Winter Park Resort Overview

August 2021

Resort Ratings

EARLY season

Quick Take

Let's Go

• Family friendly. Easy-to-navigate base village, with affordable activities including tubing and ice skating

• Bumps! Mary Jane, (looker's-left mountain), is known for its steep, long mogul runs. It's slogan is, "No Pain, No Jane"

• More than 50% of the resort is rated "most difficult." Highlights include The Cirque, Vasquez Ridge, and Eagle Wind

• Good value. Less expensive food, parking, and amenities (relative to other Colorado resorts)

• Regionally acclaimed adaptive ski and snowboard program (NSCD). Lessons for all ages and disabilities. View more

Hesitations

• With a base elevation of 9,121 feet, Winter Park is colder and more difficult to acclimate to than comparable Colorado resorts

• Accommodations here are comfortable, but don't expect high thread counts or gourmet room service.

• Only 26% of the terrain is rated as beginner or intermediate, reducing variety for lower-level skiers.

• Dining/shopping on and off the mountain are limited

• The extreme terrain will challenge, but it is not always open, highly condition dependent

Insider Tips

• Park at Mary Jane for direct access to the lift, particularly if you already have your equipment and don't need much warm-up terrain. To access the Mary Jane lots, drive past the main base and turn right at the Mary Jane sign (~1 min down the road when coming from town)

• On crowded days, skiers should head to Pioneer (the long skate is not suitable for snowboarders). This area is separated from the rest of the mountain, and has its own small warm-up hut, serving chili

• On a powder day, avoid Parsenn Bowl. It looks better than it is. Instead, experts should head to Eagle Wind for hidden stashes of powder. Plus, the slower lift deters most tourists, keeping stuff fresh

• When ski races are in session, avoid the Winter Park side (large crowds and limited trails) unless you wish to spectate

• Locals do not have school on Fridays, so the mountain will be more crowded than other weekdays

Trail Map

For an in-depth breakdown of Winter Park's terrain, head to our Mountain Guide. Top trails and mountain stats included. 

Getting To & Around

Winter Park is a ~2 hour drive from Denver, weather/traffic dependent. The resort is also uniquely accessible by train. Take the Winter Park Express from Union Station, Denver or Amtrak from further afield. A car is useful as the resort is disconnected from  Winter Park/Fraser. The shuttle and bus system is reliable for those taking the train and can be more favorable than driving for those uncomfortable driving in the snow.