Keystone, Colorado

By Amanda May
Staff Writer
Rockies.com

With only about 900 residents, it is easy for skiers to outnumber locals in Keystone, Colorado. Because tourism is the main income for this Colorado Rockies town, Keystone attractions are built to please, be it in winter or in summer.

View of Keystone at night. (Colorado Tourism Office)

Beginners to expert skiers enjoy Keystone’s slopes and take advantage of the Keystone lodging and hotel options that are nothing if not opulent. Many of the resort’s ski lodges surround a man-made lake at Keystone. The lake is one of the U.S.’s largest groomed ice-skating ponds during the winter months and is filled with paddle boaters and ducks in the summer.

Their Nordic Center is where cross-country skiers and showshoers congregate, along with first-timers who can sign up for classes in either. Those same paths are perfect for hiking in the summer for leisurely strolls or trail running.

Other winter activities that you can practice in Keystone in the winter include sledding, dog sleigh and snowmobiling.

Keystone Ski Resort was started in 1970 and is now owned by Vail Resorts. It occupies three separate mountains and has 3,148 skiable acres. With a vertical drop of 3,128 feet and 130 trails, even the most adventurous skiers will be happy with what it has to offer. Their 20 lifts and 2 gondolas facilitate the maximum amount of runs per day, as well as Keystone’s night skiing, the only night skiing in the area. Keystone is also the closest major resort to the Denver Airport and is only a hop, skip and a jump away from other excellent resorts.

Keystone also offers adventure tours from the comfort of a heated snowcat. They go above the tree line to an incredible 12,000 feet, showing you Keystone, but like you’ve never seen it before! They offer full-day guided tours into Independence Bowl where they show you the best runs to take the next day and provide lunch in a warmed hut. But don’t be thrown by the word ‘hut,’ they bring in catered food by the five-star Alpenglow Stube!

Keystone Ski Resort doubles as a hiking spot in the summer as well, with the chair lifts running to get hikers to the beautiful trails up the mountain. The lifts also lead to one of the area’s more interesting restaurants, The Alpenglow Stube, which is two chair lifts and a short walk up. You really earn your dinner just by arriving! But once you’re there, you’re rewarded with one of the best alpine views you’re likely to get at a restaurant, not to mention the fantastic food!

Horseback riding is also popular in the area, as well as golfing on their high-altitude course.