Eldora Mountain is a locals’ favorite for snowboarding in northern Colorado. It’s large enough to enjoy different runs all day and has a surprisingly good mix of skiable terrain.
Roughly the same distance as most Summit County resorts, it has one distinct advantage: you avoid I-70’s treacherous traffic. There are three main roots there from Denver, each about equal distance.
Terrain
Eldora has terrain for everyone: cruisers, steeps, bumps, trees, terrain parks, learning areas, and a nordic center. Over 300 inches on average hit Eldora each season and if you’re a fan of long cruisers and bumps, you’ll find plenty.
Beginners will find the easiest terrain conveniently located near the base village. Eldora has an acclaimed Children’s Center, assuring fun for the whole family.
Experts will find enough single and double black runs to keep them entertained. There is some gate access terrain that requires a very minimal traverse (30 seconds) to get to the steepest double-blacks. From there, West Ridge provides steep bumpy runs and tree skiing. You’ll end up right at Corona Lift.
Village
There is no town of Eldora, but the resort does have all the necessities: rental equipment, ski school, food, and drink. The Look-Out Cafe is situated at the top of the Corona Lift on the summit. It’s usually more of a warming hut though. Panoramic views of the Rocky Mountains expand in every direction, perfect scenery for a rest from the slopes.
At the base lodge, there is a big cafeteria offering affordable meals, an upstairs bar, and a retail shop. Parking is free and close to the mountain.
Nearby Nederland has a unique vibe with lots of cool shops and restaurants. This is also where would you find the closest lodging to Eldora. Boulder is only a twenty-mile drive from Eldora.
Details
Address: 2861 Eldora Ski Rd, Nederland, CO
Phone: 303-440-8700
Season: mid-November – early April
Lift Hours: Monday – Friday (9am – 4pm) | Saturday – Sunday (8:30am – 4pm)
Mountain Stats:
- Elevation: 9,200 ft – 10,800 ft
- Vertical – 1,600 ft
- Ski Area: 680 acres
- Average Snowfall: 300 in
Trail Map: Eldora Mountain (jpg)
Website: eldora.com
Popular Posts
9 Ski Resorts Closest to Colorado Springs – Unlike Denver, Colorado Springs isn’t really known for its easy access to world-class ski resorts. However, the 2nd most populated city in Colorado still boasts a number of ski resorts all within a two and half hour drive. Back…
Top 9 Affordable Ski Resorts in Colorado – Most well-known Colorado ski resorts charge well beyond $150 per day just to be on the mountain. Some have eclipsed the two hundred dollar mark for a single day of riding! And that doesn’t include gear. Skiing in the…
Season Opening & Closing Dates for 2019-20 at Colorado Ski Resorts – Every winter the Colorado ski season kicks off with great anticipation, usually beginning sometime in October at the first few resorts. The season-opening and closing days are useful…
12 Closest Ski Resorts to the Mile High City – With Colorado being home to the Rocky Mountains it’s no surprise that the state boasts some of the world’s best ski resorts. What may surprise visitors though is how close Denver is to the world-class skiing that Colorado is…
Ride Epically All Season with these Iconic Colorado Ski Passes – Masses of people move to Colorado because it allows them to ski and snowboard magnificent mountains each winter. The icing on the cake is the incredible summers that they get to stay for. But as…
Ultimate Guide to the 32 Ski Resorts in Colorado – Colorado is jam-packed full of epic ski resorts in nearly all corners of the Rockies. Depending on how each season kicks off, Colorado can have as many as 32 outdoor ski areas operating at its peak. The Rocky…
Snowy Day at Eldora Mountain
January 28, 2014 – The Front Range has gotten plenty of snow the last couple of days and more’s to come. This means good skiing at Eldora. Today it was powder and packed powder riding. My late 12 o’clock arrival missed most of the freshies, but it was still a fun day.
Eldora Mountain Resort is tucked away by the Continental Divide, west of Nederland. It’s a locals’ mountain with reasonable prices and upfront parking. The best perk about Eldora is that it doesn’t require a trip on I-70, so it’s perfect for congested weekends. The downside to this smaller resort is slow chair lifts.
It has a great mix of greens, blues, and blacks, with several expert steeps and tree runs. There are some small freestyle features too. The total skiable acreage is 600, all of which is below the tree line.
The cafeteria has soups (with a side of potato or corn chips) from $6.25-$7.75 and mountain grub-like burgers for around $8. The Corona Bowl Bar is located upstairs with happy hour from 2pm-4pm. Specials are $4 wells, wines, and drafts. Adults are $79 for a full day and $64 for half. 4 packs are available for $219. Some other deals may be available, usually something on the Gems Card.
