Snow Before You Go

Make the most of your days on the mountain this ski season

By Chloe-Anne Swink

Driving west on I-70, ascending the first of many steep grades leaving the Front Range, the mountains appear ubiquitous as they unfold ahead of multiple lanes of traffic headed straight for their heart. It’s the quintessential Colorado drive—coffee in hand, skis on top, traffic creeping toward the peaks we all pretend we don’t mind. Even from the highway, the promise of powder is everywhere—Loveland, Copper, Vail, Beaver Creek—each one daring you to skip work.

The Centennial State is home to 28 ski resorts. One of which lies right here in Boulder County.

Eldora Mountain Resort

Eldora Mountain Resort lies just 21 miles outside of Boulder in Nederland. 

With 300 inches of average snowfall, 680 skiable acres and one of Colorado’s most expansive snowmaking programs covering 100 percent of the resort’s groomed terrain, Eldora is where Boulder locals grab a few morning runs and still make it back for a 2 p.m. meeting—or happy hour.

Eldora features 10 lifts providing access to everything from beginner-friendly green runs off the Little Hawk, EZ and Caribou lifts, to advanced and expert terrain that can compete with the best via the Corona Lift. There are even four Woodward terrain parks for skiers and riders who want to get steezy on rails and boxes or learn to catch air.

Eldora really does have it all, and it’s practically in our backyard. The best part? No white-knuckle I-70 crawl required.

And if you’d rather let someone else handle the mountain driving, hop the RTD NB from downtown Boulder straight to the lifts. Easy.

The quick commute and relative ease of access to everything from groomers to steep chutes and powdery glades are what make Eldora a great training ground for locals. 

“A lot of people use Eldora almost like a gym where you can go get your daily workout in and then you’re ready for that longer trip to another mountain on the Ikon pass later in the season,” says Sam Bass, marketing director at Eldora Mountain Resort.

Eldora has been open to skiing since 1962. It has changed hands more than once in its lifetime, and it’s about to do so once more—although this time the sale looks a little different. 

In a landscape where skiers and riders are becoming used to seeing resorts bought up by large corporations like Vail Resorts and Alterra Mountain Company, this may be the plot twist no one saw coming. 

In July of this year, the town of Nederland, population approximately 1,500, agreed to purchase the resort from POWDR, one of North America’s largest ski conglomerates. The town of Nederland’s revenue will remain completely separate from Eldora’s operating and maintenance costs. The total purchase price is said to be within the range of $100-$200 million. It was made possible by revenue bonds backed by Eldora’s projected earnings—not taxpayer dollars, as was originally speculated.

Many details of the sale are still up in the air and yet to be announced. However, some of the main concerns impacting users and employees of Eldora have already been determined. 

Eldora Mountain Resort will remain on the Ikon Pass, and Nederland aims to maintain all of the resort's 700 employees. POWDR will help smooth the transition for a couple of seasons, but for skiers, it’s business as usual this winter. No significant changes will take place this winter as the sale is projected to be finalized early this season. 

Loveland Ski Area

Nestled in a snug little horseshoe around the Eisenhower and Johnson tunnels, Loveland Ski Area is the first ski resort off I-70 heading west from Denver. Known for its unique location cresting the Continental Divide, Loveland features 1,800 skiable lift-served acres, 100 acres of hike-to terrain and over 380 inches of average snowfall.

Loveland’s split personality—Valley for beginners, Basin for everyone else—means newbies can fall without fear while veterans chase steeps. Translation: no speed demons flying past while you’re perfecting your pizza wedge. 

The separation means that beginners who are still learning to get comfy on the mountain don’t have to worry about being taken out by high-level skiers and riders bombing the same slopes they’re leafing across.

But don’t mistake it for mellow. In fact, it offers snowcat access to some epic terrain for the most confident of riders up on The Ridge. Snowcat access is free with a season pass or day pass. You’ll just need to grab a free Ridge Cat Pass and sign a quick waiver before catching the ride up. Worth it.

Arapahoe Basin 

Swing off I-70, wind over Loveland Pass, and you’ll hit The Legend—Arapahoe Basin.

More than 1,400 acres of skiable terrain, tailgate parties that belong in the Ski Hall of Fame, and a season that sometimes stretches into July. 

A-Basin is a local’s' paradise and somehow manages to still feel small and uncrowded much of the time despite being a renowned resort owned by Alterra Mountain Company as of the 2024 season. When Alterra bought A-Basin, locals held their breath—but so far, the soul of The Legend is alive and carving. Fortunately, that doesn’t seem to have been the case yet. 

While A-Basin does have some beginner-friendly areas, its world-class advanced terrain is what makes it stand out. From the iconic Pali face to Montezuma Bowl and Steep Gullies, it’s a playground for anyone who craves a heart-in-throat drop-in. 

This season, Kids Ski Free Week is December 6-12 for kids 12 and under, and the Black Mountain Lodge will feature an Ice Bar in March, with more details to come. Parking reservations aren’t going anywhere, but at least there are fewer of them—36 days this season instead of 48. Progress!

And for Ikon Pass holders, good news: this is the first year A-Basin is unlimited. No more counting your seven measly days. Ikon Base Pass holders will be able to enjoy unlimited early-season skiing and riding from opening day through December 19, 2025, as well as 5 days at A-Basin from December 20, 2025, to closing day.