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 07, 2017
MPMatthew P.
expert snowboarder
I have been going to Beaver Creek since I was about 3 years old and it is by far my favorite mountain. This mountain is a bit out of the day so if you live far, a day trip is pushing it. Luckily, I spend a week there every year and get to enjoy everything it has to offer. This mountain has something for everyone. Whether or not you are just... More
Fabulous!4.2 / 5Nov 07, 2017
MDMark D.
expert skier
Locals skip Vail for the Beav. Great trees and side country. Excellent mix of groomed and bumps. The new lift will be great for beginners.Parking no longer free, though which made it a clear choice over Vail. ... More
Superb!5 / 5Nov 07, 2017
WMWayne M.
intermediate skier
Beaver Creek is one of my favorite places in all the world. What great Memories!! My wife, 2 daughters and I all learned to ski at Beaver Creek. We have probably skied every inch of BC, BG and Arrowhead and have been to most all of the restaurants. Après ski is the best and the hotels and spa's are world class. We have not been skiing in a... More
Superb!4.7 / 5Nov 07, 2017
DHDave H.
expert skier
Great family resort but also a great place to get off trail and make some new lines in the powder. Most people just stay on the groomers and never leave the main trails. The Village is amazingly beautiful. ... More
Superb!4.7 / 5Nov 05, 2017
ZAZofia A.
advanced skier
I love the Beav! It's my favorite faraway resort to go to in the Vail resort collection. It's very far from Denver and you end up hitting a bunch of traffic, so this resort is best for an overnight trip. The aspen tree skiing is out of this world and the mountain is much less crowded than Breck or Vail, so there are a lot of pluses for opting to... More
Superb!5 / 5Nov 05, 2017
JMJesse M.
intermediate snowboarder
It's a no over all great resort! Have friends that work there and a gf that wants to! I'd love the epic pass so I could go to beaver creek whenever and all the resorts close by just like it! Just moved to the valley this year after visiting last year! Had an amazing time had to live here! ... More
Superb!5 / 5Oct 30, 2017
RCRobert C.
Love the resort! Would stay there any time of season but Christmas is amazing there. The slopes there are pretty amazing also I like the trench runs they have on the right side of the mountain would recommend for anyone!
Superb!5 / 5Oct 25, 2017
PHPhil H.
My home mountain for two years, I loved BC's lack of crowds and lift lines. Excellent tree lines and good hiking terrain. I love it so much I named my dog Keller after Keller Glade trail into Rose Bowl. The mountain staff is top notch, and If you luck out for a first chair on pow days when the drifts fill in and top off moguls, there's nothing... More
Superb!5 / 5Oct 24, 2017
SKSammy K.
Beaver creek resort has the best customer service. The runs are beautifully designed and layed out to make every ride scenic and challenging. All the terrain parks are perfectly designed for every level of ability.
Superb!5 / 5Oct 23, 2017
ERElliot R.
Beaver Creek is my favorite resort! I love all the different terrain for my family and I. Very good tree skiing, groomers, terrain parks, and apres! Beaver Creek really does have everything.