Copper Mountain

Closed
Susan Brown
SnowPak Local Insider
Susan Brown
Pros
  • Copper Mountain is one of Colorado’s best family friendly resorts with plenty of kids activities
  • An affordable option compared to other Colorado ski resorts
  • Fantastic variety of terrain to suit all ability levels
Cons
  • Not much of a town compared to other Colorado resorts like Breckenridge and Keystone

Overall

4.7

What makes Copper Mountain unique is its natural mountain topography which naturally divides ski areas based on ability. Advanced trails are in the east, beginners in the west and intermediates in between! Beginners don’t need to worry about taking a wrong turn and end up in over their heads, while advanced skiers can go all out without avoiding novices. For the experts, Copper Mountain has some killer off-piste terrain, including bowls and hike-to terrain with CAT access. The resort also has its fair share of terrain parks with everything from a beginner level small sculpted terrain park, to a super pipe for the park rats, to a year-round indoor facility with free-skiing and foam pits.

Best month to go

January to early April

Avoid

December

The best times to go are anywhere from January through early April. While December can be good for snow, the resort can be a little slow to open all of its terrain. During the early part of the season around November, the resort is home to race camps, which can make for a slightly crowded environment. Historically, March tends to be the snowiest month of the year at Copper Mountain, so your odds of catching a powder day are good. On the other hand, it also tends to be one of the resort’s busiest times for lodging, second only to Christmas. If you do brave the crowds to come at Christmas time, though, be sure to enjoy the lights and decorations in the village. The last couple weeks of April can be fun for that spring skiing experience, but be aware that Copper Mountain will start closing parts of the terrain early in the month. The back bowls are usually the first to close due to their southern-facing exposures, which makes them the first to start melting.

FLY TO

Denver International Airport

DRIVE/SHUTTLE TO

Copper Mountain (3-4 hours)

Base of Copper Mountain (Walk)

  • Made up of three compact villages: East, Center and West Village
  • All lodging options are close to lifts, some true ski-in/ski-out
  • Easy to walk between all three villages

Find accommodations around here

Dillon/Silverthorne (10-15 mi)

  • Both towns take around 20 mins to drive to Copper Mountain
  • Inexpensive lodging location
  • Limited nightlife suitable for those who want a quiet lodge

Find accommodations around here

For beginners

Copper Mountain naturally divides the terrain. The west side is perfect for beginners with tons of easy terrain that sits away from the more experienced crowds.

More beginners tips

For intermediates

Intermediates can ski all over the resort but will probably want to hang around the center of Copper Mountain where most of the blues are found. Those looking to take it to the next level can get a taste of the back bowls with Otto Bahn, a solid blue.

More intermediates tips

For experts

The east side is where it's at for advanced and experts. For our favorite run, start off under the Sierra lift and dive into the trees at the bottom of Kaboom, where you'll find the snow stays fresh all thanks to Copper Mountain facing north.

More experts tips

Find freshies

Freshies get tracked out quick at Copper, so take the snowcat and hike up to Tucker Mountain for the best fresh stuff.

Ditch the crowds

The base area lifts can get quite busy and crowded. Instead, opt for lifts like Super Bee, Resolution and Alpine. They sit on the edge of the resort and give access to advanced terrain and long mogul runs.

Non skiers

Non-skiers will have a range of activities to choose from in Copper Mountain, including snowmobiling, tubing and ice-skating. The Athletic Club also offers a gym, hot tub, saunas and steam rooms.

Families

Copper is one of our favorite family-friendly resorts in Colorado! It's got a laid-back kid-friendly atmosphere and has all the activities and facilities to match it such as the Woodward Copper Barn.

Save up to 36% when you book a Copper Mountain package!

View Copper Mountain packages

Copper Mountain Reviews

Fabulous 4.4 / 5
based on 121 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!4.7 / 5Mar 22, 2020
Copper Mountain ReviewsGretchen A.
advanced skier
Staff was very helpful and kind. Rentals were convenient and quick. My kids loved the ski school! Had a great time at the Woodward barn. We stayed at a ski in ski out condo and were pleased with the accommodations and price. We’d definitely ski here again.... More
Average!3.5 / 5Mar 22, 2020
Copper Mountain ReviewsNick L.
expert snowboarder
Love the bowls when the snow is just right and the wind is light. This is an easy to get to mountain, but I wouldn't recommend as a resort town. Mainly because there isn't a town.... More
Very Good!4.1 / 5Mar 22, 2020
Copper Mountain ReviewsD.
advanced snowboarder
Copper mountain is one of the best in Colorado. That's why so many ski teams train there. It's still pretty posh but casual. As far as I'm concerned it has better terrain than anywhere in Colorado except Vail. Parking costs are going up but it's still not as much as vail, and you don't have to hike as far from lot to get to the slopes. And they do... More
Superb!4.7 / 5Feb 20, 2020
Copper Mountain ReviewsEddie L.
advanced skier
In an area with a lot of great mountains, Copper is one of the absolute best. Maybe the best combination of terrain, snow, and accessibility for skiers and boarders of every ability in this area of Colorado. Not as big as Vail of course, but Copper offers every flavor most could ask for. Nearby Frisco is an awesome town to explore as well.... More
Very Good!4.1 / 5Feb 20, 2020
Copper Mountain ReviewsAlex C.
advanced skier
Copper is a very well distributed mountain. On the west side is the easier terrain, middle is intermediate and East side and back bowls are advanced/expert terrain. It’s hard to get on the wrong run at this resort which means you won’t run into many beginner or intermediate skiers on the harder runs which makes for a more fun and safe time. There... More
Superb!4.6 / 5Jan 22, 2020
Copper Mountain ReviewsAdam M.
intermediate skier
2018 was my first ski season and I was fortunate to spend a lot of time at Copper. It isn't Vail or Breck but that's exactly why I chose it. The mountain is divided into three villages - East (beginner), Center (intermediate), and West (intermediate and advanced). There's great grooomed runs but there's great bowl terrain as well. It hasn't opened... More
Fabulous!4.3 / 5Jan 05, 2020
Copper Mountain ReviewsJim O.
advanced snowboarder
Get Summit County realness without the chaos and crowds of some of the other guys. Plenty of space to explore, and very challenging terrain when you're ready for it. Woodward parks are always on point. Base area is adequate, or you can head into Frisco for a good night out.... More
Fabulous!4.3 / 5Dec 27, 2019
Copper Mountain ReviewsKatie H.
intermediate snowboarder
This is one of my top two resorts in Colorado. The mountain has a great mix of terrain for any level and is especially a great mountain to learn on. The lift lines are reasonable compared to other resorts along the front range.... More
Fabulous!4.4 / 5Dec 27, 2019
Copper Mountain ReviewsDaniel C.
expert snowboarder
Copper mountain is one of Colorado’s premier resorts! It has something for everyone and an unpretentious bottom of mountain experience. Between Frisco and vail there are all the fine dining options anyone could want and tons of lodging at varying prices. It’s also only 1.5hrs from Denver when 70 is good or accessible the back way in about 3hrs.... More
Fabulous!4.3 / 5Nov 19, 2019
Copper Mountain ReviewsCharles S.
intermediate snowboarder
Love this place, really good vibes and terrain for days. Always my preferred mountain and usually not too expensive. Also, took a lesson and the instructor was awesome. Would recommend to groups with people of all experience levels. Good options for everyone and nice central meeting spots.... More