Copper Mountain Expansion: Colorado's New Second-Largest Ski Resort

Copper Mountain's Massive Terrain Expansion to Feature North America's Highest Chairlift

The White River National Forest has officially approved Copper Mountain's ambitious expansion plan, setting the stage for the Colorado resort to become the state's second-largest ski destination. The comprehensive plan will increase skiable terrain by 14%, add North America's highest chairlift, and significantly modernise the resort's infrastructure.

A Bold Vision for Growth

Approved on February 27, Copper Mountain's master plan will add over 500 acres of new terrain, expanding the resort from 3,641 acres to 4,154 acres. This growth positions Copper as Colorado's second-largest ski resort, trailing only Vail in size.

The expansion includes eight lift upgrades and six completely new lifts, designed to improve mountain circulation and enhance skier distribution across the resort. These improvements will increase Copper's daily capacity from 11,870 to 15,360 skiers, creating more space for everyone on the slopes.

A graphic from the Mater Plan which shows where the expansion would take place. Credit: Copper Mountain Master Plan

Record-Breaking Lift Development

The centrepiece of the expansion is the Jaques East lift, which will reach an impressive elevation of 13,150 feet—making it North America's highest chairlift. This 5,900-foot detachable quad will surpass Breckenridge's Imperial Express (12,840 feet) and provide access to the untapped Tucker Gulch drainage with minimal environmental impact by staying above the tree line.

Several existing lifts are already slated for upgrades, including:

• Replacing the 43-year-old Lumberjack triple chair with a high-speed six-person lift
• Extending the Alpine Lift to access additional terrain
• Improvements to Super Bee, Excelerator, Mountain Chief, Blackjack, and Rendezvous lifts

Additional new lifts will include:

• Thunderbird: A triple chair connecting Tucker Mountain and Jaques Peak
• Union Meadows: A high-speed quad linking with Jaques East
• Sail Away Express: A four-person lift accessing Sail Away Glades
• Dedicated lifts for the super pipe and terrain parks

High-Alpine Terrain Expansion

The Tucker Gulch expansion will add 513 acres primarily focused on intermediate and advanced terrain. Skiers and riders will enjoy spectacular high-alpine views and wind-sheltered slopes, significantly enhancing Copper's appeal to those seeking challenging terrain.

Even after this expansion, Copper's Special Use Permit area of 7,343 acres leaves over 3,000 acres for potential future development, suggesting the resort has room for continued growth in the coming years.

The existing Copper Mountain Trail Map. Credit: Copper Mountain Resort.

Financial Outlook and Timeline

Recent sales of other resorts by Copper's parent company, POWDR Corp, could potentially accelerate the implementation of this ambitious plan if proceeds are reinvested into Copper Mountain.

While the master plan has received approval, individual projects will require additional review before implementation. The expansion represents one of Colorado's most significant ski resort development efforts in recent years, promising to transform Copper Mountain into one of North America's premier high-alpine skiing destinations.