Colorado Snow Conditions

Colorado remains synonymous with winter skiing and boasts world-renowned ski centres thanks to its fantastic conditions and famous 'champagne powder'. The abundant snow in Colorado is extremely dry, light and fluffy, as a result of the Rocky Mountains being the first barrier to any storms that come from the Pacific Ocean, with the cold weather at high altitude helping to keep the snowflakes very dry. The excellent conditions on the slopes are enhanced by the 300 days of sunshine that Colorado experiences, making blue skies the norm throughout the winter.   

 

All the ski resorts in Colorado are located at an altitude of at least 2,000m, with many towns, such as Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, Durango, Telluride and Keystone sitting at over 2,500m. Skiing obviously takes place at high altitude, with top elevations in these resorts reaching between 3,000m - 3,900m, creating excellent conditions, and a wealth of fluffy, dry powder beloved by both skiers and boarders. Terrain varies from perfectly-groomed wide open slopes, to deep bowls, intense steeps and huge moguls, and an endless supply for off-piste, or 'back-country' skiers. Although the runs are mainly graded as intermediates and advanced, the sheer volume of terrain means plenty of gentler runs for beginners, and thanks to fantastic conditions on the lower slopes, expert grooming and piste management, as well as first-class tuition in the schools, it's an excellent place to learn. Beginners can find wonderful terrain in Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Copper Mountain and Buttermilk, whilst experts should head to Steamboat, Arapahoe Basin or Vail for some spectacular challenges.

 

Consistent snow is commonplace throughout the state, with resorts such as Arapahoe Basin, Steamboat Springs, Loveland and Vail seeing average snowfall levels of between 762cm - 889cm each winter, and the region known for its reliable conditions every season. The state sees a long ski season, beginning generally in November and running until early April, however resorts such as Loveland and Keystone are often known to open their doors for business in mid-October. Snowmaking is also extensive throughout the region, with improvements seen frequently, and boosting the already excellent natural conditions on the slopes. Upper slope averages in some of the most visited resorts in Colorado include Vail at 121cm, Steamboat at 125cm, and Breckenridge at 179cm during March 2010.