Spring skiing in Colorado can be heavenly. March and April in the Rocky Mountains are sometimes two of the snowiest months of the year for resorts, so there’s usually plenty of powder for fresh tracks. Temperatures are higher and days are longer than during winter, making March and April two of the most comfortable months for skiing and snowboarding in Colorado. Here are four favorite resorts to book for spring break.
1. Aspen
A Colorado classic, Aspen is the state’s most famed winter playground, a favorite vacation escape for celebs and billionaires. The red-brick, former mining town sits at the base of Aspen Mountain (Ajax), where the ski slopes are located. Ajax is not for novice skiers; this is a steep mountain with excellent expert terrain.
If you want to experience Aspen’s vibe but need to ski green runs, you can stay in town and ski nearby Snowmass Mountain Resort (your lift ticket works for both). It has terrain for all levels, including plenty of green groomers. Colorado’s longest run is also here.
In a gorgeous location surrounded by jagged mountain peaks about 3.5 hours southwest of Denver, Aspen’s history dates to the late 1800s, when it began as a wild silver mining camp. Today its walkable downtown is filled with buzzy restaurants, designer shops, eclectic boutiques and plenty of bars to après into the night.
The Little Nell is the place to stay. The five-star, five-diamond resort, just steps from the gondola, is home to the most famous lunch spot in Aspen, Ajax Tavern and hosts the hottest après scene in town.
2. Vail
Colorado’s other most famous ski town, Vail is designed to resemble a Bavarian alpine village. The sprawling resort is home to some of the best bowl skiing in Colorado. On a bluebird powder day, nothing beats cutting fresh tracks through Vail’s wide-open bowls.
The two base areas, Vail Village and Lionshead, are filled with swanky shops, restaurants and glamorous lodging. One of the top draws to spring skiing Vail is its signature festival, the Taste of Vail. Held over four days in April, it brings winemakers from more than 50 of the top North American wineries and pairs them with food from Vail’s best chefs. There is a themed tasting event each day and you can buy tickets separately.
For skiers, the premier event is the Mountain Top Tasting. Considered the crème de la crème of outdoor tastings, it takes place atop Vail Mountain at an elevation of 10,350 feet. Although you can ride the gondola up to the event, many people choose to ski in the morning and arrive and leave on skis or snowboards.
3. Breckenridge
Breckenridge is less than a two-hour drive from Denver and is one of Colorado’s best family resorts. Spread across five peaks, Breck has runs for all levels on its 187 trails, including some of the gentlest sloped green runs around.
It also boasts the highest lift-served terrain in North America. Its Imperial Express Super Chair takes you to the 12,840-foot top of the Imperial Bowl, home to expert terrain. It is especially appealing to ride in March and April, when air temps are warmer, and skies are often sunny and blue.
Breckenridge town began during Colorado’s 19th-century gold rush days. Today Main Street is filled with the usual mix of boutiques, restaurants and gear shops. Gravity Haus Breckenridge is the coolest boutique hotel in town. The hyper-curated spot has a dry sauna, soaking tubs and a mountainside Japanese-inspired onsen for post-ski day relaxation.
4. Telluride
In a remote locale in Colorado’s rugged southwest corner, Telluride doesn’t see the crowds the other resorts attract as it isn’t a feasible day, or even weekend, trip from Denver or Boulder. It does have an airport, however, so you can fly directly in and save a six-hour drive from the capital.
Averaging about 300 inches of snowfall per year, there is usually excellent spring skiing here. The resort has a mix of trails suitable for all levels of skiers. There is also some awesome hike-to terrain for expert riders.
The ski resort is connected to the Victorian-era mining town by a free gondola. Both areas have lots of shops, restaurants and resorts. Telluride’s best asset, however, is its stunning scenery. Set in a steep box canyon in the San Juan Mountains, it has a different look than other resorts. There are also some excellent natural hot springs, including Ouray Hot Springs, within an hour’s drive.
