As instructors at the Copper Mountain, we know the ins and outs of where to go! Learn the 7 reasons why we love riding and skiing at Copper Mountain and how you can get the best out of your time on the mountain!
By Sawyer Lane & Bekah Whitney
I (Sawyer) lived in Frisco for four years and taught skiing at Copper Mountain for three of them. Copper will always be special to me because I got way better at skiing and became an instructor there and I met my partner at Copper Ski and Ride School. The people you meet are locals, J-1’s, visitors from Texas and all over the world, and the culture is always so relaxed and full of excitement for the mountain. I LOVE the terrain at Copper, but I have to admit that if I didn’t know of so many semisecret places, I might not feel so strongly. Either way, there is just so much mountain that there is something for everyone not too far away. 10/10 Would recommend.
My (Bekah’s) first time riding at Copper Mountain was a bit of a difference experience since I was there for a total of 5 months. I was a new snowboard instructor and lived on the mountain from December to April. I couldn’t be more excited when I had time to free ride on my days off and really fell in love with the incredible views, long runs, and plenty of room to play.
Skiable Acreage: 2,507 acres
Lifts: 24 total
Base Elevation: 9,712 feet
Summit Elevation: 12,441 feet
Average Snowfall: 305 inches
Terrain Overview: 21% beginners, 25% intermediate, 36% advanced, 18% expert
Website: https://www.coppercolorado.com/
Copper is one of those mountains where we just want to go everywhere. There are so many fun runs off of most of the lifts that you can’t really go wrong. If you are planning your first time to riding and skiing at Copper Mountain, make sure to hit American Flyer and Timberline for big ole groomers, Rendezvous and Sierra for trees, and if you’re up for it, go up Celebrity and into the back bowls! Anything with Glade at the end of its name is a blast, and Super Bee has some of the best go-fast terrain ever.
One of the amazing things about Copper is that it feels like the mountain popped out of the earth with a ski resort in mind. Most of the beginner green runs are on the west side of the mountain, meaning there aren’t too many areas where experts have to share the mountain with newbies, and you’ve made a big mistake if you’re power-wedging or heel-side hero-ing Super Bee, which is on the east side.
On a given day, I would guess that the skier-per-acre number at Breck is twice that of Copper. I remember seeing people’s social media of the lift lines and runs at Breck on the same day I was at Copper and I had plenty of room. Also, the front side of Copper is so huge that most people who don’t have any business being back there stay out of the back bowls, so you generally have plenty of real estate back there including tons of natural hits and cliff drops sure to keep any thrill-seeker occupied.
Copper is also partnered with Woodward, a freeride training organization, meaning if you are a park rat there is endless park riding as well as a Super Pipe that is open to the public as long as there are no trainings or competitions during your visit. Pretty rad, huh?
The American Flyer chair lift was converted into a bubble chair in 2018/2019 season. The bubble chair has all the joys of a gondola without having to take your skis or board off.
Copper Mountain is both a resort and an incorporated town, so it has its own fire department AND laws, including an open-container law, so you can drink your beer in peace anywhere in the Villages! You can also just buy tallboys from the liquor store in Center Village and open one as soon as you walk out the door so you can sit on an Adirondack chair in the sun and enjoy your $2.50 19oz IPA right next to the suckers paying for $7 pints at the bar.
Bluebird Colorado days are incredible and very common at Copper. Sunny, peaceful, wind-free, and surfy snow days are something of dreams and quite common at Copper. You can see the mountains all around, the temperatures are perfect, and you feel like you could be out in the sun all day. While you are enjoying that sun, remember it will slightly melt the snow creating hard patches adjacent to soft patches as the shadows of the trees move across the terrain.
One of the biggest cons of riding and skiing at Copper Mountain is how convenient it is to Denver. Although the mountain is big enough to not feel overcrowded, you will notice that all the powder will get tracked out fairly fast if. If there is any chance of snow, hit the slopes early so that you can get some of those fresh tracks before they are all gone.
If you refuse to pay for parking, like us, you will have to take a bus from the free lot to one of the main villages. It’s a super short ride from the parking lot and they have plenty of buses, but the extra step can be bothersome, especially if you are used to riding right down to your car.
Summit County’s free public bus system that can take you from Frisco up to Copper Mountain and back down. If you’re staying in a convenient location this might be better option then driving and parking. You can also ride it from Dillon or Silverthrone, but you will have to go to the transfer station making the ride much less convenient. Make sure to down load their app as you can track exactly where the bus is and see all the schedules!
Copper has a chill local’s mountain vibe and you will find most people, including basically every employee, head to the bars after a day on the slopes. There are many choices of fun bars and restaurants in Copper’s village. If you are staying in Frisco or Silverthorne there are multiple breweries that have a mix of locals and tourists so you can really enjoy the Colorado vibes.
Also, if your legs are totally beat, there is a huge number of activities other than skiing available. You can go fishing, ride the mountain coaster, drink all day in the village, go shopping at the outlet mall in Silverthorne, enjoy copper’s snowshoeing and cross country skiing trails, rent fat tire bikes, you name it.
Will we be back? Of course! Other then the nostalgia of visiting a mountain that used to be your home, the riding is supreme, the mountain is set up beautifully, and, the vibe is exactly what we want from a day of riding and skiing!
Hi! I’m Bekah, but you can call me Beks, all my friends do! I travel full-time in a tiny home on wheels that my partner, Sawyer, and I built from a cargo trailer shell in 2019. We started out in beautiful Colorado and have been all over the United States over the years. This space is designed to inspire and guide the nature obsessed nomad, weekend warrior, and future roadlifer. I’m so excited you’re here!
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5 Comments on 7 Reasons Why We Love Riding and Skiing at Copper Mountain
We love Copper!! I haven't been in a few years since having kids, so I haven't seen their bubble chairs yet. Are those bubble chairs good for kids starting out?
Such a great question! American Flyer (the only bubble chair currently at Copper) only has intermediate and up (no beginner) runs so once your kids are comfortable enough on their skis/boards to get on that specific lift, the bubble chair won't cause any issues!
Sounds like an incredible place to explore. Appreciate the overview. I’m a smart wood sock girl too - I’ll never go back to “regular socks” no matter the activity LOL!
This winter has definitely made me miss skiing. Copper Mountain was a Colorado spot I always wanted to go to but never made it. I really enjoyed reading about it and seeing all your awesome photos!
Thank you so much for your kind words! Glad you enjoyed it!