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
Fabulous!4.4 / 5Nov 19, 2019
Copper Mountain ReviewsMarcy H.
expert skier
Wonderful big mountain for all ages and abilities Copper Village has lots to offer non-riders as well. We had on lots of runs all by ourselves very easy to beat the crowd. Terrain park is fantastic for all of ability levels.... More
Superb!4.7 / 5Nov 13, 2019
Copper Mountain ReviewsJae Dee W.
advanced skier
Copper has some of the best terrain and is so easy to get to from where I live in vail ! I love the vibes of all the riders here.... More
Superb!4.6 / 5Sep 26, 2019
Copper Mountain ReviewsNoah B.
intermediate snowboarder
Great mountain with plenty of terrain options, and very reasonable prices in the village. The lift staff is very friendly. Trails are well groomed, and the lifts move people efficiently.... More
Very Good!4.2 / 5Sep 04, 2019
Copper Mountain ReviewsMatt B.
advanced snowboarder
I only had the opportunity to go to Copper Mountain once, but it was a lot of fun. The high alpine zone was really neat (even though it was pretty extremely windy the day I was there). Very nice change of pace from the bigger resort towns like Keystone and Breck.... More
Fabulous!4.4 / 5Aug 08, 2019
Copper Mountain ReviewsAllscape S.
advanced skier
Copper is the quisentensial ski area of the Front Range and beyond. Period . I have skied Copper off and on since the early 90's and find the experience to be unequaled and the mere location begs adventure and fun!! I am returning this year...often to create outstanding memories!!!! Thanks for everything Copper Mtn.... More
Superb!4.9 / 5Aug 08, 2019
Copper Mountain ReviewsWill G.
advanced skier
The perfect family mountain. It has a great mix between cruisers, back country and expert slopes. Offers kiddy care and has some fabulous places for apre. Just over an hour outside of Denver... You gotta give it a shot.... More
Very Good!4 / 5Aug 08, 2019
Copper Mountain ReviewsMatt D.
expert skier
Nice family friendly mountain with naturally divided terrain and with plenty of options for all levels. Convenient from denver, but as such it can get crowded on weekends and holidays. There is free cat skiing to some of their extreme terrain and good backcountry access.... More
Superb!5 / 5Jul 01, 2019
Copper Mountain ReviewsShawn C.
intermediate skier
Copper mountain is where I go to ski when I want to feel like family. It's where you go to ski to ski not to be seen.I've skied most resorts in Colorado and always come back to copper mountain for the people the snow and the experience. I taught my daughter to snowboard at copper mountain because they have great credit terrain for beginners.... More
Very Good!4.2 / 5Jul 01, 2019
Copper Mountain ReviewsDavid Z.
expert skier
Copper is a great all-around resort: Plenty of terrain for beginner to advanced skiers that happens to be naturally divided. This helps a bit with flow and crowds on the mountain. I've been here with family and friends (guys in their 20s) and loved it each time.... More
Fabulous!4.5 / 5Jul 01, 2019
Copper Mountain ReviewsMark W.
expert skier
One of my Colorado favorites! So much for everyone here, the trail layout is well thought out. The bowls here are some of the best Colorado has to offer. The views of the Gore range are epic!... More