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.

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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
Very Good!4 / 5Nov 16, 2011
CChristopher
Lots of powder and groomed slopes. Not very crowded. and did not have a long wait in line
Average!3 / 5Jul 21, 2011
SShamsudeen
it is within my budget
Superb!5 / 5Mar 01, 2011
DDave
This became our favorite resort this year when we visited for only the second time. It was family friendly, terrain was excellent and the service was astonishing.
Superb!5 / 5Feb 11, 2011
SShari
I've always felt comfortable at BC-- between conditions, familiarity, less snobbiness than Vail, and nice runs.
Superb!5 / 5Jan 23, 2011
MMargaret
The terrain is varied enough to satisfy the crowd I ski with., However there is less green terrain, which my friends prefer
Superb!5 / 5Oct 19, 2010
RRoy
Beaver Creek has less crowds and excellent skiing terrain. Service is excellent. The area is easy to get to.
Very Good!4 / 5Oct 10, 2010
DDavid
Have never visited Beaver Creek but ski map indicates this might be my second choice after Copper Mountain.
Very Good!4 / 5Apr 14, 2010
SStephen
Beaver Creek was a good experience, but the drive from Denver is tough with kids. My kids did like the ice rink and the ski in ski out accomodations were very nice.
Superb!5 / 5Apr 06, 2010
VVal
i think beaver creek has a wide varety of terrain for any level skier. we skied there for the first time last year and i thought it was a super place to ski.
Superb!5 / 5Sep 20, 2009
DDonald
I am a senior skier and I like all the steep, long and well groomed runs. Also like all the high speed lifts and skiing fom arrowhead to Bachelor Gulgh and on to Beaver Creek. Plenty of room and can always find short lines somewhere.