Vail Resorts wants to sell its pass-holders 11 Colorado ski areas, including Vail and Breckenridge. But does that mean that Colorado is home to the best ski resorts in North America?
The Epic Pass is Vail Resorts’ annual season pass to its 12 resorts, including Breckenridge and Vail in Colorado. But you can also buy a day pass to any of them with the company’s Unlimited Pass, which is cheaper than buying each resort’s own lift ticket (it costs $899 for adults, $699 for kids).
The problem is that Vail Resorts doesn’t include Steamboat Ski Resort and Winter Park Resort, so two other notable Colorado ski areas are not part of this deal. That may be frustrating if you’re from out-of-state or simply not interested in skiing at those particular resorts but would like to hit up one of your local ski hills instead—but it does mean that there are several other great options within driving distance from Denver that can make for great getaways without breaking the bank on lift tickets alone.
Not according to Ski Magazine, which last month released its rankings of the “Top 50 Resorts in North America.” The publication included three Colorado resorts in its top 10, but only one –Copper Mountain – is included on the Epic Pass.
But according to Ski Magazine, which last month released its rankings of the “Top 50 Resorts in North America,” three Colorado resorts are in its top 10.
The publication included Copper Mountain, Aspen Snowmass and Winter Park on its list — but only one is included on the Epic Pass: Copper Mountain.
In fact, there are a number of big name ski resorts that aren’t on the pass (if you don’t count the recently added Utah’s Brighton Resort).
Ski ranked Steamboat No. 7 and Winter Park No. 8 on its list; both owned by Intrawest Resorts Holdings. Its “readers’ choice” ranking for Steamboat was No. 2, behind only Jackson Hole (Wyoming), where lift tickets can cost nearly double what they are at Copper or Vail.
Ski Magazine’s Top 50 Resorts in North America is out, and you don’t even need an Epic Pass to check out these two Colorado resorts.
The magazine says Steamboat Ski Resort is No. 7 on its list, while Winter Park Resort is No. 8. Both are owned by Intrawest Resorts Holdings—the same company that operates Copper Mountain and Eldora Mountain Resort in Colorado’s Front Range. The “readers’ choice” ranking for Steamboat was No. 2, behind only Jackson Hole (Wyoming), where lift tickets can cost nearly double what they are at Copper or Vail.
Vail Resorts’ best showing was Breckenridge, which was ranked No. 10 and No. 4 by readers. And its most expensive resort, Whistler-Blackcomb in British Columbia, was ranked No. 3 overall and ranked first by readers. But the area is not part of the company’s Epic Pass for 2017-18.
Vail Resorts’ best showing was Breckenridge, which was ranked No. 10 and No. 4 by readers. And its most expensive resort, Whistler-Blackcomb in British Columbia, was ranked No. 3 overall and ranked first by readers. But the area is not part of the company’s Epic Pass for 2017-18.
The results were compiled through a survey of more than 1 million people across North America that asked them to rate their favorite ski resorts on criteria such as terrain variety, ease of getting around the mountain and customer service – with an eye toward making sure that each resort had enough data collected at least 30 times before being included in the final rankings.
Conclusion
The ski season is still in full swing, so you have plenty of time to go on a trip and see for yourself which of these Colorado ski resorts are truly the best. We don’t know about you, but we’re ready for some fresh powder!
