Copper Mountain in Summit County, Colorado, is the largest ski area in the country by acres with 2,450 in total.
Ready to take the first plunge of the day while skiing Copper Mountain. (Colorado Tourism Office)
The resort is at over 9,000 feet and has three village areas with restaurants, shopping and places to stay at the base of the mountain. Nearby Frisco, Dillon and Silverthorne have lodging as well.
Having recently undergone renovations, the mountain has new chairlifts and the villages have been improved with new hotels, condominiums, restaurants, boutique shops and bars.
One of the best things about Copper Mountain is its separated terrain. The west is the easiest, the center is intermediate and the east has the most difficult runs.
Above it all, Copper and Union are the two peaks, both reaching over 12,000 feet. They are rated as expert double-black diamond.
Copper Mountain’s bowls are fantastic, sometimes drawing comparison to Vail, Breckenridge and Keystone’s. The four bowls are: Copper Bowl, Union Bowl, Spaulding Bowl, and Resolution Bowl.
Even with all the awesome slopes, Copper Mountain has shorter lift lines than nearby Vail or Winter Park, even during the peak of the ski season.
The three villages at Copper Mountain are the Center Village, the East Village and the West Village.
The Center Village is the original, so is sometimes referred to simply as “The Village.” Its central location makes it a good choice for those that want to be the closest to the local activities. Take a break during the day to defrost your self by the warming fire pits or in one of the cozy eateries.
The East Village is also known as the “Super Bee Base.” It is located at the foot of the more difficult terrain and by the Super Bee high-speed six-person chair lift. Another chair lift, a few hundred yards to the left, is the Alpine Lift, a double that accesses mogul runs. This area has a new restaurant, bar, cafeteria and base lodge.
The West Village is also known as “Union Creek.” There are many chair lifts from this base area that also houses the ski school. Kokomo, High Point, Slingshot, Glide and the Rugrats chair lifts serve this learning area of Copper Mountain.
Off the slopes, Copper Mountain also has 25 miles of cross-country trails to explore in the White River National Forest. Snowmobile tours, ice-skating, tubing, snowshoeing, and dog sledding are also popular winter excursions. Outside of the villages, there is more shopping at outlet stores in nearby Frisco, Colorado.
The nightlife at Copper Mountain is jumping year-round, but is definitely at its best in the cold winter months when everyone gathers inside for warming drinks. Take your pick between every kind of place you can think of, from wild party bars to low-key romantic hideaways.