Colorado's Front Range Resorts Gearing Up For 2025-2026 Season
The four ski and snowboard mountains that sit the closest to the metro Denver area spent the summer sprucing up for the coming season.
The most extensive project was at Loveland Ski Area (1,800 a., 2,210 vert.), located 57 miles west of Denver right on I-70 at the Eisenhower Tunnel. Crews took down the oldest chairlift on the hill, and replaced it with a larger version that goes higher on the hill.
Also the shortest chairlift at Loveland, Lift 7 will add capacity to bring more beginners to the gentle slopes of Loveland Valley -- the resort's primary learning and teaching area. Though a four-seater, the new lift will be loaded with three riders to help beginners get used to loading and unloading. Also at the Loveland Valley area, the Zig Zag trail off the top Lift 3 has been realigned to improve flow.
Down the highway at Eldora Mountain (680 a., 1,400 vert.), the big news is behind the scenes: The town of Nederland is finalizing the purchase of the day-trip mountain from Powdr Corp. Town officials propose to annex Eldora into the town and create a "long-needed, sustainable way to fund (town) infrastructure" and foster local control.
With seven chairlifts -- one a detachable six-pack -- Eldora will remain on the Ikon Pass. Ski area revenues from lift tickets, Ikon Pass, food and beverage sales are expected to cover cost of interest paid annually to bondholders, and to build up a reserve fund to cover infrastructure upgrades and poor snow years.
Up over Berthoud Pass, longtime Front Range favorite Winter Park (3,081 a., 3,060 vert.) continued to rebuild its snowmaking system this summer. Anticipation grows for a town-to-base gondola that is in the works, and mogul heaven Mary Jane celebrates its 50th year of operation.
And finally, Echo Mountain (60 a., 600 vert.) plans to open its one chairlift for daily operations and night skiing on Wednesday through Sundays. About 36 miles from downtown Denver, Echo Mountain has gone through multiple machinations since it opened in 1960 as Squaw Pass Ski Area. It closed from 1975-2005, reopened for the terrain park only, then became public in 2016.
