Winter Park Colorado

Winter Park, the name says it all – it’s a playground for winter sports lovers and Colorado’s oldest resort. Winter Park resort is convenient from Denver - just over scenic Berthoud Pass, a 1.5 hour drive from Denver International Airport.

With 25 lifts and 3,060 acres of skiing, Winter Park is one of the largest resorts in Colorado – and will easily keep you amused for a week. There are two separate base areas, Mary Jane and Winter Park, but all the terrain is interconnected via the 25 lifts.

Winter Park itself offers great intermediate runs, a popular place for families. The children’s program and the disabled skier program are some of the biggest and best in the country. Families will find great lodging deals at Winter Park.

While Mary Jane sounds docile and sweet, the legendary terrain here is steep and moguled, making quite a name for herself among bump skiers.

Vasquez Cirque is also an expert’s dream with steep chutes and powder blanketed glades accessed from the Panoramic Express, the highest six pack lift in North America on 12,060’ Parsenn Bowl.

The new Village at Winter Park, built by Intrawest to the tune of $100-million, adds a heated pedestrian plaza, restaurants and upscale hotels to what was always a very casual comfortable Colorado lodging town. The Zephyr Mountain Lodge, Fraser Crossing and Founders Pointe buildings are new ski in ski out lodging properties in The Village at Winter Park Resort. There are plenty of Winter Park condos, home rentals and ski cabins too. Locals rave about funky western style eateries like The Ranch House at Devil’s Thumb for rustic steaks, and Gasthaus Eichler for Austrian fare in an alpine setting.

Sleigh rides cap off a Winter Park vacation, from Devil’s Thumb.