Page 588 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - USA

586  THE ROCKIES

£ Colorado Ski Resorts

One of Colorado’s most enduring symbols is of pristine
white mountains dotted with skiers. The state’s recrea­
tional ski industry dates to 1935 when Berthoud Pass,
northwest of Denver, became the destination ski resort
for pioneering skiers. As the sport’s economic potential
developed after World War II, many old mining towns
emerged as popular ski resort towns. Today the state is
undoubtedly the country’s skiing capital, with more than
24 resorts. In recent years, other winter sports, such as
snowboarding, have become very popular, and most
ski mountains now allow snowboarders. Steamboat Springs,
the cowboy cousin to
the conservative luxury
Aspen, a favorite of the rich of Aspen, wears its Steamboat
Springs
and famous, has more than 200 rambunctious Western
different runs on four striking spirit as a badge of honor. Mount Werner
mountains. It developed when It has some of the state’s (10,564 ft/3,220 m) Park View Mt.
(12,296 ft/3,748 m)
the Aspen Skiing Company best snow (a dry, feathery Pyramid Peak
opened its first lift in 1947. powder), a 3,668-ft (11,611 ft/3,539 m)
Sleek restaurants and boutiques (1,118-m) vertical drop,
housed behind Victorian-era and a total of 165 runs.
storefronts complement the Max altitude: 10,564 ft (3,220 m) R o
splendid ski terrain. Aspen c k Winter Park
also has a vibrant art and Geared to: all levels y Berthoud Pass
culture scene. Ski level: 13% 56% 31% (11,315 ft/3,449 m)
Max altitude: 11,675 ft (3,559 m) M Keystone
Geared to: all levels Vail t s
Ski level: 16% 61% 23% Vail Pass Breckenridge
(10,666 ft/
Aspen Mt. 3,251 m) Copper Mt.
Copper (12,440 ft/3,792 m)
(11,210 ft/3,417 m) Mountain
Snowmass, just a 30-minute Mt. Elbert
drive from Aspen, is a complete Snowmass Aspen Leadville (14,433 ft/4,399 m)
Snowmass Mt.
resort in itself. Larger than all (14,092 ft/4,295 m)
three of Aspen’s ski areas Maroon Peak Independence Pass
(12,093 ft/3,680 m)
combined, it has plenty of (14,156 ft/4,315 m) Closed in winter
wide-open runs. Crested Butte
Crested Butte
Kebler Pass
0 kilometers 50 (10,007 ft/3,050 m) (12,161 ft/3,707 m)
0 miles 50
Cumberland Pass
(12,000 ft/3,658 m)
Crested Butte draws serious skiers to its Montrose
unparalleled expert terrain. The town sits Cerro Summit
at the base of Mount Crested Butte, with (7,958 ft/2,426 m)
a vertical drop of 2,775 ft (846 m) and 824
acres (333 ha) for “extreme” skiing.
Sneffels Peak
(14,150 ft/4,313 m)
Palmyra Peak
Telluride (13,319 ft/4,060 m)
Red Mt. Pass
(11,018 ft/3,358 m)
Telluride, a former mining community,
opened as a ski resort in 1971. The
nearby valley was once a hideout for
outlaw Butch Cassidy. The town is also
known for its bohemian politics, a lively
nightlife, and trails that lead to such
scenic areas as Bridal Veil Falls.
Max altitude: 12,255 ft (3,736 m)
Geared to: all levels
Ski level: 22% 38% 40%
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp592–3 and pp594–5
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