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

View all ski packages for Winter Park

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!

View Winter Park packages

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
Average!3.3 / 5Nov 04, 2019
Winter Park ReviewsPatrick P.
beginner snowboarder
WP and all its glory are the reason and first resort I started boarding. I am going to learn to ski here too(at 27 yrs old and never done it yet.)... More
Superb!4.9 / 5Sep 30, 2019
Winter Park ReviewsWill G.
advanced skier
Winter Park is the perfect place for the family or diverse group of skies and snowboarders. There is a littlet something for everyone... From the cruisers to the extreme at Mary Jane.... More
Fabulous!4.3 / 5Sep 30, 2019
Winter Park ReviewsSamantha C.
beginner skier
I learned to ski here many years ago! I have fond memories of working up my courage to graduate from the green runs to go above the tree line to the bowl. My dad and I took the ski lift up while it was dumping snow! So much fun. Can't wait to go back.... More
Superb!4.7 / 5Sep 26, 2019
Winter Park ReviewsSholom W.
intermediate skier
Went for the first time last season. I live how it is in middle of the mountains. The drive getting there is very scenic and the slopes are fantastic. If you love tree runs go to winter park, you will not be dissapointed.... More
Superb!5 / 5Aug 08, 2019
Winter Park ReviewsRoger A.
expert skier
Winter Park is Colorado's Favorite for a reason. It's on land owned by city of Denver and has a rich history as one of the first Colorado ski areas because it was accessible by train -- and at least for this ski year 2019 will be accessible by the Winter Park Express Ski Train, operated by Amtrak. (It's a three-year contract for operation with... More
Fabulous!4.3 / 5Aug 08, 2019
Winter Park ReviewsMatt D.
expert skier
Family friendly resort near Denver with good snow and plentiful expert terrain. There is a direct train to Denver for easy access and plenty of hillside accommodation and dining. Brand new gondola and many fast lifts.... More
Fabulous!4.4 / 5Jul 01, 2019
Winter Park ReviewsMark W.
expert skier
Awesome! Winter Park has so much to offer for everyone. My favorite territory is definitely Mary Jane which has more than meets the eye. Every time I ski here I find something new and challenging.... More
Superb!5 / 5Jul 01, 2019
Winter Park ReviewsJoel S.
expert skier
It has everything you need and everything you want, without the pretensions of Vail or Aspen or Steamboat and it much more convenient to get to and closer! Just a short time on I-70, and a drive over beautiful Berthoud pass. Winter park is awesome!... More
Average!3.3 / 5Mar 22, 2019
SHStephen H.
intermediate skier
Pretty darn good. This particular REVIEW tool, however, is crap. Why 30 words? Dumb. It makes me rate 1-5 stars for areas I never dealt with, so instead of saying "N/A" I have to give a totally un-founded answer.... More
Good!3.8 / 5Feb 18, 2019
Winter Park ReviewsRobby S.
expert skier
I love Winter Park! Best trees and moguls in Colorado. You can get out of a ton of i70 traffic as well. It's a little far from other resorts if you're trying to ski more than one mountain.... More