Guess what? Colorado ski country is so much bigger (and so much better) than just the Aspens, Tellurides, and Vails you’ve either been to or seen splashed all over social media. Those destinations, while deep with incredible skiing and picturesque views, are also about flash and polish.

Colorado has a total of 28 ski resorts, most of which you’ve probably never heard of. And many of those exude an abundance of personality and terrific terrain—all of which, by the way, is also perfect for Instagram. If you’re all about aesthetics, keep your ski vacay just the way it is. But if you want to get back to the soul of skiing (or discover it in the first place) and save some cash, check out these three spots that will refresh your love of the sport.

Instead of Breckenridge, go to Loveland Ski Area.

Here’s a tip: Stay in Breckenridge, but ski at Loveland, which is about 30 minutes away. In Breck, you’ll enjoy the charming Main Street with restaurants, hotels, and nightlife, and you’ll feel smug when you avoid the famously awful lift lines by zipping up to Loveland.

The mountain is divided into two areas—Loveland Valley and Loveland Basin—with a shuttle running between them. The Valley’s slopes are very mild and ideal for beginners; this is where the magic carpet is located. The remaining terrain, most of it split evenly between intermediate and advanced, is found at the Basin. Here, seven chairlifts transport you to wide-open blues and heart-pattering black diamonds.

One of the best-kept secrets is the snowcat skiing along the Continental Divide (included with a lift ticket or season pass, but you need to pick up an access card from the pass office). The experience boasts insane panoramic views and creamy turns for the experts. Those with less of an adventurous streak can catch the cat, take in the sights, then cruise back down the snowcat road to less precipitous terrain. There’s another snowcat ($395 per person for the day) that takes skiers and riders to Dry Gulch for guided backcountry skiing.

No matter if you’re a first-timer or a seasoned vet, do not miss head baker Audra Alvisio’s out-of-this-world pastries. You can find an array of her doughnuts, petit fours, and French pâtisserie at Loveland Basin’s base lodge.

• Stay here: The Carlin, a boutique Breckenridge hotel, has just a handful of luxury rooms, plus a restaurant and a tavern.
• Eat here: Rootstalk is the hottest table in town—this was the case even before chef-owner Matt Vawter won a James Beard Award in June 2024.
• Pro tip: If you choose to stay an hour away in Denver, note that I-70 traffic is a beast on weekends. Skip some of the hassle by hopping on the Snowstang, a ski resort–specific bus.

Instead of Aspen, go to Sunlight Mountain Resort.

Truly one of Colorado’s hidden gems, Sunlight sits an hour from Aspen, right between the cute towns of Glenwood Springs and Carbondale. While the resort doesn’t have the glitz or glamour of Aspen, it offers an abundance of soul. If you grew up skiing, the old-timey feel will transport you right back to childhood. Some will complain that the two-person lifts are slow. But if you’re worried about that, you’re missing the point, which is to slow down and enjoy the moment. (If you’re still worried about it, reflect on the price of the lift ticket, which is well under $100 and about a third of the cost of a day at Aspen.)

Roughly half of the wide, sweeping ski runs are beginner and intermediate, while more advanced skiers can seek out the glades and alleys. The steepest run is called the Heathen, and it has a legit 52-degree pitch. Because experts will mostly head to the back for the narrow steeps, the mountain’s 730 skiable acres naturally divide ability levels, which means beginners don’t need to be worried about getting buzzed by speed demons.

All runs on the front side funnel down to the Sunlight Lodge at the base, which is home to cute cafeteria Grizz Grill and a don’t-forget-your-sunglasses outdoor deck. You can bring bagged lunches here, too. Todd’s Tavern is the place (OK, the only place) for après-ski, with local microbrews on tap at the original wooden bar.

• Stay here: The Distillery Inn is a one-of-a-kind boutique hotel in Carbondale that sits above a working distillery.
• Eat here: Head downstairs for a drink at Marble Distilling’s tasting room, then walk to Izakaya Carbondale for top-notch sushi.
• Pro tip: If you choose to stay in Glenwood, don’t miss the hot springs. There’s even a Ski, Swim & Stay package you can jump on.

Instead of Steamboat, go to Howelsen Hill Ski Area.

Did you know Houston has direct flights to Steamboat Springs? Yep, flying into Yampa Valley Regional Airport saves you three hours of drive time from Denver. And did you also know that dark horse Howelsen Hill is actually in the town of Steamboat, as opposed to 10 minutes outside of it like Steamboat Ski Resort? With the free bus system and the town’s bustling main street, the only transportation you’ll need is from the airport to your hotel. Howelsen itself is a joy. With only 17 ski runs, it’s small. But it’s dripping with old-school charm—after all, it’s the oldest ski resort in North America. Howelsen has the added bonus of being a training ground for the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club (a.k.a. future Olympians).

If you’re an extreme first-chair-to-last-chair skier, Howelsen’s low-key vibe probably isn’t for you. But if you love to take your time cruising and carving, then give it a try. Between turns, check out the ski jump training area, which includes two Olympic-size jumps for spandex-clad athletes to go sailing off. The hill is named after Carl Howelsen, who built the ski jump to promote the Steamboat Springs Winter Carnival in 1915.

Like the $30–41 lift tickets, the adorable Outrun Snack Bar is downright cheap (literally nowhere else can you get an on-mountain grilled cheese and cup of soup for $11.50). Howelsen is even more of a steal if you go on a Sunday when skiing is free—yes, free.

• Stay here: You’ll find that many hotels are located at the base of Steamboat Ski Resort, but the Bristol Hotel is right in the center of town.
• Eat here: Yampa Valley Kitchen is a) Instagram cute and b) a local favorite for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
• Pro tip: Close out the day by soaking in the legendary Strawberry Park Hot Springs, which is accessible by shuttle or car.

Inside Edge

Other off-the-beaten-path spots worth seeking out.

• Eldora Mountain Ski Resort: For all those half-dayers out there, Eldora is about 35 minutes from the vibrant town of Boulder (ski in the am and shop in the pm).
• Granby Ranch: One of Granby Ranch’s biggest selling points is that it’s made up of two mountains. The east side accommodates beginners and intermediates, while the west side is more challenging.
• Monarch Mountain: Thirty minutes west of the idyllic town of Salida, Monarch relies on all-natural snow (the resort doesn’t even own snow guns) and is far enough away that it doesn’t draw crowds.
• Powderhorn Mountain Resort: Streamline your ski vacay by flying into Grand Junction and taking advantage of last season’s pricing (Powderhorn did not raise lift ticket prices in 2024). Texas trivia: Thanks in part to a timeshare project in Grand Junction in the 1980s, visitors from the Dallas–Fort Worth area account for the resort’s largest group of out-of-staters.
• Purgatory Resort: There’s no better deal than skiing at Purgatory during Spring Fling (March 17–April 13), when cheap online lift tickets get you $10 resort credits and rentals are buy one, get one free.
• Ski Cooper: One of the sweetest and mellowest resorts in the state, Ski Cooper also has exquisite views of 14,439-foot Mount Elbert, the highest peak in Colorado.
• Wolf Creek Ski Area: With its “The Most Snow in Colorado” tagline thanks to an average of 430 inches a year, this is the spot for serious powderhounds.

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  Don't Be a Jerry

  A quick study on looking like a local (or at least faking it until you make it).

  1. Do. Not. Wear. Your. Helmet. Backwards.
  2. Avoid the Houston Handbag, looping your pole straps over your skis to create a carrying device (yup, it’s named that for a reason). Instead, place your skis—tips forward—over one shoulder and carry your poles in the other hand.
  3. Don’t clip into your skis or snowboard in the lift line.
  4. Stop the flap: Keep your jacket zipped up.
  5. Never ever ski in jeans.