Beaver Creek

Closed
Heather Burke
SnowPak Local Insider
Heather Burke
Pros
  • Beaver Creek is the best ski resort for the ultimate getaway experience with upscale dining options
  • It doesn’t suffer from the same crowds as its bigger sister Vail
  • Top-notch grooming and superb upper terrain for beginners
Cons
  • Relatively expensive compared to other Colorado resorts

Overall

4

Welcome to Colorado’s newest ski resort, the one and only Beaver Creek, where luxury comes as standard. Everything at Beaver Creek is posh, planned and near perfection – it’s the Deer Valley of Colorado. Owned by Vail Resorts, Beaver Creek opened in 1980 modeled after Europe's best ski resorts St Moritz in Switzerland and Italy's Cortina, it's like Vail's classier sister - not quite as popular, less approached, but that's what makes it so precious.

Best month to go

January and March

Avoid

December and February

December is ideally not the month to go Beaver Creek as the weather is far too cold to be enjoyable. Although it is still rather cold, January is a better month to visit Beaver Creek as it sees fewer crowds than Christmas and February. Crowds tend to scatter throughout March and April with the exception of Spring Break. For the best chance of a bluebird day, visit during March, just before hotel and flight prices become expensive in May.

FLY TO

Denver International Airport

DRIVE/SHUTTLE TO

Beaver Creek (2.5-3 hours)

Beaver Creak Village (Walk)

  • Main village with the most amenities, restaurants and activities
  • All lodging offer ski-in access
  • Variety of hotels, condos and B&B lodging

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Bachelor Gulch Village (Walk)

  • Offers access to Bachelor Gulch Express lift for green and blue trails
  • Lodging includes The Ritz-Carlton and vacation rental homes
  • The only other location for ski and snowboard school besides Beaver Creek Village

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Arrowhead Village (Walk)

  • Lodging is limited to ski condos only
  • Offers access to Arrowbahn Express lift for green and blue trails
  • Located furthest from Beaver Creek Village

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Avon (Walk)

  • Small town with free shuttle to Beaver Creek Village
  • Variety of hotels including Westin Resort and Spa
  • Riverfront Express Gondola provides access to the base of the mountain

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For beginners

Beginners can ski with ease here as they can meander down one of many groomed trails at Beaver Creek. Be sure to check out Stirrup, a long windy green that's also our favorite run! The runs off the Elkhorn lift also offer fantastic progression trails for those looking to take it to the next level.

For intermediates

Intermediate skiers and riders will also have endless choices at Beaver Creek with the terrain off Elkhorn lift being our top pick! For our favorite run, start off on Lamplighter from the top of Elkhorn lift, followed by Board's Skiway and then Boarder's Loop back to base.

For experts

Beaver Creek doesn't have the most challenging terrain around, but Grouse Mountain is packed with black diamond and double black diamonds making it the best spot for more advanced skiers and snowboarders and includes our favorite the Black Bear double diamond! For the experts, the Stone Creek Chutes is where the fun is at!

Find freshies

The Stone Creek Chutes and anything on the Grouse Mountain are the best spots to find freshies. These areas feature the most challenging terrain at Beaver Creek and therefore sees fewer skiers and snowboarders tracking the fresh powder.

Ditch the crowds

The Centennial Express lift is the most family-friendly lift in Beaver Creek, which also makes it the busiest one of all here. For advanced skiers and snowboarders, the runs off Grouse Mountain are the best for avoiding crowds as this area only offers black or double black diamond trails.

Non skiers

The Beaver Creek Village might be small but there's still plenty on offer for non-skiers. Beaver Creek is known for its pampering so why not check one of the many spas? If that's not high up on the non-skiing activities list then the Vilar Performing Arts Center offers everything from Broadway shows to epic ski movies from the late Warren Miller.

Families

As a purpose-built resort, the small and easy to navigate village along with the abundance of beginner and intermediate terrain make Beaver Creek an ideal ski destination for families. For families with different skiing abilities, the Centennial Express lift gives access to a variety of greens, blues, and blacks trails that all lead back to down to the village, making it easy to ride up together and then meet at the bottom.

Save up to 37% when you book a Beaver Creek package!

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Beaver Creek Reviews

Fabulous 4.5 / 5
based on 100 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
Superb!4.5 / 5Nov 12, 2017
CRCharles R.
advanced skier
This resort has a wide variety of terrain. Beginners to more advanced skiiers always seems to be satisfied by the time 3:00 cookie time rolls around. Between the virtual no lift lines,and high quality facilities Beaver Creek is seen as a "get away" by many people that go there while on a Vail vacation... More
Superb!4.5 / 5Nov 11, 2017
JCJohnathan C.
advanced snowboarder
I've in California, lived in Breckenridge, and currently live in Denver. Beaver Creek is the hidden gem kept from people all over the world that I have gone to at every free weekend and holiday I can over the past 10 years.... More
Superb!4.9 / 5Nov 10, 2017
BFBilly F.
expert snowboarder
Killler trees tons of side hits. Cliffs to drop and easy access around the entire mountain. My favorite mountain to ride by a long shot. Burton shop employees are super knowledgeable and helpful!... More
Very Good!4 / 5Nov 10, 2017
DZDanny Z.
expert snowboarder
Awesome terrain park. Great aspen trees and steeps.Parking is horrible since they started chargeing money for it. Its has killed the local scene of riders. Love the terrain but the culture is getting lost with greed of property owners.... More
Superb!4.9 / 5Nov 10, 2017
AAAbraham A.
intermediate skier
The best place so far. Comparing to Vail is way less crowded. Groomed trails, with a lot of beginner and intermediate trails, but also expert terrain for the advanced skier. Staff is very friendly. This is my 3rd time going back to this place. ... More
Superb!4.6 / 5Nov 09, 2017
SLSheau L.
beginner snowboarder
Very beginner friendly with a nice gondola for the beginner run. Nice resort area. Nice lunch area for resting. Just that parking is a bit of trouble since even the parking down the mountain needs parking fee. Public transport is not that easy to get around as well (since no place to park)... More
Good!3.9 / 5Nov 09, 2017
GGustavo
intermediate skier
Beaver creek is a hidden gem. It's quaint, beautiful, family friendly and fun! I enjoy the slopes, the snow and the fresh chocolate chip cookies they hand out at the end of the day around the grounds! ... More
Fabulous!4.5 / 5Nov 08, 2017
FHFrederick H.
advanced snowboarder
Beaver Creek was the first Colorado resort I ever visited. I moved there in 2013 and at the time had only spent 5 days on a mountain before. I remember asking a coworker.. "I heard there's another mountain like 10 minutes away.. Vail? What's that?" Soon I learned I had picked one of the most sought after locations for snowsports in the country. I... More
Superb!4.9 / 5Nov 08, 2017
CGChristopher G.
expert snowboarder
This resort has the best glades ever. Period. Nothing and nowhere else compares. Also, chefs serving hot cookies on silver platters and free champagne everyday at 3pm isn't that bad. Love this place. ... More
Very Good!4 / 5Nov 08, 2017
WWill
expert snowboarder
Beaver is my favorite resort. I grew up in Glenwood Springs, a short drive away with access to both Vail and Aspen resorts. BC has some great side country if you're willing to do some hiking and gets a lot of snow that tends to stay around if you know where to look for it. ... More