Travel Eye on Winter Park (Colorado, USA)

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Overview:

Winter Park is the nearest resort to Denver and is arguably Colorado's best kept secret'. It really is a Coloradans' resort, with Denver folk driving or taking the weekend train up to the domain (67 miles).

The town is nothing particularly special, but is typical of small-town USA. A purpose-built village should be in place this year.

There are plenty of genuine advantages - it's great value, there is good skiing for all, the lift system is excellent and there are wonderful views. On top of that, the snow is usually very reliable. Experts will love to get up the 'Vasquez Cirque' for some extreme off-piste.

Boarders also receive great coverage, with 3 parks and half-pipes. Cross-country skiers are equally well cared for. The ski school has a very fine reputation and childcare is excellent.

Certainly a budget resort, good for groups, families with young children and independent skiers looking for a short break while sampling more than 1 ski-area. Popular with Americans on weekend breaks. Suitable for all levels of skiing ability.

The accommodation here is mainly budget to middlemarket condominiums and hotels, both in Winter Park and surrounding areas such as Fraser, plus a few B&Bs and small lodges. A handful of motels provide good, tidy but rather soulless alternatives.

Locality:

Winter Park is in W-central United States, in the N-central part of Colorado State. 67 mls W of Denver, at the W portal of the 7-ml-long Moffat railway tunnel. 85 mls W of Denver international airport. In the Front Range Mountains, just on the W side of the Continental Divide (watershed). In the Fraser Valley, which broadens into a flat plain towards the NW. Low, pine-clad mountain ridges surround with extensive wilderness and national forests; a few snow-capped peaks in the vicinity.

Entertainment/Facilities/Attractions/Things to do:

Eateries are fine on and off the mountain, although those in town are rather spread out. Après-ski is quiet during the week, but once the weekenders arrive things definitely heat up. The only real criticisms are the weekend queues and the lack of off-snow activities. In addition you will have to take a free bus to access the skiing. Overall, though, Winter Park is a real gem, especially as it's only 1½ hours from Denver.

Shopping is limited mainly to the essentials, although there is a wide choice of sports- and ski-equipment stores and rentals, a convenience store or two. Souvenir shops offering Native American crafts, some gift and jewellery shops, clothing retailers and a few art galleries.

During the day time the usual winter activities include snowmobiling, sleigh rides, snow-shoeing, cross-country skiing, ice-skating, dog-sled rides, snow tubing (riding down slopes on a tyre's inner tube) and snow-cat tours.

There is also hot-air ballooning, hot mineral baths and massage; art galleries; Cozens Ranch and Stage Stop Museum.

In summer the favourites are hiking, mountain biking, chair-lift rides, boating, camping, golf, scenic ski-train excursions, climbing wall, horse riding, alpine slide, trampolining, there is a rodeo in nearby town of Fraser.

By night there are a range of saloon bars, bistros, pubs, cinema and comedy venues, country music and dancing; evening sleigh rides. Little in the way of glamour but very relaxed with a homely, local feel.

There is a wide selection to fit all budgets and appetites: hickory-smoked baby-back ribs, Cajun fries, German cuisine, Chinese, fast food, French, pizza, pasta, hot wings, Mexican and even a British pub.

Lifts & Slopes
Highest lift: 3676m (12060ft)
Lowest lift: 2743m (8999ft)
Vertical drop: 933m (3061ft)
Number of lifts: 22
Uplift capacity: 35030 p/hr
Number of slopes: 134
Beginner: 9%
Intermediate: 34%
Expert: 57%
Snowboard parks: 3
Cross country: 300km