Cooper Ski Area
470 acres, 59 runs near Leadville. Historic 10th Mountain Division training ground, affordable skiing.
Season 2026 - 2027
Opens
9 Dec 2026
Closes
21 Mar 2027
Days open
102
Annual snow
200in
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Ski Cooper's summit reaches 11,700 feet, dropping roughly 1,201 vertical feet to a base at 10,499 feet near Leadville, Colorado. The resort spreads across 470 acres and 59 runs. Terrain splits 31 per cent advanced, 27 per cent intermediate, 25 per cent expert and 17 per cent beginner, with average annual snowfall of roughly 200 inches. Four lifts, including one double chair and one triple chair, serve the mountain alongside one surface lift and two t-bars.
Ski Cooper holds a genuinely significant place in American military and skiing history, having served as the training ground for the US Army's 10th Mountain Division during the Second World War. This heritage, combined with the resort's affordable, uncrowded character, has earned Ski Cooper a devoted following among skiers seeking an authentic slice of Colorado's ski history.
In 1940, ski enthusiasts Charles Minot Dole, Roger Langley and Roland Palmedo grew concerned about America's unpreparedness for mountain warfare, and weeks before the Pearl Harbor attack the War Department formed the 87th Mountain Infantry Regiment, the core of what became the 10th Mountain Division. In March 1942, the Army built Camp Hale in the Pando Valley north of Leadville, and trainees learned to ski at nearby Cooper Hill under instructors brought from Sun Valley and Waterville Valley, supported by on-site barracks and a newly built T-bar lift.
Cooper Hill, known today as Ski Cooper, opened to Camp Hale trainees in 1942 before later opening to the public after the war. Veterans of the 10th Mountain Division went on to found dozens of American ski resorts, including Vail, Aspen and Arapahoe Basin. Adult daily tickets run from 55 to 65 US dollars, with free access for children aged 5 and under and seniors aged 75 and over.
1,201ft
Vertical
59
Runs
470 acres
Skiable
200in
Annual snow
The Terrain
59 runs across 470 acres skiable
Ski Cooper is a small, uncrowded area on Tennessee Pass near Leadville, covering 470 acres (190 hectares) across 59 runs. The base sits at 10,500 ft (3,200 m) and the summit at 11,700 ft (3,566 m), a vertical drop of 1,200 ft (366 m). Terrain divides into 17% beginner, 27% intermediate, 31% advanced and 25% expert. Snowfall averages around 200 inches a year. With five lifts, namely two chairlifts, a platter lift, a T-bar and a magic carpet, this is a throwback mountain. It sits at the dividing line between the San Isabel and White River national forests.
Most of the skiing is simple, with runs fanning out from the main chairs across the lift-served area. The big attraction is Chicago Ridge Snowcat Tours, which leaves from the base area and accesses about 2,400 acres of broad, open bowls and glades behind the resort, a rare option at this scale. The ski area opened as Cooper Hill in 1942 and served as a training site for the 10th Mountain Division, based at nearby Camp Hale during the Second World War. Ski Cooper suits families, beginners and anyone after a quieter alternative to the large Summit County resorts, with the snowcat tours giving stronger skiers somewhere to stretch out.
Terrain split
59
runs
59 runs across 4 grades
Beginner10 runs · 17%
Intermediate16 runs · 27%
Advanced18 runs · 31%
Expert15 runs · 25%
Time it right
When to visit Cooper Ski Area
The 2025-26 season at Ski Cooper ran from 11 December 2025 to 22 March 2026, a roughly fifteen-week season supported by average annual snowfall of around 200 inches at the resort's considerable 10,499-foot base elevation. Season dates can shift depending on early and late-season weather.
Midwinter, from December through February, typically brings the most consistent conditions to Ski Cooper's varied terrain. As an independently operated resort without major multi-resort pass affiliation, Ski Cooper draws value-focused skiers and those specifically interested in the mountain's 10th Mountain Division heritage, alongside regional visitors from Leadville and the broader Colorado high country.
The resort's affordable pricing, including free access for young children and seniors aged 75 and over, reflects its long-standing commitment to accessible skiing. School holiday periods bring some family visitation given the resort's approachable pricing and varied terrain across all ability levels.
Specific event programming beyond standard operations is not confirmed in available resort information. Ski Cooper continues to honour its origins as the training ground for the 10th Mountain Division, whose veterans went on to found dozens of American ski resorts after the war. This military and skiing heritage remains central to Ski Cooper's identity each season.
Season 2026 - 2027
9 Dec 2026
Opens
21 Mar 2027
Closes
102
Days open
200 in
Annual snow
The record
Historical snowfall at Cooper Ski Area
Daily snow reports at Cooper Ski Area go back to 2026. Open the record to compare winters, lifts and piste.
0 in
Snowiest day
15 Oct 2026
0 in
This winter · 2026-27
so far
0 in
Typical winter
average of complete seasons
Winter totals
in
Past wintersThis winter
Getting there
Getting to Cooper Ski Area, and where to stay
Ski Cooper sits near Leadville, Colorado, with a base elevation of 10,499 feet and a summit at 11,700 feet across a roughly 1,201-foot vertical drop over 470 acres. This considerable elevation places Ski Cooper among the highest-base ski areas in Colorado, close to the site of the historic Camp Hale training facility.
Leadville, one of America's highest incorporated cities and a genuine mining-heritage town, provides local lodging and dining within a short drive of the resort. The broader central Colorado high country surrounds the area with extensive additional outdoor recreation.
US Highway 24 provides direct access to the resort from Leadville. Winter driving conditions on this high-elevation route can include significant snow and ice, and travellers should carry appropriate equipment given the area's considerable elevation. There is no direct public transport service to the resort.
Denver International Airport, roughly a two-and-a-half-hour drive away, is the primary gateway for visitors flying into Colorado, with Ski Cooper's remote high-country location drawing a genuinely dedicated visitor base rather than convenient fly-in traffic.
Where to stay
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Hotels and lodges near Cooper Ski Area, powered by Stay22.
Good to know
Frequently asked
When is Cooper Ski Area's ski season?
Cooper Ski Area's 2026 - 2027 season typically runs from December 9 through March 21. That window is roughly 102 calendar days, though daily operations depend on snow cover, weather, and lift maintenance.
Resorts in Colorado, Usa often announce firm dates closer to winter; check the live snow report before you travel if you are planning around opening weekend or spring closure.
How much skiable terrain does Cooper Ski Area have?
Cooper Ski Area lists about 470 acres skiable of marked terrain spread across 59 named runs (190 hectares alongside 470 acres skiable). That footprint is what most riders experience on a lift-served day. Side-country or hike-to terrain may sit outside these published numbers.
Use the trail map to see how the mountain is laid out and where the longest fall-line runs connect back to base.
What is the terrain like at Cooper Ski Area?
Trail grading at Cooper Ski Area breaks down roughly as 17% beginner, 27% intermediate, 31% advanced, 25% expert. The advanced and expert share is substantial, so confident skiers and riders will find plenty of steeper fall-line options once they leave the nursery slopes.
Percentages describe the resort's published piste mix, not vertical feet. A mountain with modest "expert" stats can still feel demanding if the steep terrain is long or exposed. Read the trail map alongside these numbers when planning your route.
How many lifts does Cooper Ski Area have?
Cooper Ski Area operates 5 lifts across 4 lift types. The fleet includes 2 t-bars, 1 triple chair, 1 double chair, and 1 surface lift.
Lift mix affects how quickly you can lap your favourite zones. Gondolas and trams move big crowds to mid-mountain, while shorter chairs and surface lifts often serve learning areas or local pods. Check the live snow report on ski days for real-time open/closed status.
What is the elevation and vertical drop at Cooper Ski Area?
Base elevation at Cooper Ski Area is about 10,499 ft (3,200 m), with the summit around 11,699 ft (3,566 m), giving roughly 1,201 ft (366 m) of vertical from base to top.
Higher start heights usually mean colder, drier snow holding longer into spring, but also thinner air and faster weather changes. Pack layers if you are riding from village level to summit lifts in one day.
How much snow does Cooper Ski Area get each season?
Cooper Ski Area averages about 200 inches (508 cm) of natural snowfall per season. That is a long-term climate figure. Any single winter can run well above or below it depending on storm track and temperature.
For trip planning, pair this baseline with the live snow report and webcams: fresh cycles show up in overnight totals and summit cameras long before season averages tell you much about today's surface.
Where can I buy Cooper Ski Area lift tickets and how much do they cost?
Multi-day products (season passes) usually lower the per-day cost if you are staying several days. Tickets can be bought online through the resort's official checkout (linked from our lift tickets page) or at on-mountain ticket windows, subject to availability.
Buying ahead of peak holidays and weekends generally saves money and guarantees access on sold-out days. Before you commit, scan the snow report and webcams so you are paying for conditions that match your expectations.
How can I check snow and mountain conditions at Cooper Ski Area before I go?
SnowStash pulls together 3 live mountain webcams, a downloadable piste map, and the daily snow report for Cooper Ski Area so you can plan from home. Webcams refresh on a short interval and are the fastest way to judge visibility, wind exposure, and whether storm snow is still falling.
The snow report adds structured totals, base depth where available, and lift/trail status when the resort publishes it. Use both together: cameras show what it looks like right now, and the report summarises numbers your group can compare day to day.
Does Cooper Ski Area have a trail map?
Yes. The downloadable PDF/image map is better for offline planning, marking meeting points, and understanding the full mountain layout at a glance.
Both versions are on the trail map page for Cooper Ski Area. If you are navigating with kids or meeting friends across separate lifts, screenshot or print the static map and keep the live map open on your phone for operational updates.
Where is Cooper Ski Area located?
Cooper Ski Area sits in Colorado, Usa. That regional context matters for travel planning: airport transfers, snow tyres, and typical storm patterns all follow geography as much as resort marketing.
Browse nearby accommodation from the resort page if you are comparing village-base vs valley-base stays; where you sleep changes your first lift of the day more than most trail stats do.
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