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    Colorado, Usa · Ikon

    Winter Park

    3,081 acres, 165 runs near Denver. Colorado's oldest resort, legendary Mary Jane terrain, Ikon Pass.

    Season 2025 - 2026
    Opens
    31 Oct 2025
    Closes
    26 Apr 2026
    Days open
    177
    Annual snow
    29ft
    The Overview
    MF
    Michael Fulton
    Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.

    Winter Park's summit reaches 12,060 feet, dropping 3,060 vertical feet to a base at 9,000 feet across 165 runs spread over 3,081 acres near Winter Park, Colorado. Terrain splits 37 per cent intermediate, 24 per cent advanced, 21 per cent beginner and 18 per cent expert, with average annual snowfall of roughly 320 inches. The resort carries Ikon Pass affiliation. Twenty-three lifts, including seven quad chairs and one gondola, serve the mountain alongside five six-person chairs, three double chairs, three triple chairs and four surface lifts.

    Winter Park holds the distinction of being Colorado's oldest continuously operating ski resort still in its original location, and its considerable terrain includes Mary Jane, a distinct mogul-and-glade-heavy area renowned among expert skiers. The resort's long-standing municipal ownership connection to the city of Denver adds a genuinely unusual chapter to its history.

    The city of Denver developed Winter Park in 1940, opening it as a municipally owned recreation area accessible via the Moffat Tunnel railroad, making skiing available to Denver residents decades before the Interstate 70 corridor resorts existed. This municipal ownership continued for decades, a genuinely unusual arrangement among major American ski resorts.

    Mary Jane opened as a separate mountain area in 1975, quickly building a reputation for challenging, ungroomed terrain distinct from Winter Park's more moderate main mountain. The city of Denver eventually leased resort operations to private management, and Alterra Mountain Company took over operations in 2019, bringing Winter Park into the Ikon Pass network. Adult daily tickets run from 129 to 199 US dollars.

    3,061ft
    Vertical
    171
    Runs
    3,081 acres
    Skiable
    29ft
    Annual snow
    Ikon
    Pass
    The Terrain

    171 runs across 3,081 acres skiable

    Winter Park spreads 171 runs across 3,081 acres skiable of terrain. It leans advanced at 50%, with 41 beginner runs to find your feet and 93 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.

    Terrain split
    171
    runs
    171 runs across 4 grades
    Beginner41 runs · 24%
    Intermediate38 runs · 22%
    Advanced86 runs · 50%
    Expert7 runs · 4%
    Time it right

    When to visit Winter Park

    The 2025-26 season at Winter Park ran from 14 November 2025 to 19 April 2026, a roughly twenty-three-week season supported by average annual snowfall of around 320 inches. Season dates can shift depending on early and late-season weather conditions.

    Midwinter, from December through February, typically brings the most consistent conditions across both Winter Park's main mountain and the Mary Jane terrain. As an Ikon Pass resort under Alterra Mountain Company management, Winter Park draws substantial visitation from Ikon Pass holders alongside considerable day-trip traffic from Denver, given the resort's historic municipal connection to the city.

    Winter Park's status as Colorado's oldest continuously operating resort continues to draw visitors interested in the mountain's long skiing heritage. School holiday periods bring substantial family visitation to the main mountain's approachable terrain, while Mary Jane draws dedicated expert skiers throughout the season.

    Specific event programming beyond standard operations is not confirmed in available resort information. Since Alterra's 2019 takeover of operations, Winter Park has continued building on more than eight decades of history since its 1940 founding by the city of Denver. The resort's dual terrain character and deep Denver heritage remain central to its enduring popularity.

    Season 2025 - 2026
    31 Oct 2025
    Opens
    26 Apr 2026
    Closes
    177
    Days open
    29 ft
    Annual snow
    Getting there

    Getting to Winter Park, and where to stay

    Winter Park sits near the town of Winter Park, Colorado, with a base elevation of 9,000 feet and a summit at 12,060 feet across a 3,060-foot vertical drop over 3,081 acres. This setting places the resort within a comparatively short drive of Denver, reflecting its origins as a municipally developed recreation area for the city.

    The town of Winter Park and nearby Fraser offer extensive lodging, dining and services within a short drive of the resort's base village.

    US Highway 40 over Berthoud Pass provides direct access to the resort from the Denver metropolitan area, offering an alternative route to the Interstate 70 corridor used by many other Colorado resorts. Winter driving conditions on this mountain pass can include significant snow and ice, and travellers should carry appropriate equipment.

    Denver International Airport, roughly a two-hour drive away, is the primary gateway for visitors flying into Colorado, with Winter Park's comparative proximity to Denver, historically connected by rail through the Moffat Tunnel, supporting substantial day-trip and weekend visitation from the Front Range.

    Where to stay

    Search all stays →

    Hotels and lodges near Winter Park, powered by Stay22.

    Latest News

    From the SnowStash desk

    View all news →
    Maverick Mountain's Only Chairlift Destroyed as Sand Creek Fire Tears Through Montana Ski Area

    Maverick Mountain's Only Chairlift Destroyed as Sand Creek Fire Tears Through Montana Ski Area

    Firefighters saved every base building at Maverick Mountain, Montana, but the resort's sole chairlift didn't survive the Sand Creek Fire. Owners Erik and Kristi Borge say the lift is "most likely" out for the 2026/27 season after flames tore through the mountain on August 8. The wildfire has since grown past 27,700 acres with zero percent containment. It's a gutting result for the tiny, one-lift operation near Dillon - though the lodge, groomers and equipment all made it through untouched.

    15 Aug 2026
    Spain Moves to Ban Smoking at Ski Resorts Under New Tobacco Law

    Spain Moves to Ban Smoking at Ski Resorts Under New Tobacco Law

    Spain's government has approved a draft tobacco law that would ban smoking across a wide range of outdoor spaces, including sports venues - a category Spanish winter sports media expect to cover ski resorts, potentially extending to slopes and lifts themselves. The rules would also apply to e-cigarettes and vaping devices, even nicotine-free ones. The bill still has to clear the Spanish parliament before any ban, signage, or fines can take effect.

    22 July 2026
    South Tyrol Approves New 16-Person Ciampinoi Gondola in Val Gardena

    South Tyrol Approves New 16-Person Ciampinoi Gondola in Val Gardena

    South Tyrol has approved a full rebuild of the Ciampinoi cable car in Selva di Val Gardena, replacing the current 12-person gondola with a 16-person cabin and a new mountain-station restaurant. Capacity is capped at 3,200 people an hour rather than the 3,600 the operator wanted, and 250,000 euros must go toward compensatory measures. No construction or opening date has been set, though the upgrade is partly aimed at clearing bottlenecks before the 2031 Alpine Ski World Championships.

    22 July 2026
    Resort Spotlight: Hoshino Tomamu - Corporate Japan's Mountain Playground Revisited

    Resort Spotlight: Hoshino Tomamu - Corporate Japan's Mountain Playground Revisited

    Hoshino Tomamu is the ski resort equivalent of a conference hotel that happens to have excellent powder. Built for corporate retreats and package tourists, it offers genuine Hokkaido snow on surprisingly limited terrain - 29 runs spread across 585 vertical metres.

    21 July 2026
    La Thuile's New Cable Car Replaces Two Ageing Chairlifts

    La Thuile's New Cable Car Replaces Two Ageing Chairlifts

    La Thuile is spending 38.7 million US dollars on a new 10-person cable car linking Les Suches to Chaz Dura, replacing the La Combe and Chaz Dura chairlifts after nearly forty years of service. Built by Leitner, the new cable car runs 1,950 metres to a top station at 2,576 metres, carrying up to 3,000 people an hour with a six-minute ride. It also improves the connection to La Rosiere in France via the Petit-Saint-Bernard Pass, and is on track to open for the 2026/27 season.

    21 July 2026
    The Remarkables Adds Scarpa Bowl to Its Inbounds Terrain

    The Remarkables Adds Scarpa Bowl to Its Inbounds Terrain

    The Remarkables is adding new inbounds terrain for winter, bringing the Scarpa Bowl - known locally as the Toilet Bowl - into its lift-accessed network after years as backcountry-only ground. The roughly 500 metre run is reached by bootpacking from the top of the Sugar Bowl chairlift, with a shuttle picking skiers up from the road at the bottom. It's a smaller, faster addition than the resort's planned Doolans expansion, though the new terrain hasn't opened yet due to a lack of snow this season.

    21 July 2026
    Ski Portillo Cut Off After Storm Dumps More Than 4.5 Metres of Snow

    Ski Portillo Cut Off After Storm Dumps More Than 4.5 Metres of Snow

    Ski Portillo remains isolated after an extended storm buried the Chilean resort under more than 4.5 metres of snow, with both ground and air access suspended since Tuesday while crews monitor avalanche hazards and worsening weather. Resort officials say further snowfall is expected in the coming days and haven't set a timeline for reopening the mountain road. Once access resumes, the scale of the snowpack could set up a strong season at one of the Southern Hemisphere's most historic ski resorts.

    21 July 2026
    Resort Spotlight: Lotte Arai - Japan's Corporate Ski Anomaly With 22 Metres of Annual Snowfall

    Resort Spotlight: Lotte Arai - Japan's Corporate Ski Anomaly With 22 Metres of Annual Snowfall

    Lotte Arai receives 22 metres of annual snowfall - exceptional even by Japanese standards - but its corporate ownership model and limited terrain create an unusual cost-benefit equation. Here's what the numbers actually mean on the ground.

    19 July 2026

    Lift tickets

    Ikon10 pass options
    Buy passes ↗

    Single-day passes

    Adult 13–64

    Adult Full Day

    US$70up to US$215 peak

    Winter Park lift tickets for adults provide full-day access to over 3,000 acres of diverse terrain. Experience Colorado's longest continually operated ski area with 23 lifts, 171 trails, and spectacular Rocky Mountain views.

    Buy pass
    Child 5–12

    Child Full Day

    US$49up to US$129 peak

    Children's Winter Park Colorado lift tickets for ages 5-12. Explore family-friendly terrain at Winter Park Resort with access to beginner areas like Discovery Park and Prospector Trail, perfect for young skiers and riders.

    Buy pass
    Child 0–4

    Child (4 & Under)

    Free

    Free skiing for children 4 and under at Winter Park Resort. Access to Colorado's favorite family ski area with gentle learning terrain at Discovery Park and excellent Children's Center programs.

    Buy pass
    Senior 65–79

    Senior Full Day

    US$60up to US$175 peak

    Senior discount Winter Park lift tickets with full mountain access. Experience the best of Colorado skiing with seven unique territories spanning from Mary Jane's famous bumps to high alpine bowls.

    Buy pass
    Adult 18–64

    Military Discount

    US$60up to US$150 peak

    Special military discount lift tickets at Winter Park Resort for active duty and retired military personnel. Must present valid military ID at ticket window when purchasing.

    Buy pass

    Half-day passes

    Adult 23–64

    Half Day

    US$55up to US$130 peak

    Winter Park half day lift tickets starting at 12:30pm. Perfect for afternoon visits to this iconic Colorado ski area with discounted rates while still accessing all 3,000+ acres and 23 lifts.

    Buy pass

    Multi-day passes

    Adult 23–64

    Winter Park Flex 2

    US$180up to US$200 peak

    Flexible 2-day Winter Park ski lift tickets valid throughout the 2025/26 season. Lock in your price now and choose your dates later with access to all Winter Park Resort terrain across seven unique territories.

    Buy pass
    Adult 23–64

    Winter Park Flex 3

    US$240up to US$280 peak

    Flexible 3-day Winter Park Colorado ski lift tickets with significant savings over daily rates. Use any 3 days throughout the season (blackout dates apply) at Colorado's longest continually operated resort.

    Buy pass

    Season passes

    Adult 23–64

    Ikon Pass

    US$1,259up to US$1,519 peak

    Unlimited access to Winter Park Resort lift tickets plus 14 other destinations with no blackout dates. Additional limited access to 43 worldwide destinations for the ultimate ski adventure.

    Buy pass
    Adult 23–64

    Ikon Base Pass

    US$869up to US$1,099 peak

    Unlimited access to Winter Park Resort with holiday blackout dates. Colorado's favorite ski destination plus limited access to 37 other world-class mountains for the perfect skiing adventure.

    Buy pass

    Winter Park lift tickets & passes

    The 2025 - 2026 season at Winter Park closed on Apr 26, 2026. Check back for next season's opening date and ticket pricing.

    Day passes start from US$49, with peak rates up to US$215.

    Lift tickets FAQ

    How much does a Winter Park day pass cost?+
    Winter Park day passes range from US$49 to US$215 depending on the date and advance booking.
    Can I buy Winter Park lift tickets online?+
    Yes, you can purchase tickets directly from the resort website or at the resort ticket office.
    Are there discounts for multi-day passes?+
    Yes, multi-day packages typically offer significant savings compared to individual day passes. The per-day cost decreases with longer stays.
    What is included with a Winter Park lift ticket?+
    Full access to all lifts and trails at Winter Park, including mountain safety and patrol services.
    What is the difference between Winter Park lift tickets and ski passes?+
    "Lift tickets" and "ski passes" refer to the same thing at Winter Park - your access to the mountain's lifts and trails for your chosen duration.
    When should I buy Winter Park lift tickets for the best price?+
    Purchase tickets at least 7 days in advance for the best rates, and consider weekday visits for further savings over weekend rates.
    Does Winter Park offer group discounts on lift tickets?+
    Group discounts are typically available for parties of 10 or more. Contact Winter Park directly for group booking information and rates.
    How can I check current conditions before buying tickets?+
    Before purchasing, check the live snow report and mountain webcams to see current weather, snow conditions, and lift operations at Winter Park.

    More Winter Park intelligence: snow report, webcams, resort overview.