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Wolf Creek
With a long season running from early November to early April and 45 percent of the terrain is advanced and expert, Wolf Creek has a true backcountry feel and is in the heart of southwest Colorado.
Wolf Creek is pounded annualy with 465 natural inches of snow (the most in Colorado) in exchange for one of the most affordable adult day passes of only $52 per day.
At the main base, you can smell the burgers grilling outside on the wide-open deck. Instead of waiting to enjoy your ski day, stop at the bottom of Alberta lift at the Alberta Grill to place your burger order, and come back for your burger after taking a run.Cheeseburgers, hamburgers and a specialty burgers such as the Onoburger (Hawaiian) are available.
Winter Park & Mary Jane
Winter Park and Mary Jane offer a unique combination of groomed cruiser trails on the Winter Park side and some of the most well known mogul runs in the country at Mary Jane.
Mary Jane’s runs are almost entirely advanced and expert trails with challenging chutes, trees, bumps, and steeps. The base elevation is 9,000 feet and summit reaches 12,060 feet. Advanced trails compose 19 percent of the terrain, 53 percent most difficult and 3 percent expert only.
At the base of Winter Park complementary wagons are available for pulling ski gear as well as free ice skating lessons on the pond. The Back Bowl Soup Company offers one of the best home-made soups or sandwiches in the area.
Day-of adult passes cost $97, but you can save big bucks by investing early in a College Season Pass, which includes full service to Copper, Winter Park, Mary Jane plus 10 days at Steamboat.
Beaver Creek
Beaver Creek boasts the bumps with some of the best mogul skiing in Colorado. Beaver Creek’s top run is at 11,440 feet and the base is 8,100 feet. The vertical drop is 3,340 feet, enabling a long and satisfying run. The trails are 35 percent advanced and expert skiing. The ski resort also has three terrain parks and one half-pipe.
Beaver Creek offers an on-location dining discount called “Lunch For Less,” which includes an entrée, side dish and a beverage for only $9.95. Discounted tickets are available online for Beaver Creek, saving up to 18 percent for adult day passes that start at $94 per day.
Telluride
With one of the largest vertical drops in North America, 3,845 feet of Telluride’s 4,425 foot peaks are serviced by lifts. Telluride is composed of 47 percent advanced and expert trails.
Telluride’s summit elevation is 13,150 feet, and the base is 8,750.
Telluride offers a free Gondola ride from the town into the mountain village and runs every day of the week from 7 a.m. to midnight.
Enjoy the stunning mountain view from Giuseppe’s restaurant while taking a bite of a delicious meatball sandwich, Gumbo soup, or hot chocolate.
Telluride offers a full season college pass for $349.
Crested Butte
Crested Butte looks gnarly and appears extremewith 57 percent intermediate skiing and 20 percent advanced. It is one of the most challenging mountains to ski in the state.
While the base elevation is 9,375 feet and the summit elevation is 12,162 feet Crested Butte receives 298 inches of snow annualy.
After the sun sets on the slopes The Secret Stash offers gourmet pizza located in the historic downtown main street of Creste Butte, a short drive or shuttle from the ski mountain.
The Butte offers an adult day pass for $59 and multiple-day passes for a discount, starting at two out of three days for $165.
