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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.
Total Runs
59
Total Area
470 ac
190.2 ha
Ski Cooper runs four lifts: one double chair and one triple chair, serving 59 runs across 470 acres near Leadville, alongside one surface lift and two t-bars. This lean network reflects the resort's origins as a wartime training facility rather than a commercially developed destination.
The lift infrastructure traces back to a newly built T-bar installed in 1942 specifically to train 10th Mountain Division soldiers stationed at nearby Camp Hale, supporting the ski instruction those trainees received from instructors brought in from Sun Valley and Waterville Valley.
That original wartime T-bar gave way over subsequent decades to the double chair and triple chair that now form the backbone of Ski Cooper's civilian lift network, serving the resort's advanced-and-intermediate-weighted terrain since it opened to the public following the war.
Specific recent individual lift replacement or expansion projects beyond this historical foundation are not confirmed in available resort information. Ski Cooper's compact, unpretentious lift network remains consistent with its identity as one of Colorado's most historically significant and affordably priced ski areas.
Total Lifts
5
Lift Types
4
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.
Current Season
2025 - 2026
Opening Day
12/11/2025
Closing Day
3/22/2026
Days Open
102
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.
