Colorado Springs Ski Vacation Guide

Colorado Springs is a big town with a small town feel. It is home to great local shopping and dining, especially if you're in the area on a ski vacation. The area is within a short drive of many of Colorado's top ski resorts like Echo Mountain, Winter Park, Loveland, and Summit County skiing.

The nearby peaks get hundreds of inches of snow per year, and offer world-class skiing, snowboarding, and other activities like snowcatting, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, ice skating, ice fishing and fun things like dog sledding and sleigh rides. The area is just east of the Continental Divide and often get skipped when cold fronts and heavy snow comes through Colorado—thus providing you with over 300 days of sunshine a year. You'll often find yourself wearing a sweater and a vest in January.

Downtown 80903

Colorado Springs is full of shops and stores that offer ski and snowboarding equipment. From sporting goods chain and big box stores to small, family-owned shops, you can find everything you need to head up the interstate to top quality ski resorts. You can also find an extensive collection of rental equipment. The downtown area is home to more than a few local shops and authentic cuisine that offer great service and friendly atmosphere.

If you're willing to make the drive each day to places like Monarch Mountain and Ski Cooper, you can not only enjoy the scenic drive and the tourist stops and attractions on the way, you can save money on lodging over staying at almost any of the resorts. And the dining in Colorado Springs offers a huge variety of choices, from pub food to fine dining. Even though it's a fair drive to Summit County and surrounding resorts, you can still find that après ski atmosphere in Colorado Springs.

About 70 miles away from Summit County and only about 90 miles away from top skiing at places like Aspen Snowmass, Vail, and Beaver Creek. And the variety of slopes for beginners and expert skiers are staggering when there are this many top resorts in one place, with many of them offering Olympic quality runs and training areas.

Lodging in Colorado Springs runs the gamut. Ski cabins abound even though the resorts are 50 to 70 miles away. Condominiums offer luxury lodging with an easy commute to resorts, especially if you use limo or bus service. And the nightlife in Colorado Springs is comparable to that in a city like Denver, where you can choose from laid-back pubs to elegant wine and light fare.

Colorado Springs Snowboard Vacation Guide


Rider’s Guide

If you’re looking for a budget option when you’re ready to ski in Colorado, consider Colorado Springs. While it’s not as close to the big snow as some other cities, it is close enough that you can lodge there and head to places like Monarch Mountain and even world-class ski resorts like Aspen Snowmass, Vail, and Beaver Creek without spending too much time on the road.

Parks and Pipes

Monarch Mountain is the closest ski resort and it’s also known for being the least expensive in the area, so you can enjoy the slopes and the main terrain features and then enjoy the city of Colorado Springs—all without breaking your budget. Among the many different ski resorts in this Colorado ski heaven, you’ll find dozens of boxes, rails, jumps, half-pipes, quarter pipes, and massive superpipes with 18-foot walls. Almost every resort that offers a terrain park has a beginner area and one just for kids who want to learn, as well as intermediate and advanced jibs and rails for extreme riders.

Out of Bounds

Enjoy Pike’s Peak when you’re in Colorado Springs, tour the Olympic Training Center, take a walk or horse back ride through Garden of the Gods Park. Seven Falls is a scenic hike, right there for you to enjoy. The area is full of great winter sports like snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, snow tubing, sleigh rides, and ice skating.

Hangout & Hookup

Though it’s a bit of a drive from a ski resort, the town has a ski resort sensibility and they understand that people come for the peaks and the snow. Wines, liquors, locally brewed beers, snacks, pub fare, and international dining, as well as live entertainment area all part of the Colorado Springs experience. Check out The Golden Bee at The Broadmoor for a one of the kind atmosphere with a piano and sing-along crowd and the servers throw little bees at you that stick to your clothes and drinks! Sonterra is an excellent choice drinks and food, as well as top sushi at Fugiyama. The area is home to  several breweries including Bristol Brewery, Phantom Canyon Brewing Company, Trinity, and Colorado Mountain Brewery, to name a few.

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