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
Fabulous!4.2 / 5Nov 12, 2017
JMJames M.
intermediate snowboarder
I really like this resort because they also have a disabled ski program that allows disabled young adults, adults, and children to have the opportunity to ski or snowboard which is something they might have now been able to other wise . ... More
Very Good!4 / 5Nov 10, 2017
BHBenjamin H.
intermediate skier
Winterpark offers a really nice experience as a destination resort. One of the closes resorts to Denver. My partner and I stayed at the then new Zephyr Lodge. It was very cozy, and easy walking distance to the lifts. Snow quality was good. The resort does have a lot to offer for everyone. However, I might not return because a large portion of... More
Superb!4.8 / 5Nov 08, 2017
CRConnor R.
expert skier
The most consistent resort in Colorado and possibly the nation, been to 15+ resorts in 6 states, and honestly I'll always come back here if given the choice, ESPECIALLY on a powder day! Snows more here than Summit County and obviously has the classic Colorado champagne powder, but the snow conditions stay consistent even when it hasn't snowed in... More
Fabulous!4.3 / 5Nov 07, 2017
NHNick H.
advanced skier
Winter Park is the best resort within a 2 hour drive of Denver. Less time spent on I-70 compared to Summit County. Best snow quality and most powder days in Colorado. Love the Mary Jane side - great parking, drinks and above all challenging terrain.... More
Fabulous!4.3 / 5Nov 06, 2017
DHDavid H.
advanced snowboarder
Choosing a favorite is never easy. Looking back over the last 30 years I have more days at Winterpark Resort. I come for Mary Jane and the moguls. Best anywhere...with a knowing know to Ajax. The low key aspect is changing with all the new development. These improvements have made a difference for the better. I am very excited to see what KSL... More
Very Good!4.1 / 5Nov 06, 2017
KCKeith C.
advanced skier
Not great if you are looking to party, but its a nice quite place off the beaten path for families and people just looking to ski. Lodging away from the base area is pretty reasonable. ... More
Superb!5 / 5Oct 30, 2017
SOSteve O.
If you like to spend most of your time on the skiing/snowboarding while on vacation (not looking for great lodging or nightlife options), Winter Park is a fantastic ski resort! The mountain is HUGE and terrain is extremely varied - with lots of slopes for beginners to experts. Winter Park is also the ONLY ski resort in North America where you can... More
Superb!5 / 5Oct 26, 2017
JJordan
Great mountain! Tons of steeps on the Mart Jane side. Take the cirque cat out to some nice side country stash. Plenty of cruisey blues on the winter park side. A little something for everyone.
Superb!5 / 5Oct 23, 2017
SStuart
Best value anywhere .. period! FREE (kids) season pass! with an adult season pass .. around $400. Ridiculous.! Convenient access off I40 from DEN,super nice people, and amazing variety of ski terrain. Towns nightlife .. ehh .. but options keep getting better year after year. Definitely more of a family ski area not a party place like Vail;... More
Superb!5 / 5Oct 23, 2017
JSJason S.
I have been visiting Winter Park with my family and friends for several years now and every year gets better. We typically go late March or the beginning of April and there is always plenty of snow. It's a perfect ski resort for family's.