Winter Park

Closed
Jack Lee
SnowPak Local Insider
Jack Lee
Pros
  • Easily accessible from Denver including the weekend train between Denver Union Station and the resort
  • Excellent range of terrain for different abilities including mogul runs
  • Family-friendly resort with great ski school programs and tubing activities
Cons
  • Smaller base area compared to larger Colorado resorts

Winter Park Ski Packages

Lodging Discount Price
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Fraser
16% off $323
Winter Park Mountain Lodge
20% off $391
The Vintage Hotel
24% off $502

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Overall

4.8

Colorado’s longest continually operating ski resort, Winter Park Resort opened for business way back in 1940 and has been putting smiles on the faces of skiers ever since! Famed for its monster moguls, if you’re a fan of knee-shocking bumps the size of small cars then you’ll love it here, but that’s not all. The terrain on offer is vast, with a rare combination of very different types of trails. High alpine chutes and powder bowls, glade skiing and backcountry runs, secluded powder stashes and spacious groomers, all this and more makes Winter Park Resort a truly diverse mountain. Skiers and snowboarders who want to get a taste of off-piste and backcountry style riding while still keeping within ski area boundaries should look no further than Winter Park Resort!

Best month to go

January to February

Locals here enjoy a wonderfully long ski season, the high elevation soon turns the peaks white once fall turns to winter. Generally, the slopes and lifts on the lower parts of the mountain are open for a full five months, sometimes even a little longer, from mid-November to late-April. As with all of Colorado, the best months for snow are January and February. It takes a big dump of powder before the expert-only terrain at the top of the mountain is ready to be shred, so if this is a big draw for you then time your visit during February. While weekdays can be surprisingly quiet, weekends can see droves of skiers and snowboarders from Denver descend on Winter Park Resort, particularly during the peak season of December to February.

FLY TO

Denver International Airport

DRIVE / SHUTTLE TO

Winter Park (2 hours)

Base of Winter Park Resort (Walk)

  • Several lodging options
  • Quiet area, limited nightlife
  • High-end accommodation

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Winter Park (4-5 mi)

  • Cheaper accommodation than at the base
  • Range of dining, shopping and nightlife options
  • Shuttle service to the ski resort

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Old Town (1-2 mi)

  • Sits between base and town of Winter Park
  • Variety of accommodation from condos to rental homes
  • Shuttle service to the ski resort

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Fraser (5-6 mi)

  • Cheaper lodging than at Winter Park
  • Wide range of accommodation from hotels to AirBnbs
  • Has grocery stores and other outlets

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For beginners

The Winter Park Territory is best suited for beginners and intermediate skiers and snowboarders. There's plenty of terrain to work on your technique and control, however, the area does gets quite congested during busy season.

More beginners tips

For intermediates

Parsenn Bowl Territory is where the intermediates will want to go! Enjoy the 360 degree vistas atop the 12,000 ft peak before testing your limits on the blue runs here.

More intermediates tips

For experts

For experts, head to the Mary Jane territory where the majority of the runs are black diamond. Only one run in this area is groomed so head off into the trees and enjoy the powder and pumps as you navigate down the slope. Our favorite here would be the High Lonesome Trail before veering right into the seemingly endless and well-spaced trees!

More experts tips

Find freshies

For powder stashes head to Eagle Wind territory, it's difficult to access, which means its often last to be tracked out! Or check out Parsenn Bowl and The Cirque as well as Vasquez Ridge territory after a big dump. 

Ditch the crowds

Most of the family-friendly terrain is close to the amenities, so escape the crowds and head up the mountain to Parsenn Bowl, The Cirque and Eagle Wind territories.  

Non skiers

Non-skiers can try the old-fashioned thrill of tubing at the Historic Fraser Tubing Hill or the Colorado Adventure Park. The resort also offers dog sled, snowmobile and snowcat tours during the winter seasons.

Families

Winter Park Resort makes for a great skiing destination if you're after a quiet family getaway. Most of the family-friendly terrain is close to the the amenties in the Winter Park territory but if you're a family of intermediate skiers and snowboarders, you'll have tons to explore!

Save up to 39% when you book a Winter Park package!

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Winter Park Reviews

Fabulous 4.4 / 5
based on 107 reviews

How well the resort caters for beginner skiers / boarders

Beginners

How well the resort caters for intermediate skiers / boarders?

Intermediates

How well the resort caters for advanced skiers / boarders

Advanced

How accessible and convenient it is to get to this resort from a major destination

Accessibility

Quality of the off-piste terrain

Side/Backcountry

Overall value for money of the resort

Value for money

Quality of lifts, lift speed and lift layout in the resort

Lifts

Quantity and quality of the snow

Snow

How uncrowded is the resort

Uncrowded

Après ski and dining options

Town

Services and facilities e.g. child care, tubing, health care, equipment hire

Facilities

How family friendly is this resort?

Family Friendliness
Very Good!4 / 5Nov 14, 2010
SShanna
It has it all and with kids it all comes down to 1 base area.
Superb!5 / 5Jul 22, 2010
DDavid
I selected it because of location within proxcimity to Iowa, Unfortunatly our stay sucked, I will not be staying there again.
Superb!5 / 5Jul 09, 2010
RRick
Beautiful place to ski, friendly staff, and plenty of trails to keep them from being overcrowded.
Superb!5 / 5Jun 28, 2010
CChris
Cheap to fly into Denver. Laid back, out of the way feel. Quiet. Boatloads of varied terrain. Good snow conditions. Possible to get good lodging deals
Very Good!4 / 5Jun 20, 2010
GGreg
It's just a blast to go to winter park - I've done Keystone and some others, and I must say winter park beats them all in terms of overall enjoyment, which is really what it's all about. WP is recommended.
Superb!5 / 5Mar 10, 2010
AAllan
We own a unit at the Resort and it allows us the flexibility to visit winter, spring, summer, fall! Love the proposed expansion plans.
Superb!5 / 5Feb 04, 2010
GGary
We fell in love with Winter Park, and this is the only resort that our kids have skied at.
Superb!5 / 5Oct 07, 2009
LLaura
My daughter was a very small beginner with a snowboard. She improved her riding, made new friends, had lunch and enjoyed every minute under the watchfull eye of her "Mother Hen", who taught them and cheered them on
Average!3 / 5Apr 15, 2009
RRyan
The lodging is okay, but not as nice as at Snowmass.
Very Good!4 / 5Dec 27, 2008
MMax
Probably just as good as Keystone, just doesnt have the first time effect in my mind.