Copper Mountain Ski Vacation Guide

Located in the heart of Summit County, Colorado and a mere 75 miles west of Denver, Copper Mountain is one of the most comprehensive family ski resorts. Featuring many competitions and on-mountain events throughout the year, Copper Mountain has been designed from the ground-up to be an all-inclusive environment, a place where you can spend your entire vacation enjoying the fun and majesty of the mountain. It provides the perfect family atmosphere and even includes excursions to the backside of Tucker Mountain for free.

Ski Levels

Its base is at a bit over 9,700 feet and the ski summit at 12,313 feet (that's Union Bowl, Tucker is actually a little higher) and the mountain has the most modern lifts. There is just the right amount of emphasis on beginner and intermediate skiers, while leaving plenty of room for advanced and expert runs. There's over 282 inches of snow each year and they still stand prepared with snowmakers.

Après Ski

Some may think ski vacations to a family resort equates to a boring nightlife. Don't go betting any of your ski vacation money on that. There are many bars, taverns, and restaurants. And nearby Frisco offers both dining, nightlife, and family entertainment options, some including live music. Jump on the free bus, The Summit Stage, which serves the entire Summit County resort area.

Be sure to bring or buy light layers and a breathable, waterproof powder jacket or similar outside shell. A hat that covers your ears, goggles, ski gloves, neck gator—these are all standard minimums at such altitudes—and don't forget that it can be a lot colder near the top, between the altitude and wind chill. A bit of sunscreen on the nose and cheeks is also recommended at these heights as well.

Make friends and meet the locals while you're there, you might just be tempted to stay forever. This is the kind of resort where you can make family memories and impressions that will last a lifetime!

Copper Mountain Snowboard Vacation Guide

Rider’s Guide

Copper Mountain is a really amazing and truly enormous resort that gets 280 inches of snow per year, has over 20 lifts including five high-speeds to over 140 trails, with a longest run of 1.7 miles and has trails that are rated 21 percent beginner, 25 percent intermediate, and 36 percent advanced.

Parks and Pipes

It’s also famous for having one of the world’s best terrain parks. Each of the parks are groomed every night and the pipes are recut frequently. Experts go straight for the shack jib, giant tabletops, hip features, and an eight-foot wall ride set atop a 17-foot quarterpipe, then jump The Shaft, a 60-foot table, and gird yourself for the Main Vein 22′ Superpipe. Playground Park is packed with small kickers, rollers, and tables as well as a very respectable 200-foot-long minipipe with 6-foot-high walls, all for the beginner to intermediate rider who isn’t quite ready to take on the monster features at Woodward Central Park.

Out of Bounds

You can choose from a nearly infinite number of exciting outdoor sports such as horseback riding, sledding, hot air ballooning, ice skating, snowmobiling, jeeping and offroad driving, rock and ice climbing, and cross-country skiing. A must do is Copper Mountain’s snow tubing hill where you cruise down lanes with differing degrees of pitch. If you want to try your hand at dog sledding you can take a ride, or attend a mushing class at Mountain Adventure Center. You might even want to go rip up the powder on one of their powerful Polaris snowmobiles. When you’re feeling really wild, contact Colorado Kite Force to experience the newest and fastest growing winter sport: Snowkiting. It’s like windsurfing on a snowboard—you have to experience it to believe it.

Hangout & Hookup

The area’s hotspot is JJ’s Rocky Mountain Tavern. Jack and Jill have Jack’s Slopeside Grill and Jill’s Umbrella Bar, which are popular local hangouts. Endo’s Adrenaline Cafe will keep you up all night as the name suggests.

Free and Almost Free Things to Do – Copper Mountain

Free Tucker Mountain Snow Cats

Get the best of both worlds with back bowl accessibility from a world class resort. Jump on a free snowcat ride for a unique Tucker Mountain skiing and riding experience. Expert skiers and riders gain free access to 1,200 vertical feet and more than 270 acres of Copper’s amazing back bowls. Contact Guest Services in Copper Sports Center for more information.

Free Babysitting With Kids’ Night Out

Allow yourself and your children time to unleash inner child with free Kids’ Night Out (KNO). For three hours, your children will enjoy kid-centered activities with adult supervision while you roam the resort.

Sponsored by the Copper Mountain Resort Association, the KNO service runs from December through April on Wednesday through Saturday evenings from 5:30 until 10PM. The catch is easy! You must spend $30 per child at any business at the resort while your kids are in the program. The program is for children age 12 or younger and potty-trained. Reservations are recommended, but walk-ups are accepted if space is available. You’ll find the service in the Belly Button Babies & Bakery Childcare right across from American Eagle chairlift at the Mountain Plaza next to Endo’s restaurant.

Free Ambassador Snowshoe Tours

Copper offers free snowshoe tours through a pristine alpine setting twice daily at 10AM and 1PM. Enjoy the hospitality of Resort Ambassadors and learn about the beautiful Rocky Mountain environment. You don’t need any prior experience, and you can choose the tour that’s best suit for your ability level. Tours are free and available on a first-come, first-serve basis, but you must rent the snowshoes or bring your own. Snowshoe rental is available and tours are weather and terrain dependent. Contact Guest Services in Copper Sports Center for more information or to reserve a spot.

Free Ambassador Mountain Tours

Get to know the mountain with Resort Ambassadors on free mountain tours, offered twice daily at 10am and 1pm near the top of the American Eagle. All participants must be able to comfortably ski and ride Copper’s blue (intermediate) runs. Ideal for first-time visitors and also for returning guests, the tours highlight Copper’s unique terrain, history, wildlife, and natural science. Tours are open to participants 15 years or older. Guest under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Tours are weather, snow and terrain dependent, and based on availability.

For a gentler guided experience on green runs, join a free Ambassador Westside Mountain Tour on Friday, Saturday or Sunday at the top of the Union Creek Quad. Contact Guest Services in any of the three Copper Sports Centers or visit their website for more information.

Free Ski With A Ranger Tour

Bring your group and join an expert Ranger for a free one-hour tour of the National Forest. Tours are offered Friday and Saturday morning from the top of the Timberline Express from December to April.. No pre sign-up required. Participants must have a valid day pass to participate and ski and ride at an intermediate level. Contact Friends of the Dillon Ranger District for more information.