What to DoColorado Ski Country
Best Ski Resorts in Colorado for 2026-27
Breckenridge and Copper Mountain are the first Colorado ski resorts to open, on 6 November 2026. Vail follows on 13 November. Epic and Ikon compared.
Colorado Ski Country
The Rocky Mountain ski towns west of Denver, from Summit County to Vail, Aspen and Steamboat.
Keystone aims to open as soon as possible in October. Breckenridge and Copper Mountain target 6 November 2026, and Vail follows on 13 November. Steamboat lists 21 November, and Aspen Mountain and Snowmass open on 26 November. Every date is a target and moves with snow.
Pick your pass first. Epic covers Vail, Breckenridge and Keystone. Ikon covers Winter Park, Copper, Arapahoe Basin, Steamboat and Aspen Snowmass. The full Ikon Pass starts at $1,399 and the Ikon Base Pass at $949 for 2026-27. The Base Pass limits you to 5 days at Steamboat and at Aspen Snowmass. Copper also sells its own unlimited pass for $899.
The resorts give these drives from downtown Denver: 72 miles to Keystone, 86 to Breckenridge and 97 to Vail. Aspen is about 198 miles by the winter road, because Independence Pass is closed. CDOT's Pegasus van runs from Denver Union Station to Avon with stops at Frisco and Vail. Winter Park Express train fares started at $9 in 2025-26. The I-70 Traction Law applies from 1 September to 31 May, and breaking it costs a $50 fine plus a $17 surcharge.
What to Do