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!4.2 / 5Nov 08, 2017
KRKevin R.
advanced skier
One of my favorite places to ski! One of those wonderful colorado mountains where you can progress from a beginner to an expert and still have plenty of space to ski. Love it!... More
Fabulous!4.5 / 5Nov 08, 2017
KRKevin R.
intermediate skier
Copper is a skiers paradise. There is just about something for everyone; at all levels and ages. I only started going there a few years ago and its the one resort that allows me to continue to both progress and explore new territory.... More
Fabulous!4.4 / 5Nov 07, 2017
JWJonathan W.
advanced snowboarder
I love Copper. It is cheaper than other resorts in the area, but you still get great terrain. It is easy to get to from Denver International Airport, but traffic can be slow on Friday night/Saturday morning and Sunday night. ... More
Very Good!4.1 / 5Nov 07, 2017
LMLogan M.
expert skier
Copper Mountain is a unique resort. The layout of the mountain seperates skiers and boarders naturally by ability. This allows you to leave the beginner crowds behind on busy days and provides many nooks and crannies where you can still find pockets of fresh powder days after a storm and areas where you can avoid the lift lines. The beginner area... More
Very Good!4.1 / 5Nov 07, 2017
CKCharlie K.
advanced snowboarder
Love it! Copper was my first snowboarding experience in Colorado and it was totally the bomb! Great snow, cool people, beautiful scenery. I can't wait to go back again! See you this winter Copper!!!... More
Superb!4.6 / 5Nov 07, 2017
LLuke
intermediate snowboarder
My favorite places to board! Drove multiple times from Minnesota to board here, eventually I just had to move out to Colorado to board here more. The town is awesome and super friendly!... More
Poor!1.1 / 5Nov 06, 2017
BCBarry C.
advanced skier
This was an unexpected surprise - the layout of the resort, the speed and accessibility of the lifts, on hill dining options and snow conditions were incredible! Add to it the chance to go cat skiing out back and the stunning views and this is definitely a 'must go back to' mountain!... More
Good!3.5 / 5Nov 06, 2017
DCDavid C.
advanced skier
Well laid out mountain, good snow, mostly locals, beginner area is nicely seggregated, but services such as restaurants, lodging, parking, etc would greatly benefit from improvements but overall a good value... More
Superb!4.7 / 5Nov 06, 2017
DCDavid C.
advanced snowboarder
Lots of great terrain for all levels of riding. Great bars and restaurants on all parts of the mountain for when a break is needed. Very easy to access from the highway. ... More
Superb!5 / 5Nov 05, 2017
MHMatthew H.
intermediate snowboarder
It was a great resort to stay at. Friendly people and great lodging. A great selection or runs for every skill level. It also has a freestyle run. Well worth the drive!... More