The 6 Best Places To Snowboard In Colorado!

Colorado is known for its epic snowboard terrain shared between 26 different resorts. But with so many ski resorts, which one should you choose? Which will make the most of your shred time?

In this article, I’ll go into each of the best Colorado ski resorts for snowboarding. You’ll learn about the terrain, the atmosphere, and other cool aspects of these fantastic snowboard destinations.

Top Choice!

Elevation: 8,150 ft (2484m) to 10,250 ft (3125m) Trails: 5,317 acres (21.4 km2) Snow Parks: 2 Lifts: 31 Off-Piste: Incredible terrain, especially in the back bowls. Bonus Tip: Head to Blue Sky Basin for tree runs and ungroomed slopes

Vail is famous for its excellent snowboarding, as it is one of the largest ski resorts in the world. It also has some of Colorado's best snow-covered terrain. One of Vail's highlights is that it's home to 7 back bowls, offering seemingly unlimited potential for powder days.

However, you can have plenty of fun carving up the endless groomers that are well looked after.

The size of the area means there's enough terrain for snowboarders of all levels. Even though Vail isn't exactly a high-altitude resort, it still gets 350" of snow every winter. So there's a good chance you'll experience great conditions during a trip.

Book flights to Denver International Airport or Eagle Regional Airport. Vail is 120 miles from Denver and 30 miles from Eagle Regional Airport.

Vail is home to the Burton Open, the world's longest-running snowboard competition.

$564 - $792 for 6 days

Pros

Award-winning terrain

Huge area

Great snow

Quality lift system

Great après

Cons

Not great for intermediate riders, but beginners and advanced riders will love it.

It gets really crowded!

Elevation: 8,100 - 12,500 ft (2468 - 3810m) Trails: 5,527 acres (22.36km2) with 362 marked trails Snow Parks: 3 Lifts: 20 Off-Piste: Lots of terrain accessible from the town. Additional: Popular with the rich and famous!

9.3

Aspen Snowmass is made up of four ski areas:

Snowmass

Aspen Mountain

Aspen Highlands

Buttermilk

This provides a huge amount of terrain to explore! The area isn't just one of the best places to snowboard in the world, it's one of the world's best snowboard destinations! It's therefore no surprise that it has become the home of the X-Games.

However, you don't need to be a pro rider to enjoy Aspen Snowmass. The 22-foot Snowmass Superpipe is open to anyone brave enough to give it a go. There's also a wide range of features and kickers in the park at Buttermilk.

Fly to Aspen, Vail/Eagle airport, or Denver International Airport. Be warned though, the small local airports are prone to closing in bad weather.

A new $10.7-million-dollar high-speed quad chairlift was opened for the 2021/2022 season.

$714 for 6-days

Pros

Huge area

Excellent lift system and amenities

Nice town

Superb nightlife

Lots of other activities

Cons

It's not a cheap trip

The resorts are not connected by lifts or slopes; you need to catch a shuttle

Elevation: 8,100 - 12,500 ft (2468 - 3810m) Trails: 5,527 acres (22.36km2) with 362 marked trails Snow Parks: 3 Lifts: 20 Off-Piste: Lots of terrain accessible from the town. Additional: Popular with the rich and famous!

Telluride is a stunning ski resort located in the San Juan Mountains. But you'll love the terrain, too, especially as it gets consistently great snow each winter.

One of Telluride's big attractions is the incredible 3,845 feet (1,172m) of vertical drop. This makes it one of the best places to snowboard in Colorado. There's also a good mix of slopes of varying difficulties, so you'll be able to have fun no matter your skill level.

If you're an advanced snowboarder with a craving for freeriding, Telluride has you covered... especially if you like to hike or split-board. Earn your turns my friend! Telluride also gets about 300" of snow every year, which certainly helps.

Fly to Denver, Telluride, or Montrose. Telluride is a 7-hour drive from Denver, but Telluride and Montrose regional airports are much closer.

Telluride is an old mining town, named way back in 1887. Some say that "Telluride" comes from the phrase "To hell you ride," describing the dangerous journey you had to take to get there back in the day.

$1,074 for 7 days

Pros

Voted the best ski resort in the U.S

Great terrain for all abilities

Lots of activities

Cons

It takes lots of effort to get there

It's not a cheap ski resort (a little bit of a theme in Colorado it seems).

Elevation: 8,100 - 11,400 ft (2468 - 3352m) Trails: 2,082 acres (8.4km2) Snow Parks: 1 Lifts: 24 Off-Piste: Some great backcountry accessed with a small hike. Additional Thoughts: Terrain not super gnarly, but there are great spots for advanced riders.

9.1

Beaver Creek is owned by Vail Resorts and is just down the road from Vail. It is the place to go if you want to be spoiled, as Beaver Creek is well-known for its superior customer service, friendly atmosphere, and perfectly manicured runs.

The ski area has something for everyone, but if you're a beginner snowboarder, you'll benefit from how well-groomed the runs are. This is also good news for speed freaks and carvers.

Beaver Creek is the lowest of the area's big resorts, but this makes it easy to get to and you'll enjoy the milder temperatures. This is another reason why beginners love Beaver Creek. In addition to this, you can use it as a base to try out the other local resorts.

2 hour's drive from Denver or 25 minutes from Eagle County Airport.

You can enjoy freshly baked cookies at 3pm handed out for free by resort staff in chef's hats. Also, the sidewalks are heated, so there's no ice to slip on.

$275 per day

Pros

Great all round ski resort

It has a lot of ski-in-ski-out accommodation.

Excellent amenities

Cons

Not the best resort in Colorado for powder

Quiet nightlife

Long lift lines

Elevation: 9,600 - 12,998 ft (2,926 - 3962m) Trails: 184 runs covering 2,358 acres (9.54km2) Snow Parks: 4 Lifts: 34 Off-Piste: Lots of backcountry terrain accessible from the Imperial Chairlift. Bonus Tips: There are some excellent places to eat all around the mountain

9

Breckenridge is one of the best places to snowboard in Colorado. It has everything you could wish for! If you want to blast groomers, pick your way through trees, or get nipple-deep in powder-filled bowls, Breckenridge delivers.

The back bowls are regarded as Breckenridge's best parts by most advanced skiers and snowboarders. They look intimidating, but you can have the ride of your life once you drop in.

You don't have to be an advanced rider to enjoy Breckenridge, though. It has something for everyone, and finding your way around is easy. It's also a good option for late-season riding. The snow at higher altitudes remains good, but you can also have fun in the slush lower down.

Breckenridge is a well-refined ski resort with a laid-back atmosphere, all while being a world-class snowsports destination. Therefore, you can't fail to have a fantastic time there.

Breckenridge is 104 miles (166km) from Denver International Airport.

Breckenridge became Colorado's first major resort to allow snowboarding, way back in 1984!

$179 for 1-day

Pros

Great nightlife

Excellent layout with ski-in-ski-out accommodation

Great for beginners and intermediate snowboarders

World-class snowparks

Close to other ski resorts for exploring

Cons

Horrendously long lift lines, you'll need to be patient

Some of the lifts are painfully slow

Day passes are expensive, but you can find deals for season and weekly passes

Elevation: 9,280 - 12,408 ft (2828 - 3782m) Trails: 3,148 acres (12.7km2) Snow Parks: 1, but it's amazing Lifts: 20 Off-Piste: Great bowls for powder days Bonus Tips: You can access the bowls on a snowcat - which makes for a bucket-list day trip.

8.8

Keystone's ski area gives you access to three mountains, and each one takes you further from town, giving you a sense of being in the wilderness. So if you like to get away from the crowds, Keystone is one of the best places to snowboard in Colorado.

As you get further away from Keystone resort, the terrain gets more challenging. Therefore, beginners and those who like to cruise should stay close. But the North Peak and The Outback mountains have great terrain for intermediate and advanced riders.

Keystone is 74 miles west of Denver. Take the scenic route on Highway 6, which is just a few minutes from I70.

Keystone has "Colorado's longest ski day," as it has night skiing.

$1,140 for a week

Pros

Excellent allround resort

Family-friendly

Great infrastructure

Excellent snowpark

Snowcat snowboarding is epic

Cons

Doesn't get as much snow as other local resorts

Super busy close to the town

Extreme terrain is limited, but it's there.

These are the 6 best places to snowboard in Colorado. They are truly epic, and all offer something slightly different.

Have I got the shortlist spot on, or am I completely off the mark? Let me know in the comments below!

If Colorado has failed to impress you (which is unlikely) then it’s worth checking out my favorite snowboard resorts in Utah or the best snowboard destinations in the Midwest.

Happy riding!

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The founding father of Snowboarding Days! As a lifelong snowboarding addict, Fraser understands the need for straightforward advice. He's passionate about providing honest reviews and articles... without the usual marketing BS. Learn More