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Colorado Ski Resorts by Size Vail
Vail Ski Resort.

Got Vertical? Colorado Ski Resorts by Size

December 6, 2022 By //  by Matt Thomas

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Colorado’s world class ski resorts feature a myriad of skiable acres and vertical drops, all waiting to be explored by eager riders. Whether you’re looking for that right combination of vertical and terrain, or are just curious about the largest resorts in Colorado, we’ve curated the primary ski resorts by size.

Those planning a multi-day trip at the same mountain might be better off choosing one with enough skiable acres and vertical to keep you guessing. Most resorts below feature at least 1000 skiable acres, which is more than enough to explore over a couple days. There are also several awesome ski areas with less between 400 and 800 acres that make an epic ski day, at reasonable prices.

Biggest Ski Resorts in CO by Skiable Acres and Vertical Drop

Telluride Ski Resort Aerial Colorado
Telluride Ski Resort, Colo. Photo: Murray Foubister

Rest assured even at the most crowded, popular resorts, you’ll find thousands of acres of terrain to escape and find your solitude. Ski areas with less than 100 acres were excluded from this list. Silverton Mountain was also omitted b/c it’s expert only and everything requires traversing.

Only inbounds terrain was used for skiable area and chairlift-served for vertical drop. You can view a list of ski resorts in CO to see more statistics and facts about each.

Statistics are subject to error or change. Please let us know if you see a mistake in any mountain stats.

Here are the largest ski resorts in CO by skiable area:

Ski Resort Skiable Acres Vertical Drop
Vail 5,317 acres 3,450 feet
Keystone 3,148 acres 3,128 feet
Snowmass 3,132 acres 4,406 feet
Winter Park 3,081 acres 3,060 feet
Steamboat 2,965 acres 3,668 feet
Breckenridge 2,908 acres 3,398 feet
Copper Mountain 2,490 acres 2,738 feet
Telluride 2,000 acres 3,790 feet (4,425 hike-to)
Beaver Creek 1,832 acres 3,340 feet
Loveland 1,800 acres 2,210 feet
Purgatory 1,605 acres 2,028 feet
Powderhorn 1,600 acres 1,650 feet
Wolf Creek 1,600 acres 1,604 feet
Crested Butte 1,547 acres 2,775 feet
Arapahoe Basin 1,428 acres 2,270 feet
Aspen Highlands 1,040 acres 3,638 feet
Monarch 800 acres 1,142 feet
Sunlight 680 acres 2,010 feet
Eldora 680 acres 1,240 feet
Aspen Mountain 675 acres 3,267 feet
Buttermilk 470 acres 2,030 feet
Granby Ranch 406 acres 1,000 feet
Ski Cooper 480 acres 1,200 feet

It’s no surprise if you’re familiar with Colorado skiing that Vail is the largest ski resort in the state. Take one sweeping summit view around the front side and back bowls and all you see is endless skiing. The skiable acres at Vail has grown to 5,317 acres. And although its vertical is impressive at 3,450 feet, it’s not the best.

Snowmass Gwyn's High Alpine
Gwyn’s High Alpine on-mountain restaurant in distance at Snowmass.

Telluride has the longest vertical in Colorado at 4,425 ft, but that’s with hiking. If you’re measuring lift served it’s only 3,790 ft. Putting Snowmass as the longest lift-served vertical in CO at 4,406 ft (it’s also the longest lift served vertical in the country!).

Here are the longest ski resorts in CO by lift-served vertical drop:

Ski Resort Vertical Drop Skiable Acres
Snowmass 4,406 feet 3,132 acres
Telluride 3,790 feet (4,425 hike-to) 2,000 acres
Steamboat 3,668 feet 2,965 acres
Aspen Highlands 3,638 feet 1,040 acres
Vail 3,450 feet 5,317 acres
Breckenridge 3,398 feet 2,908 acres
Beaver Creek 3,340 feet 1,832 acres
Aspen Mountain 3,267 feet 675 acres
Keystone 3,128 feet 3,148 acres
Winter Park 3,060 feet 3,081 acres
Crested Butte 2,775 feet 1,547 acres
Copper Mountain 2,738 feet 2,490 acres
Loveland 2,410 feet 1,800 acres
Arapahoe Basin 2,270 feet 1,428 acres
Buttermilk 2,030 feet 470 acres
Purgatory 2,028 feet 1,605 acres
Sunlight 2,010 feet 680 acres
Powderhorn 1,650 feet 1,600 acres
Wolf Creek 1,604 feet 1,600 acres
Eldora 1,240 feet 680 acres
Ski Cooper 1,200 feet 480 acres
Monarch 1,142 feet 800 acres
Granby Ranch 1,000 feet 406 acres

Remember it’s not all about the verticals and acres. Sometimes skiing the whole vertical listed top to bottom is not possible to achieve, without taking a brief chairlift up, to continue going downhill. Although it certainly is possible to ski from top to bottom without a chairlift at many of these resorts. Study the trail map and plan your route.

Vail Ski Resorts Back Bowls Look Ma
Look Ma, bump run on Vail’s front side. Photo: Kris Arnold

Every ski resort listed beats a day in the office! Thanks for checking Colorado’s biggest ski resorts by size. As aforementioned missing from this list is the state’s expert’s only ski area with 1 chair lift and plenty of traversing for steep powder, Silverton Mountain. Have a terrific time skiing and snowboarding the Rockies this season!

Matt Thomas

About Matt Thomas

Matt is an avid writer and explorer, who loves to showcase this wild, wondrous world. His favorite place to be is right here in the Centennial State.

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