Colorado is well known for Rocky Mountain National Park, the City of Denver (also an international travel hub) and skiing, especially in its famous resort towns. While Durango is a popular year-round destination featuring Purgatory Ski Resort, there are several towns that share center stage as Colorado’s top resort towns.
Telluride
Just a two-and-a-half-hour drive northwest of Durango on the San Juan Skyway, Telluride is a small mountain town with a ski resort connecting the Town of Telluride and Mountain Village. This former mining town, set within a box canyon and surrounded by stunning cliffs and mountains, offers year-round adventures. Annual events such as the Telluride Jazz Festival, Film Festival, and Blues & Brews attract lots of big names and visitors to this tiny town. The San Miguel River and accompanying river trail run through town, along with many shops, restaurants, and historic homes. Telluride Ski Resort features 149 trails, including hike-to expert-only terrain, all offering 360-degree views of the San Juan Mountains. Ski chalets, upscale condos, and luxury homes can all be found in this area.
Breckenridge
Breckenridge Ski Resort is home to North America’s highest ski lift, reaching 12,500 feet on Peak 8 (one of five within 3,000 acres of terrain). Nestled in the Ten Mile Range of the Rockies, this quaint Gold Rush-era town now bustles with seasonal fun and a historic downtown filled with local restaurants, shops, and events. Breck is also known for Ullr Fest and the larger-than-life Ullr statue at the base of Peak 8. Additionally, there are trolls to find, trails to hike, and the Blue River flowing through town. Just on the other side of the peaks, Copper Mountain offers another ski option complete with hotels, restaurants, and other seasonal activities. Townhomes, condos, single family homes, and resort timeshares are all common here.
Aspen
With four ski resorts - Snowmass, Aspen Highlands, Aspen Mountain, and Buttermilk (where the Winter X Games are held) - Aspen is the ultimate ski destination. However, there’s plenty to do in the summer and fall, including rafting, hiking, biking, rock-climbing, fishing, golf, horseback riding, and paragliding just to name a few. Downtown Aspen is filled with local establishments perfect for an apres-ski stop, along with boutique shops, top-tier restaurants, art galleries, event venues, and more. Originally a mining town, visitors can still tour a mine, as well as enjoy the Roaring Fork River, which runs through town. Of course, no visit would be complete without seeing Maroon Bells, the iconic peaks about ten miles south of town. Lodging and real estate options range from campgrounds and mountain cabins to five-star hotels and multi-million dollar estates.
Vail
This small mountain town is modeled after a European village, with Vail Ski Resort spanning over 5,000 acres. Just minutes west along I-70, the neighboring ski towns/resorts of Avon and Beaver Creek add to the winter appeal here. Cobblestone streets allow easy pedestrian access to all of the town’s shops, restaurants, and lodging in Vail Village. Summer is just as fun, with Gore Creek flowing through town, numerous festivals and events, and endless outdoor recreation opportunities. Hiking, biking, and river rafting are just three of the many activities available, plus a scenic year-round gondola offers one-of-a-kind views of the Rockies for a more leisurely adventure. You can find everything from ski-in/ski-out condos to private estates tucked away on the mountain in the Vail area.
While these resort towns may get much of the attention, Durango has a unique appeal of its own. Its residents enjoy year-round recreation, a vibrant historic downtown, and a strong sense of community, all while avoiding some of the crowds and costs often associated with larger resort markets. For more Colorado ski getaways, check out Steamboat Springs and Crested Butte, along with ski resorts such as Wolf Creek, Monarch, and Echo Mountain. For more information on buying, selling, living in, or visiting any of these mountain communities, please contact our team of real estate professionals.
