75 miles west of Denver along the infamous I-70 corridor, Copper Mountain has somehow achieved the perfect equilibrium of hardcore skiing complimented by a welcoming, family-friendly vibe. The village is intimate without feeling too remote, and the amenities are just enough to please the resort skier yet small enough to keep the anti-establishment powder-hound from grumbling too loudly. The staff is friendly, the food is great, and the terrain is all time. It’s easy to see why people keep coming back to Copper Mountain. Spend a weekend here, and we guarantee you won’t want to leave.
EAT:
Get your day started with a breakfast burrito or a bagel at Camp Hale located right next to the ticket office at the base of the Center Village. Camp Hale also has locations in the East Village as well as Solitude Station mid-mountain and serves breakfast all day. Grab lunch at Endo’s Adrenaline Bar & Grill, a lively and inviting sports bar right at the base of the American Eagle lift. Endo’s serves sandwiches, salads, burgers, and a towering plate of nachos that you’ll need some help polishing off. If the weather’s nice, enjoy your meal on the patio with front row seats of the slopes. If you’re feeling bold order the Bad-Ass Bloody Mary, the ultimate cocktail featuring Endo’s signature spicy Bloody Mary mix and an Old Bay salted rim, topped with a pickle, pepperoncini, olive, celery, hickory smoked beef sick, cheese curd and two shrimp… need we say more? Hang out on the patio and enjoy views of the slopes and some prime-time people watching. For dinner head to JJ’s Rocky Mountain Tavern next to the Super Bee lift at the base of the East Village for classic American dishes, friendly staff, and the longest bar in Summit County. If you’re in the mood for a marg, Casa Sanchez, located in the Village Square Condo serves up generous portions of hearty, authentic Mexican food. A family owned restaurant, they have classics such as Arroz con Pollo, and traditional mole sauce as well as burritos, tacos, and sizzling fajitas. After dinner, make like a local and head to Mulligan’s Irish Pub in the Center Village for a car bomb or a PBR, where lifties and destination skiers rub shoulders on a crowded dance floor.
SLEEP:
Without huge skyscraping hotels, most of Copper’s lodging consists of condo-style apartments or privately owned homes. With your own kitchen and living room, it doesn’t take long to feel completely at home relaxing by a warm fireplace after an epic day on the hill. If you want to be in the center of all the action, the Burning Stones Plaza offers some of the best condos, just a stone’s throw from the lifts. Taylor’s Crossing has some great condos and the building is equipped with a hot tub, sauna and gym. For a quieter escape, the Wheeler Neighborhood condos in the East Village are slightly more private, with the Super Bee lift still steps away.
PLAY:
With 2,490 acres of skiable terrain, over 140 trails and topping out at 12, 313 feet, Copper Mountain is a slice of heaven for skiers of all abilities. For the adventure-seekers, head to the backside and wait for the Tucker Mountain Snowcat for a complimentary ride up to steep chutes and high alpine bowls. The west side of the mountain features great beginner and intermediate terrain, with groomers and open glades. Kids and adults alike will love the Copper Tubing Hill in the East Village, with banked turns that up the excitement factor of your average tubing hill. Sign up for an intro session at Woodward, a 19,000-square foot barn filled with Olympic trampolines, spring floors, foam pits, jumps, and a pump track. Instructors will walk you through progressions to learn tricks that will make you feel like a pro.
