Summit County Skiing Resorts
Summit County is the highest county in the country, boasting four world-class ski areas, surrounded by a back drop of Rocky Mountain splendor. Altitudes range from 7750' at the Northern end to it's highest peak at 14,265' on the Southern side. Winters arrive early, and leave late dumping over 300 annual inches of powder snow. This makes Summit County a skiiers paradise. There are over 6700 acres of lift serviced skiable terrain amongst the four Summit County ski resorts...Breckenridge, Keystone, Copper Mountain and A-Basin. Additionally there are several Nordic ski areas and back country trail systems for those seeking alpine solitude.
Originally a mining town in 1860, the town of Breckenridge has a Victorian charm that enthralls visiting skiiers. At 9600' elevation, the town sits ab the base of the Ten Mile Range. The Breckenridge Ski Area comprises Peaks 8, 9 and 10 of the range. Breckenridge is only 10 miles South of Frisco on CO-9.
Opening in 1971, Keystone Resort has become one of the nations favorite family ski resorts. A village at the base of the gondola offers excellent apres-ski entertainment. Keystone also offers night skiing, and has one of the largest snowmaking capabilities to ensure conditions remain excellent. The Keystone ski area is again only a short 10 miles from the town of Frisco.
Copper Mountain is only 7 miles south of Frisco, along the I-70 corridor. Many skiiers claim Copper to be the most enjoyable ski area, due to the natural terrain segregation of the expert ski area from the novice ski area. At the far western end of the resort, the trails are predominantly for beginners, while at the eastern end the terrain is predominantly for advanced skiiers.
Arapahoe Basin (aka A-Basin) is the highest ski area in North America. It therefore has consistently great powder conditions, and frequently does not close until the July 4th weekend! A-Basin is known for its challenging terrain, and the friendliness one would expect from a small ski resort. Every springtime, A-Basin has a tail-gate Bar-B-Q on the premise parking lot.