Eldora Mountain Resort
By Amanda May
Staff Writer
Rockies.com
Eldora Mountain Resort is the closest ski area to Boulder, Colorado, just 21 miles west. Its also the second closest resort to Denver, just 47 miles from the state capitol’s downtown. (Echo Park is the only closer ski area.)
Early in the season at Eldora Mountain Resort.
The base of the resort on Bryan Mountain sits at 9,200 feet and the summit is at 10,800 feet. The resort receives an average of 300 inches of snow per year and is skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing friendly.
Beginner-friendly terrain can be found on Little Hawk Mountain, while intermediate and advanced runs are located on Challenge Mountain and Indian Peaks. The most difficult terrain at Eldora is the Corona Bowl, complete with double black diamond runs. The ski area has a total of 680 acres of skiable terrain. Its longest run is 3 miles long.
The terrain is separated into 20% blues, 50% blues and 30% blacks. Twelve lifts service the area: two quads, two triples, four doubles, one poma, two rope tows and a conveyor lift.
Corkscrew, Bonanza and Foxtail trails are where you’ll find the terrain parks at Eldora. Take the Sundance lift to reach them and try our some new tricks.
The resort is mostly used by day skiers, but there is plenty of accommodations in Boulder and nearby Nederland to house whoever wants to visit Eldora for a longer ski trip.
Eldora has an overall friendly and family atmosphere, with affordable prices and a smaller size compared to some of Colorado’s mega resorts.
One of the reasons it has gained so much popularity is because skiers don’t have to get on the busy Interstate 70 to get there. In fact, the slogan of the resort is “Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive I-70.”
Parking is free at both the main and lower lot if you want to drive, but buses are regularly available from Boulder. Take the RTD bus from the Boulder main station at 14th and Canyon. Call (303) 299-6000 for more information about schedules and routes.
The resort opens from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. weekends and holidays.
Off the downhill slopes, there are 40 kilometers of trails for cross-country skiers and showshoers at Eldora.
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