Calling all skiers and snowboarders…experienced and beginners! Are you looking for a weekend ski destination? A weekend Colorado ski trip is perfect for you!
I am going to tell you why Denver would be my choice to fly to for a long weekend ski trip and specifically why Keystone is our top choice to stay.
Denver
If you are a new, or an experienced skier and you have never been “out west” to ski, then you are missing out! The snow is dreamy and powdery. It truly makes it so much fun to ski on. I was so surprised on my first visit. I didn’t learn to ski until I was in my mid-20’s and I had only skied close to home where it tends to get very icy.
Denver is a nice choice for flight destination due to its close proximity to multiple ski resorts and the amount of airline traffic that comes through! Denver is actually the third busiest airport in the WORLD! It only trails behind Atlanta and Dallas. This means that is easy to find cheap and affordable flights into Denver International Airport.
Spirit, Allegiant, Southwest, and Frontier are also some of the budget airlines that fly into Denver. They offer non-stop flights from multiple cities at a decent price point. We prefer to fly Delta, but I’m always looking for a good deal and we have utilized flights to Denver on Frontier and Allegiant.
There are multiple car rental companies that can be accessed from Denver International Airport. I can usually get good rates from this company. Multiple ski resorts also offer transportation via shuttle if you are staying on site at the resort. I know that the shuttle service isn’t available for extremely early flights at some locations, so check into this when deciding whether you will rent a vehicle or take a shuttle.
*TRACTION LAW*
Another point I would like to make is that if you are going to rent a vehicle, make sure it has 4WD/AWD or snow tires. If a large snow storm happens to move through while visiting, CDOT will sometimes implement the Passenger Vehicle Traction Law. This means your vehicle must be equipped with one of the above that I mentioned, or you must have chains on your tires.
We drove to Colorado to celebrate New Year’s one year. Yes, you read that correctly. We drove to Colorado from Tennessee. My daughter was 9 weeks old and we wanted to take the trip slow and try to acclimate her. She actually ended up getting altitude sickness in the middle of the night on our first night there. We needed to make a trip to the emergency room due to her oxygen saturation being in the high 60%-low 70%. When we opened the garage door at our condo, we quickly realized that at least 12 inches of snow had fallen within a couple hours. I digress. Just beware, snow can fall quickly and it can be heavy.
For anyone wandering the ending to our story, my daughter ended up being discharged on 1/8 L of Oxygen and I flew her home the next day on one of the above mentioned budget airlines on a direct flight to a local airport.
Ski Resorts within 1.5 hours of Denver
Some of the ski resorts that are available within an hour and half drive of Denver include:
Keystone Ski Resort – (our personal favorite and focus of the article)
Keystone
As I mentioned above, Keystone is our choice of ski resorts for trips out west. It is about an hour and twenty minutes from Denver and it offers an array of slopes for all levels of skiing or snowboarding. Keystone is one of few resorts that offer night skiing. We love to do night skiing because the slopes are less crowded and it extends your day. I don’t feel bad about taking a mid-day break when I know I can still ski past 4 pm.
The slopes are open during the day from 8am-4pm and night skiing is from 4pm-8pm during special holidays and weekends during Jan, Feb, and March. Check this link for specific Night Skiing Date information. It is also important to know that the lifts at Mountain House Base are closed during night skiing. One of our friends accidentally followed Schoolmarm trail to Mountain House Base during night ski and quickly realized that there was no transportation back to the top of the mountain.
Accommodations
There are tons of accommodations offered through Keystone resort. You can even book Keystone properties through Air BnB and VRBO services. If you prefer not to stay on site, you can find cheaper accommodations in the neighboring town of Silverthorne. If you choose to stay off-site, here is the link to parking and shuttle information.
We love to stay in River Run Village simply for convenience. It’s nice to take a mid-day break and walk back to the room to rest. River Run Village also provides restaurants, coffee shops, and bars within walking distance. Keystone has historically offered childcare services pre-COVID, and they do have a 2022-2023 season link with a “please check back later for more info message.”
Keystone also has a “Kids under 12 ski free” deal that can be obtained when booking two or more nights. When two or more nights are booked, you’ll receive one day of free skiing for kids 12 & under, plus an additional day of free skiing for each additional room night booked. Read more about the policy here.
Equipment Rentals
There are several areas to rent equipment through the resort if you don’t have your own. We prefer to rent off site due to cost. We love Virgin Islands Ski Rentals or Wild Ernest Sports. Both have been great to work with!
Keystone consists of 3 mountains with 130 trails of varying difficulty. They offer several bowls for skiing which I cannot speak to because I am a moderate level skier at best! My anxiety definitely gets the best of me when I am attempting more challenging trails. I have no desire to try any bowls in this lifetime.
Keystone offers a 3.5-mile green run which is great for beginners or just to get in a long run. Keystone also has a nice, enclosed gondola which will take you to the top of Dercum mountain. It’s great to be nice and toasty inside the gondola….
while your friend is stuck on the open-air lift beside you in the cold. Haha.
From the top of Dercum Mountain, you can decide to grab a quick bite or drink from Summit House, head down the trails to the bottom of Dercum Mountain, explore the other two mountains, or simply enjoy the beautiful view.
Food
We like to head to the grocery store and pick up breakfast and lunch food prior to checking in. There are a few places I personally think you can’t miss. You MUST have a drink at Summit House. This restaurant/bar is located at the top of Dercum Mountain and offers spectacular views.
Inxpot is the quaintest little coffee shop in River Run Village. They offer breakfast, lunch, coffee, tea, and “adult” coffees with alcohol added if you prefer!
Sauce on the Blue is my personal favorite. It is an AMAZING Italian Restaurant in Silverthorne. They offer incredible food, outstanding service, and a wine and bourbon bar to die for. 5/5 stars for us!
The Crepe Stand. It makes my mouth water from Tennessee just thinking about it. Just take my advice and try one. They offer savory and sweet crepes from a stand in River Run Village.
If you are looking for a quick bite and drink after a long day of skiing, check out Kickapoo Tavern or 9280′ Tap House.
Other Activities
Other winter activities that are available on site include: Snow forts, ski lessons (including ski school for beginners), scenic gondola rides, snow tubing, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating, and sleigh riding! You can also drive off site and rent snowmobiles for the day!
I hope this article has given you some insight into Colorado skiing. If you have a love for Colorado, check out these blogs!
