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Easy uphill route at Winter Park, taking green and blue trails to the top of Prospector lift.
The Very Best Resort Ski Touring in Colorado
Earn your turns on Colorado’s greatest in-bounds terrain with uphill access.
Images
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Description
If you’ve ever busted tail to make it to the mountain on a powder day and gotten in line before first chair, but then looked up to see neat S-turns already carving the center of the run––you probably got beat by an uphiller. And you know what they say: if you can’t beat them, join them!
Skinning uphill is exploding in popularity across Colorado, partly as a way to beat the crowds at overstuffed resorts, but also for the exercise and good fun that is earning those turns. Ski touring and splitboarding are, of course, essential for getting into the backcountry, but with the abundance of commercial mountains in Colorado, there’s no requirement to ever leave the bounds of a resort to go touring. Controlled terrain provides convenience and relative safety, so you can keep skiing and stay fit all season, regardless of conditions in the backcountry. Then there is the advantage of getting on the runs before anybody else, to skip the lines, and to hound those fresh tracks on a powder day!
Uphill access can be complicated, however, because every mountain has different policies. Most Colorado resorts allow at least some options for uphill travel, usually confined to certain hours and routes. You have to know when and where you can ski both uphill and down at any given resort. A pass is usually required as well, but in most cases, this is an uphill-specific pass that is inexpensive or free.
Because not all mountains are created equal, we’ve compiled this guide to help you find the best uphill access in Colorado. All the mountains seen here offer excellent options for skiing on your own power, so you can be sure to earn quality turns for your efforts. Whether you’re looking for casual fitness laps on groomers, or shralping pow with no one else around, you can find your ideal resort tours here. Simply zoom to a mountain to see the routes we recommend. Tap on a run for more information, including links to the resort policies for uphill. Then it’s up to you to learn the code, get the gear, and get up that mountain!
Adventures
A go-to uphill route with variations for difficulty, and good options for the downhill as well.
The skinning route for black diamond runs in Winter Park's Mary Jane Territory.
Skin up from Mary Jane base to unlock lots of terrain for resort ski touring.
The main route for skinning uphill at Eldora.
Uphill access for the expert terrain at Eldora resort.
All-day uphill access for laps in Parsenn Bowl.
Uphill access at Loveland, for skinning in the morning and evening.
The route for skinning uphill during open hours at Arapahoe Basin.
One possible route for skinning to the top of Arapahoe Basin resort.
Uphill access to the steepest stuff on A-Basin’s frontside.
Morning and evening uphill access to the top of Keystone resort.
A go-to morning workout in Breckenridge.
Route for in-bounds skinning before the resort opens.
Morning uphill for lots of vertical at Breckenridge.
Morning and evening uphill access, from Center Village to the top of Super Bee.
Morning uphill access at Copper, heading straight up from Center Village.
An easy daytime uphill route, and the start of the approach to Janet’s Cabin in the backcountry.
A mid-mountain blue run for daytime uphill laps at Copper.
Uphill access at Vail, following Riva Ridge from the village toward the top.
Designated route for skinning up to Eagle's Nest at Vail.
Designated route for skinning in the morning or evening at Beaver Creek.
Uphill access on green trails from Beaver Creek’s lower base area.
Designated route for morning and evening uphill access at Steamboat.
Uphill access on Aspen Mountain, following the course of the America's Uphill race.
The designated uphill route at Highlands that's open all day.
A local go-to workout on Aspen’s Buttermilk Mountain.
Daytime uphill route in the center of Buttermilk resort.
Daytime uphill access from Two Creek base at Snowmass.
Daytime uphill access from Base Village to Elk Camp at Snowmass.
Daytime uphill access from Base Village to High Alpine at Snowmass.
An intermediate uphill route that’s open for use during operating hours.
Powderhorn’s advanced uphill route that’s open for use during operating hours.
Morning and evening uphill route at Crested Butte resort.
A classic mini ski tour at Monarch Mountain.
A scenic uphill with lots of descents, open for use during and after operating hours at Monarch.
Uphill route to Monarch's legendary Mirkwood Bowl.
All-day uphill access through Mountain Village at Telluride.
All-day uphill route, accessed through Mountain Village at Telluride.
One possible route for skinning to the top of Wolf Creek resort.