Winter Park Resort

by WinterReview

Berthoud Pass and her panoramic views. Proximity to Denver. 1 massive mountain, 7 different territories, each having their own style and feel.

Be careful with the lay-out, you could get lost. (Oh wait, that's also a positive.)

Amenities

People

Terrain

Terrain Park

Trails

Grooming

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Amenities

People

Terrain

Terrain Park

Trails

Grooming

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The Local, who also goes by Mary Jane, where there is no such thing as a groomer, or a grooming machine for that matter. Trees, bumps, trees, bumps, trees trees bumps. Beer. Repeat. The world-class moguls get a bad rep because they can be everywhere you turn. That is, if you don’t know where you are going. So get a map or ask around and get out of the bumps. Venture off into the world-class trees, find the Chutes, and drop cliffs. Anything you want all the time. Mary Jane always provides a challenge.

Winter Park Overview

Winter Park Resort is a mega resort near Winter Park, CO that encompasses three mountain peaks of the Colorado Rockies and includes “7 Territories”. Just a 90 minute drive from downtown Denver, Winter Park services the metro Denver area and it’s proximity to an international airport makes it a popular destination for skiers worldwide.

The Official WinterReview of Winter Park

The one separating factor: Community. Everybody is a local at Winter Park.

The 7 Territories at Winter Park. Sounds complex, but it’s not. It’s all right there, right at your fingertips. It’s one large and in-charge main vein of a mountain. Three different peaks with groomers to bowls, and you don’t have to travel far if you want to do just that. Nowhere on the mountain from any given spot will take more than 2 lift rides to get there. That’s impressive, considering Winter Park boasts the 4th most ski-able acreage of Colorado ski resorts (3,081 acres), behind Vail, Snowmass and Keystone.

Winter Park’s main area has it all: the magic carpet bunny hill for beginners, a wide variety of terrain park levels with an 18 ft. half-pipe, Green and Blue groomers that graze the trees. Go beyond the trees and find Volkswagen-size moguls that make up a good portion of the expert terrain.

For a quick escape from the Winter Park crowd (not a huge crowd!), sneak into the trees off of the Mary Jane Trail and choose your play from there: Mary Jane, Parsenn Bowl, wrap around a wide array of chutes on the ridgeline Cirque and end up in the soft trees of Eagle Wind and Vasquez Ridge. Be pleasantly surprised when you find yourself right back where you started at Winter Park. Seven territories, counting the terrain park of course.

With plenty of exploring to do comes plenty of après, even if you don’t have to get off of the mountain. Pubs are more than prominent at the Winter Park and Mary Jane bases, serving loaded Bloody Mary’s and the locally brewed Mary Jane Ale…and everything in between. Also enjoy multiple mid-mountain bars to rest your weary bones.

Locals Tip: If you are feeling really local, park in the C-lot or Utah Junction parking lots at Mary Jane for a ski in/ski out, dog-friendly, tailgate beer and snack brought from home. Much cheaper and much more comradeship. But, to each their own.

Settled on the Northwest side of Berthoud Pass over the continental divide, just a short 40 minute drive on I-70 from Denver, Winter Park takes the cake. Make it extremely local and explore the Fraser Valley a bit beyond the ski resort. You’ll find lovely mountain towns with hot dog stands and authentic Thai food carts, a live music nightlife, snowmobiling and ice-fishing. No interstate. A local state of mind.

WinterReview written by Cooper Wesson