Affordable Ski Resorts in Colorado

Colorado is home to world-class skiing. With high mountains, a variety of terrains and lots of annual snowfall, Colorado is a desirable skiing destination. If you’re taking a ski vacation on a budget, never fear: Colorado’s mountains are still within reach. Several Colorado ski resorts offer inexpensive tickets so you can enjoy riding the mountain and still have some cash left over at the end of the day.

  1. Ski Cooper

    • Ski Cooper in Leadville features 26 trails with an average annual snowfall of 250 inches. Four lifts, including a triple chair lift, a double chair lift and two surface lifts provide access to Ski Cooper’s 400 acres. Ski, snowboard and telemark lessons are available through the ski school. Rent skis, snowboards and helmets at the ski shop. Currently, a 2010 to 2011 season pass is $199 for adults and $85 for children ages six to 14. Full-day passes are $42 for adults and $23 for kids. Ski Cooper also offers discounted lift tickets for members of the military and seniors.

      Ski Cooper

      P.O. Box 896

      Leadville, CO 80461

      719-486-2277

      skicooper.com

    Kendall Mountain Recreation Area

    • Silverton’s Kendall Mountain Recreation Area offers inexpensive skiing geared toward families and beginners. Currently, day passes range from $15 for adults and $10 for youth ages six to 17 and seniors. Kendall Mountain features four runs and one double chairlift. Kendall’s vertical drop is 240 feet. Rent skis, snowboards, snowshoes or tubes at Kendall’s ski shop. Ski and snowboard lessons are available.

      Kendall Mountain

      1 Kendall Place

      Silverton, CO‎ 81433

      970-387-0182

      skikendall.com

    Ski Hesperus

    • Ski Hesperus, located 11 miles west of Durango, features an elevation of 8,800 feet with a vertical drop of 700 feet. Ski Hesperus offers two chair lifts and a surface rope tow. In the 2009 to 2010 season, Ski Hesperus offered all-day lift passes starting at $36 for adults and $22 for youth 12 and under. Half-day passes and night skiing passes were $26 for adults and $15 for youth. Rent skis, snowboards and innertubes at the ski shop or purchase a “first timer” package that includes rentals, a lift ticket and lessons.

      Ski Hesperus

      P.O. Box 167

      Hesperus, CO, 81326

      970-259-3711

      ski-hesperus.com

    Monarch Mountain

    • Monarch Mountain offers 63 trails on 800 acres. With an elevation of 11,952 feet, Monarch features a vertical drop of 1,162 feet. Monarch operates one quad chairlift and four double chair lifts. Monarch offers several terrain parks, a lodge and a ski shop with rentals. Monarch’s ski school provides ski and snowboard lessons for first-timers to advanced skiers and riders and offers childcare services. In the 2010 to 2011 season, all-day tickets cost $56 for adults, $34 for teens ages 13 to 16 and $20 for youth ages six to 15. Seniors over the age of 62 receive a discounted rate of $31.

      Monarch Mountain

      22720 W. Highway 50

      Monarch, CO 81227

      888-996-7669

      skimonarch.com