Ski Cooper
City:
Leadville
Region:
Rockies
Updated:
October 31, 2024
52
PeakRankings Score
To give each resort a Mountain Score, we assess 10 equally weighted categories that paint an overall picture of the typical mountain experience.
[Year] Rankings
Overall Rank
#
89
Rank In
United States
#
75
Rank In
Colorado
#
20
Category Scores
Snow
Criteria Breakdown
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10
The resort gets top accumulation and snow that forms in a way that feels light and powdery all the time.
9
The resort sees very good accumulation and gets powder that takes awhile to track or feels notably light.
8
The resort sees very good snow accumulation each season that tends to stay powdery for several days in a row.
7
The resort sees very good, powdery snow accumulation each season, but powder doesn't always last long at certain places in the resort.
6
The resort sees good accumulation that forms a solid base each season and sometimes sees powder but sometimes suffers from variable cover.
5
The resort sees decent accumulation each season but sometimes suffers from variable cover and rarely sees powder.
4
The resort sees okay accumulation each season. Non-snowmaking trails regularly suffer from thin or variable cover.
3
The resort sees mediocre accumulation each season. Thin cover is a given on all non-snowmaking trails.
2
The resort receives poor accumulation each season and must heavily rely on snowmaking to stay open.
1
The resort would have little to no snow if it weren't for snowmaking. If you're not on a trail, you probably don't see any accumulation.
0
The resort doesn’t get any snow.
8
Lifts
Criteria Breakdown
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10
High-speed lifts exist across every mountain area. Helper lifts are high-speed as well.
9
Most lifts are high-speed, with only a few areas serviced by helper fixed-grip lifts.
8
All but a few areas are accessible by high-speed lifts. Helper lifts may be fixed grip.
7
Most areas are accessible by high-speed lifts. Helper lifts are fixed grip.
6
Many areas are accessible by high-speed lifts, but some are only serviced by fixed-grip lifts.
5
About half of areas are accessible by high-speed lifts.
4
A few areas are accessible by high-speed lifts, but most areas only see fixed-grip lift service.
3
All lifts are fixed grip but some are at least modern.
2
Lifts are extremely old or low-capacity. Some places are only serviced by surface lifts.
1
Surface lifts only.
0
No lifts.
2
Resiliency
Criteria Breakdown
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10
The mountain can quickly recover from the worst conditions and deliver the exact same experience as on a good day.
9
The mountain can quickly recover from almost any poor conditions thanks to excellent poor snow and weather mitigation.
8
The mountain successfully mitigates snow or weather issues in nearly every mountain area and across all terrain categories. A few parts of the resort may occasionally see significant impacts.
7
The mountain successfully mitigates snow or weather issues in most mountain areas, but some parts of the mountain are highly affected by inclement weather or poor conditions.
6
The mountain successfully mitigates snow or weather issues in many mountain areas, but other parts are highly susceptible to inclement weather or poor conditions.
5
The mountain has some capabilities to avoid inclement weather or poor conditions, but struggles to mitigate poor conditions in many mountain areas.
4
The mountain has some capabilities to avoid inclement weather or poor conditions, but is regularly forced to close a few major parts of the mountain. Under severe circumstances, the mountain may be forced to completely suspend operations.
3
The mountain has some capabilities to avoid inclement weather or poor conditions, but is regularly forced to close multiple major mountain areas. Occasionally, the mountain may be forced to suspend operations completely.
2
In the event of any inclement weather, the mountain loses most of its skiable terrain, with restoration regularly taking several days or weeks. A few small runs may stay open.
1
In the event of any inclement weather, the mountain loses its entire skiable footprint and may take weeks to recover.
0
Any inclement weather issues are season-ending.
7
Crowd Flow
Criteria Breakdown
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10
The mountain's infrastructure is perfectly set up for crowd flow and capacity and does the best possible job to mitigate crowding.
9
The mountain's lift infrastructure is mostly direct and well-placed with excellent capacity.
8
The mountain's lift infrastructure is mostly direct and well-placed with good capacity. One or two areas could use a capacity upgrade.
7
The mountain's lift infrastructure is usually direct and well-placed with good capacity. A few areas could use a capacity upgrade or better placed lifts. Trails themselves rarely become chokepoints.
6
The mountain's lift and trail network is usually direct with good capacity. Some areas suffer from indirect lift placements or poorly thought out junctions.
5
The mountain’s lift and trail network comprises a comparable mix of direct, well-placed routes and indirect or capacity-constrained ones.
4
The mountain's lift and trail network is set up in a way that causes major crowding or indirect routing for many popular routes. Some areas are served by direct, well-placed lifts.
3
The mountain's lift and trail network causes serious crowding or indirect routing for most areas, but a few places are served by direct, well-placed lifts.
2
The mountain's lift and trail network is not equipped to handle crowds on a normal day and sees backups of more than half an hour.
1
The mountain's crowd flow logistics are seriously flawed. Poor lift placement and uphill capacity can cause backups of more than an hour.
0
The mountain's crowd flow logistics are so bad that you shouldn't expect to get on the mountain on a typical day.
8
Size
Criteria Breakdown
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10
7000+ skiable acres
9
3500-7000 skiable acres
8
2500-3500 skiable acres
7
1800-2500 skiable acres
6
1200-1800 skiable acres
5
800-1200 skiable acres
4
500-800 skiable acres
3
250-500 skiable acres
2
100-250 skiable acres
1
1-100 skiable acres
0
0 skiable acres
3
Facilities
Criteria Breakdown
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10
The mountain boasts easily accessible, high-capacity lodges at every major and minor junction area.
9
The mountain boasts easily accessible, high-capacity lodges throughout most mountain areas.
8
The mountain boasts several lodges or huts across the resort. A few minor mid- or high-elevation areas lack easy access to high-capacity facilities.
7
The mountain boasts several lodges or huts across the resort. Some major mountain areas lack easy access to high-capacity facilities.
6
The mountain boasts several lodges or huts across multiple areas, but some places lack easy access to the closest facilities.
5
The mountain consists of high-capacity lodges at each base area but suffers from limited, low-capacity, or impractically placed on-mountain facilities.
4
The mountain consists of high-capacity lodges at each base area. Any on-mountain facilities are limited, low-capacity, and impractically placed.
3
The mountain consists of at least one high-capacity base lodge but no on-mountain facilities.
2
The mountain consists of a moderately-sized base lodge but no on-mountain facilities.
1
The mountain consists of a singular base lodge that's either impractically small or hard to reach.
0
The mountain doesn't consist of any on-site lodge facilities.
4
Terrain Diversity
Criteria Breakdown
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10
The mountain has an abundance of terrain in all categories for all ability levels.
9
The mountain offers multiple options in all terrain categories you'd typically find at a ski resort.
8
The mountain offers at least some options in all terrain categories you'd typically find at a ski resort.
7
The mountain offers terrain in most categories for a range of ability levels, but may fall short in one or two areas.
6
The mountain offers terrain in many categories but either falls short or lacks terrain in a few others.
5
The mountain offers terrain of varying lengths, gradients, and widths but lacks terrain in multiple categories.
4
The mountain offers similar terrain of moderately different lengths, gradients, and widths.
3
The mountain offers similar terrain of slightly different lengths, gradients, or widths.
2
The mountain consists of runs that are similar to one another but vary slightly by difficulty.
1
The mountain only consists of runs that provide nearly identical terrain experiences.
0
The mountain has no terrain.
3
Navigation
Criteria Breakdown
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10
It's easy, direct, and clear to get anywhere on the mountain from any place.
9
It's easy, direct, and clear to get anywhere on the mountain from most places. A small fraction of trails don't have direct access to all other mountain areas.
8
It's easy to get to and from most mountain areas. A few minor areas aren't directly accessible from all other parts of the resort or may be hard to find.
7
It's reasonably simple to get between most major mountain areas. A few areas require catwalks or traverses to get to or from or are hard to find. Some areas require multiple direct lift rides to travel between.
6
It's reasonably simple to get between many major mountain areas, but some areas require more effort due to poor signage, indirect lifts, or catwalks.
5
Some mountain areas are easy to navigate while others require more effort due to poor signage, indirect lifts, or catwalks.
4
Some mountain areas are easy to get between, but navigating many major areas can be confusing. Some major trails may suffer from poor signage or require catwalks.
3
It can take multiple lifts or be notably confusing to get between major resort areas. Many resort areas suffer from indirect trail routes, poor signage, or multiple catwalks.
2
It takes a substantial amount of effort and multiple indirect lifts to get between resort areas with little enjoyable terrain in between. Expect to occasionally get lost.
1
Expect to regularly get lost at this resort due to poor signage and lift placement. Getting between mountain areas requires notable effort and extremely unenjoyable terrain.
0
It's impossible to get around this resort. You will likely get lost or spend your whole day trying to get from one place to another.
7
Challenge
Criteria Breakdown
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10
The resort boasts truly extreme terrain across several prominent areas. Any double blacks should not be attempted, even by experts, without using extreme caution.
9
Select resort areas boast some of the most challenging runs in the world. The most challenging terrain should not be attempted, even by experts, without using extreme caution.
8
The mountain boasts extremely demanding terrain with sustained pitches, cliffs, drop-ins, and/or tight turns.
7
The mountain offers a range of very steep, ungroomed terrain with features like cliffs, drop-ins, or tight turns.
6
The mountain offers a range of steep, difficult terrain, with expert features like cliffs in some places.
5
The mountain offers some fairly steep groomed and ungroomed runs.
4
The mountain offers some steep runs but very little ungroomed terrain.
3
The mountain primarily offers groomed terrain with moderate pitches.
2
The mountain offers mostly gently-sloped terrain.
1
None of the mountain's terrain is more difficult than a typical bunny hill.
0
The mountain is completely flat.
5
Mountain Aesthetic
Criteria Breakdown
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10
The resort offers one-of-a-kind views, terrain, isolation, and vibes. You probably won't find a resort that feels like this again in your lifetime.
9
The resort offers unique terrain, views, and isolation that you'll rarely find anywhere else.
8
The resort clearly distinguishes itself with class-leading views, terrain, and isolation.
7
The resort feels unique, with high-quality views, terrain, and isolation across the footprint.
6
The resort doesn't boast the same unique terrain as some competing resorts but offers excellent views and isolation in many areas.
5
The resort offers some cool terrain and great views and isolation in some areas. Some areas may feel commercialized or built-up.
4
The resort offers decently cool terrain, nice views, or pockets of isolation in places. Major areas may feel commercialized or built-up.
3
The resort either feels commercialized or built-up around more than half the resort or offers only moderately interesting terrain, views and isolation.
2
The resort either feels commercialized or built-up in most areas or offers only mildly interesting terrain, views or isolation.
1
The resort barely feels like a mountain, with intense commercialization and very little in the way of views, terrain, or isolation.
0
The resort is completely flat or indoors.
5
Good To Know
Aprés-ski:
Limited
On-site Lodging:
No
Nearest City:
Denver (2.5 hrs)
Pass Affiliation:
Powder Alliance, Freedom Pass
Epic [Backend]
Ikon [Backend]
Mountain Collective [Backend]
Other [Backend]
Recommended Ability:
From
Beginner
To
Advanced
Beginner [Backend]
Intermediate [Backend]
Advanced [Backend]
Expert [Backend]
Extreme [Backend]
Pros
- Snow quality
- Lack of crowds
- Great views of multiple 14ers, and near a great mountain town
- Some of the best beginner terrain in the state
Pro Con Item [Backend]
Cons
- No high-speed lifts
- Short vertical drop
- Lack of expert terrain
- Some frustrating navigation logistics
- Altitude that can be overwhelming for some
#BBD0E0 »
Pro Con Item [Backend]
Mountain Stats
480
acres
Skiable Footprint
480
acres
Total Footprint
100
%
Lift-Serviced Terrain
11700
ft
Top Elevation
1200
ft
Vertical Drop
5
Lifts
64
Trails
19
%
Beginner
27
%
Intermediate
54
%
Advanced/Expert
Comprehensive Review
Looking for an escape from the crowds at Colorado’s destination ski resorts, but still want some great high-alpine snow and views—as well as a great family-friendly vibe? Set your sights on Ski Cooper, which is just south of some of the most popular Summit County ski resorts in the state.
Ski Cooper is one of the most historic ski areas in the country, having been the training grounds of the famous 10th Mountain Division for World War II—but unlike many of its newer competitors, it hasn’t expanded into a massive destination in recent decades. This modestly-sized ski area is no substitute for a true fly-to mountain, but it offers some of the local soul and empty slopes that many competing mega-resorts lack.
Snow Quality and Resiliency
With a base elevation of 10,500 ft, Ski Cooper is one of the highest ski areas in the country, and the ski area gets some great snow because of that. Although the resort lacks snowmaking entirely, powder days and soft snow can be almost expected at Ski Cooper.
Ski Cooper’s front side and Piney Basin zones offer the most reliable opening schedules, with lifts in these areas typically spinning from December to early April. The newly opened Tennessee Creek Basin zone, which faces south and consists of steep glades served by a T-bar, opens a little bit later in the season; if you want to ski some of that terrain, look to visit in February or March.
Front Side and Piney Basin Zones
The front side and Piney Basin zones are served by a double and triple chair respectively, and they service some of the best beginner terrain in the state. Long green and easy blue runs offer soft snow with great views of some of the tallest peaks in the country, making for much more picturesque mellow slopes than one’s run-of-the-mill ski area. These runs also offer easy access to reasonably-spaced trees, making Ski Cooper a solid place to progress into glade skiing.
Ski Cooper’s intermediate trails are generally on the easier side, and some black diamond runs can be comfortably done by the typical intermediate skier (although while a rotation of runs are groomed every day, most black diamond runs are left for the whole season to bump up). A few marked glades are great for beginners and intermediates, and the black diamond runs of Timberbash, Corkscrew, and Powderkeg offer some great warmups for skiers looking to see if they’re ready for the harder Tennessee Creek Basin terrain.
The front side’s terrain is very low angle, and provides great learning and beginner terrain with good opportunities to learn tree skiing and powder skiing due to the rotating grooming. There is a small feature terrain park on the front side, but people looking for bigger jumps and features should look anywhere else in the region. The Piney Creek triple serves slightly steeper terrain, with some small steep sections and some areas with wide spaced trees and a few mogul runs, though they aren’t long by any means.
TRAIL MAP
Tennessee Creek Basin
Tennessee Creek Basin is the hardest terrain zone at Ski Cooper, and is served exclusively by a brand new T-bar that allows for some very fast laps. The mix of steep trees and bumps and the drag lift on the ride up make for some very tired legs and a great cardio workout, despite a vertical drop of about 700 ft. The runs get steeper and shorter as you go further skiers left, although all runs offer tight trees and at least 25 degree slopes.
While marked as double-black diamonds, the runs in this area are typical in pitch and technicality to single-black runs at most large Colorado destinations. Ski Cooper does not offer any truly extreme terrain, and skiers and riders of advanced proficiency should be able to handle everything on the mountain.
Lift Infrastructure and Navigation
With the exception of the aforementioned T-bar, the lifts at Ski Cooper feel like some of the slowest around. The 10th Mountain Chair, which serves the front side, requires an over 11 minute ride, and the Piney Basin Chair mandates a 10 minute ride. Other Colorado ski resorts do involve some lifts with similarly-long ride times, but they usually cover twice the amount of terrain.
While getting around Ski Cooper is very easy due to the three pod setup, there are a few frustrations. One of these involves getting from the base to Tennessee Creek Basin, which looks like it should be possible by going up the 10th Mountain Chair to the summit; however, this chair doesn’t go all the way to the top of the ski area, making it very hard to access Tennessee Creek Basin unless you skate or pole uphill. Ski Cooper will likely put in a new frontside chairlift in the next few years, but for now, this is a bit of an annoyance.
Another frustrating navigation issue is reaching the Corkscrew and Timberbash trails, which offer some of the best glade skiing outside of Ski Cooper’s Tennessee Creek Basin area. The Motherlode Flats trail, which provides the only access to these woods, lives up to its name—and with fresh snow, getting to these runs can be a slog.
Altitude
While Ski Cooper’s terrain may be friendlier to beginners than most Colorado destinations, the resort isn’t ideal for those who aren’t used to higher elevations. The 10,500-foot base elevation gives Ski Cooper the fourth-highest base elevation of any ski resort in North America, meaning that even experienced skiers or riders may find themselves unexpectedly struggling on the slopes due to the thinner air. We’d recommend that guests drink lots of water and exhibit extra caution before attempting anything risky.
On-Mountain Facilities
The base facilities at Ski Cooper are nothing spectacular, but they’re more than adequate for a ski area of its size. The ski area offers an Irish Pub and a taproom at the singular base lodge, as well as the typical cafeteria fare.
One highlight of Ski Cooper’s food options is the Ridgeview Café. This upper-mountain lodge, located at the top of the 10th Mountain chair, offers reasonably priced on-mountain food and drinks. We’d especially recommend the lodge’s chili and mulled wine, which work together to warm not just your body, but your soul.
RECOMMENDED SKIS FOR SKI COOPER
NOTE: We may receive a small affiliate commission if you click on the below links. All products listed below areunisex.
Mountain Aesthetic and 14er Views
Ski Cooper sits at an incredibly high elevation amidst some of the most prominent peaks in the Rocky Mountains, and resort guests will enjoy excellent mountain views from the slopes. Just south of Ski Cooper lies Colorado’s two tallest mountains, Mount Elbert and Mount Massive. Both of these peaks are visible from the slopes—especially Mount Massive, which lives up to its name. From the slopes heading northwest, Mount of the Holy Cross takes over the horizon, though its namesake “cross” lies on the other side of the mountain.
Other than the base area, there aren’t many other developed areas visible from the slopes—meaning that despite Ski Cooper’s small size, it offers a somewhat isolated and unique feel.
History
Ski Cooper is also oozing with history, as it was essential in the development of the 10th Mountain Division during World War II, of which many members went on to create many other famous ski areas such as Vail. Some pictures in the base area tell some form of their story, and just a few miles north of the mountain is Camp Hale, where they were stationed, and is now a National Monument.
Crowd Flow
Despite the low lift capacity, lines are rare at Ski Cooper. The out-of-base double attracts the longest lines, but on the busiest days, the resort also spins a nearby platter lift, allowing access to the backside without the long lift ride. The Piney Basin triple sees even less lines, and the T-bar in Tennessee Creek Basin moves people very quickly.
Overall, visitors will rarely find crowds on the mountain, although short frontside lines can build up on the busiest days.
Reciprocal Pass Access
Perhaps more than anything else, Ski Cooper has made headlines over the past few years for its decidedly generous partner roster on its reasonably-priced season pass. For $379* with an in-advance purchase, Ski Cooper pass holders get three reciprocal days at a whopping 56 ski resorts across the US and Canada, as well as an additional three international mountains. Combined with the economical cost of entry, these access benefits have effectively turned the Ski Cooper season pass into an appealing multi-resort pass product for some who barely even plan to spend time at Ski Cooper itself.
*Price as of the 2023-24 season.
RECOMMENDED SNOWBOARDS FORSKI COOPER
NOTE: We may receive a small affiliate commission if you click on the below links. All products listed below areunisex.
Getting There
Like other central Colorado ski areas, Ski Cooper’s closest city is Denver. With no traffic, the resort is just over two hours from the Denver International Airport—however, weekend drives often come with serious backups on I-70, the main highway to the resort. Visitors can also fly into the Eagle County Regional Airport, which is just over an hour from the resort but typically pricier to fly into.
Unlike many larger competitors, Ski Cooper offers convenient and plentiful free parking right at the base. However, drivers should watch out for large potholes.
Lodging and Aprés-ski
While Ski Cooper does not offer any on-site lodging, the ski area sits 15 minutes from Leadville, a history-filled town that still has the old school charm that is lost in so many other mining-turned-ski towns (**cough cough** Breckenridge and Park City). There are some cool old west-type bars and newer breweries, as well as a variety of places to eat—although there aren’t really any party spots.
If you go north from Ski Cooper rather than south to Leadville, you can find lodging in Red Cliff in about 20 minutes (passing by Camp Hale National Monument), Minturn in 30 minutes, and Copper Mountain (not to be confused with Ski Cooper itself) in 35 minutes.
Mar 11, 2024 Written By Alex Conrad
Verdict
Ski Cooper offers something that’s becoming increasingly rare in Colorado—a small local feeling mountain with fantastic snow and a great nearby town. While most folks won’t want to plan a weeklong vacation here, the resort stands out from the destinations in its easy-to-handle footprint and lack of crowds. With ticket prices below $100—and many ways to ski there for cheaper—Ski Cooper is a great deal for families looking for an easier mountain, that also still has fun terrain for more advanced skiers.
Pricing
Day passes at Ski Cooper top out at $95 at the ticket window, but there are also many deals, such as $30 Thursdays, $50 online purchases tickets in April, $65 pre-purchase Weekdays, and $80 pre-purchase weekends. In addition, the Ski Cooper season pass is filled with reciprocal deals from mountains across the country, so if you have a season pass to your local hill, there’s a chance you may have three free days of skiing at Cooper!
Best Winter Wonderland Getaway
The resort is a true winter wonderland, with stunning scenery and fantastic skiing conditions. The après-ski activities were a blast, and the staff went out of their way to ensure everything ran smoothly. I especially enjoyed the variety of trails and the relaxing atmosphere after a day on the slopes.
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