In a welcome change from last year, Colorado ski resorts finished a long, safe and successful season this week and are looking ahead to a bright and more open summer. Here is the latest on summer ops in Colorado, with information provided by Colorado Ski Country USA.
Arapahoe Basin will open North America’s highest-elevation guided Via Ferrata on the East Wall this summer. A Via Ferrata is a climbing route that follows iron rung handholds and cables fixed permanently to the rock—in short, it’s an assisted rock climb ideal for the adventure-seekers out there. Topping out at 13,000 feet with 360-degree mountain views, the Via Ferrata highlights A-Basin’s first season of daily summer operations, complementing a seven-course aerial adventure park, hiking and mountain biking trails, yoga classes, and special dining events.
The 2021 Audi Snowmass 50 Mountain Bike Race will take place on Saturday, July 24. The race will showcase the best single track in Snowmass with a 25-mile loop ascending 5,000 feet. Solo competitors will have the option of two laps or teams of two can race one lap each to complete the 50-mile course. Spectators are encouraged to gather at the start/finish gate in Snowmass to cheer on the athletes and witness one of the most challenging bike races in North America.
Copper Mountain will welcome guests back to the resort on June 11 with a full slate of summer activities, including hiking, lift-served mountain biking and scenic chairlift rides out of two villages, the return of the Woodward Wrecktangle, activities on West Lake and more. Weekly resort programming like Mountainside Movies, yoga and community bike rides and hikes will offer guests the chance to connect with other mountain guests. The resort is adhering to the latest guidance set forth by Summit County Public Health and will require everyone to wear face coverings while riding buses at the resort and at the Woodward Copper Barn.
Guests visiting Powderhorn can enjoy 13 miles of downhill mountain biking trails as well as over five miles of hiking trails on Colorado’s beautiful Grand Mesa. Summer operations at Powderhorn will run Thursdays-Sundays.
Purgatory’s Big Mountain Enduro will take place August 28 and 29 with some of the country’s best mountain bike riders competing on downhill lift-served and backcountry trails. Guests can also enjoy the Purgatory bike park with access to over 400 miles of single-track in the surrounding area all summer long.
The Kirstie Ennis Foundation (TKEF) will be putting on Oktoberfest at Sunlight Mountain Resort featuring three bands, three restaurants and nine breweries/distilleries. Proceeds will benefit the Kirstie Ennis Foundation.
New this summer, Winter Park guests can enjoy a guided tour of Rocky Mountain National Park, as well as its award-winning Trestle Bike Park. The guided package includes the park entrance fee for one vehicle and a guide to help guests explore this crown jewel of the Colorado Rockies. Winter Park will also welcome the Big Wonderful Wine Fest and Backcountry Taproom in August and September, exact dates will be announced in the future.
