Colorado鈥檚 most popular ski lifts often come with hefty price tags. But if you鈥檙e willing to forego the name recognition of saying you skied at Breckenridge or Vail, you鈥檒l find scores of locals-only mountains worth your time. These well-kept secrets might not have fancy spas or heated lifts, but with day听tickets for under $100听and听hostels and cheap hotels close by, it鈥檚 possible to spend a day on the slopes and a night out in town for less than $150.
Loveland Ski Area
Price: From听$135听
One of the greatest things about (day tickets from $75) is how close it is to Denver: just 90 minutes听west of听the airport. But its greatest asset? Free snowcat skiing. Anyone with a lift ticket can pick up a , which are first come, first served,听to ski听right along the Continental Divide听into expert-only terrain that lift takers听can鈥檛 reach. Loveland also offers free access to its terrain park and to slopeside cabins that you can reserve during the day for picnics and BBQs. Then there鈥檚 the 听deal, where, if you join in the annual Valentine鈥檚 Day Mountaintop Matrimony celebration, you and your new spouse can ski for the price of one.
Where to Stay: The (from $60) in Silverthorne is minutes away from Loveland and within walking distance from the Summit Stage bus stops, so you can easily get to Dillon, Keystone, Frisco, and Breckenridge if you want to ski a day elsewhere or just explore another town. The five-room hostel has both bunk and private room options听and includes a continental breakfast.
Monarch Mountain
Price:听From听$117
What 听(day tickets from $94) lacks in fancy amenities, it more than makes up for in its proximity to several of Colorado鈥檚 best hot springs.听Located three hours southwest of Denver and 20 miles west of Salida, Monarch听has 54 trails for skiers of all levels and an extreme-terrain area called Mirkwood.听For those looking to splurge,听there鈥檚 also听听(from $400) that gets you to wide-open bowls and steep chutes. After a day on the slopes, soothe your muscles at 听(from $24)听or (clothing optional;听from $9), the latter听an hour southeast, but听both with听affordable private rooms and dorm-style accommodations (from $30). For the nonskiers in your group, book a day of 听(from $24).
Where to Stay:听The 听offers comfortable, spacious private rooms and basic bunks (from $23听for a bunk) just a short drive from restaurants in town. The (from $24听for a bunk) has is very basic,听but is right in the heart of downtown.
Wolf Creek Ski Area
Price:听From $106
When it comes to powder, 听(day tickets from $76) is king. This small mountain typically gets more snow than any other resort in the state, averaging around 480 inches each year. And because it鈥檚 one of the least convenient to access鈥攆rom Denver it鈥檚 a 4.5-hour drive southwest鈥攊t doesn鈥檛 get skied out as quickly as the big resorts, and you never have to compete with crowded听lift lines.听If you鈥檙e looking to shred, you can do it here from the lifts or in听, where expert-only terrain is a short hike from the top of the听Treasure and Bonanza chairs.
Where to Stay: The , an听eight-person cabin, is small but cheap (from听$30). It鈥檚 about a 40-minute drive east of听Wolf Creek. If you want to splurge with your lift-ticket savings, stay at the in Pagosa Springs (from $330), a half-hour northeast, which has nearly two dozen hot-spring pools (or stick with your budget听and opt for a day pass, from $30).
Ski Cooper
Price:听From $95
If you鈥檙e looking for a family-friendly mountain, 听(day tickets from $62) might be it. Cooper has mellow trails ideal for beginners听and is also expanding its expert terrain for the upcoming season. A new lift opens听in听December,听offering access to steeper and more challenging runs. For more a advanced option,听you can book a seat in 听(from $400). And for those in your group who prefer to ski on mostly level ground, the , a resort with听wide skate lanes on a听groomed trail system, is right across the parking lot.
Where to Stay: The 听(from $32) offers a wide variety of accommodations 17 minutes north of base camp and is within walking听distance of听shops and restaurants downtown. For more rustic luxury and closer proximity to the mountain, book a night or two in a 听($240 for up to six people). You鈥檒l have to work for it by skiing in, but you can arrange for your luggage to be transported via snowmobile to make the journey more enjoyable.