The Skiers' Guide to Copper Mountain

The best terrain parks in the world coupled with a wide range of groomers, moguls, and back bowls to occupy all skill levels make Copper a fan favorite for local Coloradans and tourists alike. Located just outside of Denver, it is easily accessible from I-70. It boasts a state of the art lift system, as well as a large ski village with plenty of restaurant, shopping, and bar options. For park rats, the renowned Woodward Copper facility has some of the best freestyle training and progressions in the United States.

Copper is probably most well known for its terrain parks. Whether you’re a professional athlete or you’ve never hit a rail, Woodward Copper is built to be a playground for any skier of any skillset. Their progression parks have multiple levels, from slight slope contours to teach skiers how to control their speed on variable terrain to a 22 foot Superpipe. That pipe is home to the Dew Tour, the U.S. Grand Prix and Rev Tour. But, like we said, Copper is all about progression. Check out their 13 foot pipe if you need some practice! And if all of that is too run of the mill for your style, the Peace Park is made for you. A 2011 collaboration with Danny Davis, Peace Park is literally made to break the mold of traditional park skiing, full of creative obstacles and jumps of all shapes and sizes. Seriously - all shapes. You’ve got to see it to believe it.

If you are a beginner skier who prefers to keep their skis on the ground, head up the American Flyer lift at the base of Copper Mountain and head to the right, and you’ll find Soliloquy. It’s a wide, gentle, rolling run that is perfect for beginners - or for anyone who is looking for a nice spot to practice at any level! Soliloquy is an awesome spot for advanced skiers to perfect their carving technique, or ride with one ski. It’s quite a long run, which is part of what makes it great, but it means the lift ride to get up there long too! If looking up the American Flyer lift feels too daunting, the Kokomo Express is located right next to American Flyer, and is a great spot for true beginners to begin. There are some small park progressions off of Kokomo as well for the little ones who want to catch air!

One of the best things about Copper is that it is naturally divided by difficulty. The American Flyer and Kokomo lifts have the most mellow runs at the far right side of the mountain. As you head to the center, American Eagle will bring you up to an intermediate zone, with some mogully options and black diamonds sprinkled to the left off of the Super Bee lift. If you’re looking for expert and extreme terrain, you’ll have to trek higher into Spaulding or Copper Bowl. It’s pretty difficult to accidentally find yourself in a zone you aren’t comfortable with.

Because of its convenient location, Copper can get crowded. Plenty of folks will tell you that it gets skied off quickly - we like to think that they just don’t know where to look. There are a lot of glades at Copper to explore, and plenty of hidden forest huts to hang out in - you just need to venture off the beaten path. For our expert explorers, head up the Sierra lift to Union Meadows. Sure, you might need to push your way out of there, but there is almost always powder to be had. If you really hate the idea of hiking, the Black Bear & Free Fall Glades off of Super Bee are some of the best glades Copper has to offer.

One of the great things about Copper is its expansive ski village, split into the Center Village, East Village, and West Village. The West Village is the most limited in its options, with the West Village Cafe being the only option, and the East Village has a few more options, with Camp Hale Coffee for the morning and JJ’s Rocky Mountain Tavern slinging classic burgers, wings, and sandwiches for lunch and dinner.

Don’t let the smaller villages fool you - Center Village is certainly the largest and has plenty of options for foodies. There’s not one, not two, but three pizza places to choose from. Downhill Dukes is our favorite spot to spot, with an outdoor seating area, plenty of fireplaces, and a front-row seat of everyone still coming down the hill. Don’t miss the nachos! If you are hoping for a heartier meal, Eagle BBQ serves up the best-pulled pork sandwich on the mountain. If you find yourself frequenting Copper and are looking for even more variety, keep an eye out for food trucks lining up in the lot beneath Black Diamond Grille.

On-mountain options are a bit limited, but if you are looking to enjoy a meal with views, Koko’s Hut at the top of the Kokomo Express lift has a perfect patio, with sandwiches, hand pies, and the best bloody mary around. At the top of American Eagle Express, you’ll find a more classic lodge, with everything from a grill station to a coffee shop, with plenty of grab-and-go options.

While you won’t find any large clubs in Copper, its Après scene shines with live music. If your ideal post-ski day is relaxing on a sunny patio with a beer while being serenaded, here it is. They’ve got live music every day from Wednesday to Saturday. JJ’s Rocky Mountain Tavern and Jack’s Bar are the main places to be. If you’re not a fan of live music, and would rather play beer pong and watch the game, head to Mulligan’s Irish Pub - they serve up the best bar food in town until 1 am.

Copper is about as family-friendly as it gets. Parents love the ski school and rave about the instructors. The small terrain parks made especially for kids mean that they never get bored on the hill. The progression areas that have made Woodward Copper’s name known all around the world are made specifically for young people to feel comfortable on the mountain. Kids who cannot be convinced to put on ski boots again will love the tubing hill. The expansive village means that you never need to leave the resort (which can be stressful during the winter months) to eat or find new activities. Not to mention, the village is completely car-free, so you can relax a bit more while your kids explore everything that Copper has to offer.

When it comes to choosing accommodation in Copper, the first thing you need to decide is what village you want to stay in. Those who are looking for a quiet stay near the beginner slopes, or families with kids going to ski school in the mornings should focus on the West Village. Most options there are townhomes or condos - again, perfect for the family.

The Center Village has the most accommodation and restaurant options by far; it also happens to be where most events are held, so if you are heading to Copper to watch one of their many freeride competitions, look no further. Most accommodation options are a short walk from both the American Eagle and American Flyer lifts, giving you easy access to most of the mountain right off the bat. Because there are simply more places to stay in Center Village, it tends to be a bit cheaper than the other villages. For those looking to keep it as cheap as possible, The Village Square offers apartment rentals. The Copper One Lodge is a favorite for people looking for a few more amenities; offering everything from slopeside access to a hot tub and sauna. Center Village also has a free bus into Frisco, a larger town nearby, that has many more restaurant and shopping options if you’re looking for even more off-mountain entertainment.

If you are looking for somewhere in between complete serenity and hustle and bustle, the East Village is the perfect Goldilocks option. With a few more restaurant and retail options than the West Village, but not nearly as many people, East Village accommodation options are right beneath the Super Bee lift. Super Bee services mostly advanced and intermediate terrain, so it’s perfect for folks who are really focused on getting their turns in. It’s a great options for mixed-ski-level families as well, as it is right next to the tubing hill. If some members of the family would rather keep their snowboots on, while others want to shred hard, the East Village is the best place to go. The Foxpine Inn tends to be the cheapest option, while people looking for a more luxurious experience should turn to Elk Run.

No matter where you choose to stay, you won’t be relegated to spending all of your time there. Copper has a free shuttle between all of the villages, and you’ll be able to move around easily within a few minutes.

Like all ski resorts, Copper Mountain understands that the future of skiing and the future of the environment go hand in hand. That’s why they’ve partnered with the Play Forever Foundation, which uses education and innovation to drive sustainable development. In addition, they have programs like “Buy a Pass, Plant a Tree,” which has restored hundreds of acres of deforested land. They’ve won at least one award every year since 2021 from the National Ski Area Association for their dedication to climate education.

Pros

• Wide range of terrain for all skill levels.
• Free parking close to the mountain with efficient shuttle service.
• Family-friendly and offers a variety of activities beyond skiing.
• Incredible terrain park infrastructure and world-class training facilities.
• Located off of I-70 for easy access from Denver and Denver Airport.
• Large ski village with plenty of restaurants, shopping, and lodging options.

Cons

• Weekend crowds can be immense, making lift lines and traffic hard to manage.
• Expert terrain is limited compared to other Colorado mountains.
• Altitude sickness is a risk for those not already acclimated.
• Après options are relatively limited