. Superb!5 / 5Feb 08, 2018
TBTerence B.
Loveland is the best of everything. It has the Valley for beginners and the Basin for everyone else. The friendliest staff, great prices, and close to Denver. Always fun and lots of snow. Go up higher and avoid trees and crowds.... Moreintermediate snowboarder
Very Good!4.2 / 5Dec 05, 2017
DMDavid M.
Loveland is a great ski resort option for our family. It's closer to us than the major resorts and the lessons, lift tickets, and food options are very affordable. The employees are great and we always enjoy our time there.... Moreintermediate skier
Very Good!4.1 / 5Dec 03, 2017
PNParker N.
Loveland is a no-frills, all about the skiing/snowboarding, kind of place. Prices, from food to lift tickets, are very reasonable. All the best people come to Loveland. If you loathe crowds and pretentious vacationers, it's your kind of place. ... Moreadvanced skier
Very Good!4.1 / 5Nov 30, 2017
ECEduardo C.
Most definitely would recommend getting there a little earlier, the parking is pretty big but it isn't really the biggest. The price is very good compared to any of the other resorts, also highly recommend coming to Loveland Ski Resort if you are a beginner or just barely learning to snowboard or ski. Not only are the tickets at Great Value but... Moreintermediate snowboarder
Good!3.8 / 5Nov 24, 2017
DJDaniel J.
Loveland is close to Denver and gets amazing powder. Sitting high in elevation the snow it gets is blower most of the time to say the least. Not necessarily the steepest of CO skiing but if you know where to go you'll find the speed you need to float perfectly. Staff is super friendly and the cat skiing is super accessible. Also, you can get an... Moreexpert snowboarder
Good!3.8 / 5Nov 22, 2017
CGChristopher G.
Loveland is a mid-size resort on the continental divide just an hour west of Denver. It's position on the eastern side of the divide just off I-70 makes it one of the closest and most accessible destinations from Denver. Despite this however, it's rarely crowded, even on the heaviest of pow days and if you wait 5 minutes to get on the chair that's... Moreadvanced snowboarder
Very Good!4.2 / 5Nov 22, 2017
CConnor
Loveland has great terrain and great snow, and it's really quick and easy to get to. You can find some off-piste terrain here that competes with almost anywhere, steeps, cliffs, trees, bowls you name it, they got it. Their lift tickets, 4-packs, and season passes are all great values compared to other Colorado resorts. The only drawback is that... Moreexpert skier
Good!3.9 / 5Nov 22, 2017
BMBob M.
Pros: Loveland is a great beginner mountain. It is very family friendly and has slower lifts for newbies. Where Loveland really shines is the value, they are one of the cheaper resorts without sacrificing A+ service.
Cons: Lack of food variety. Trails can get stale for advanced riders ... Moreintermediate snowboarder
Good!3.5 / 5Nov 21, 2017
RFRob F.
Loveland is hit or miss. It can be really icey and windy, but on a powder day - this place is heaven! It's a got a mega-local vibe. Nothing too fancy. Lifts are slow, but you get what you pay for here. ... Moreexpert skier