Ski Cooper - Colorado
Ski Cooper is located in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, near the historic town of Leadville.
This ski area offers an exciting and affordable alternative to the hustle and bustle of bigger areas with all natural snow and a family orientated atmosphere in a region renowned for its world class skiing !
Ski Cooper is one of the oldest ski areas in Colorado. The ski area opened in 1942 as a training site for the 10th Mountain Division Special Forces that fought in the Alps during World War II. Ski Cooper now offers diverse terrain with 26 trails on 400 skiable acres.
A variety of lessons are available at the mountain, from beginners & first timers to more challenging classes. Groups & private lessons are also offered. Many of their instructors have nearly 20 years of teaching experience.
On-mountain, you will also find equipment rentals for the entire family. They have everything you will need for ski vacation. Skis, snowboards, gear & more.
Or, for the more adventurous skier, try backcountry skiing on Chicago Ridge by snowcat. There are 2,460 acres of treed and bowl skiing; and you can go as high as 12,600 feet in elevation atop the Continental Divide. The slopes vary from 3,000 to 10,000 feet in length with vertical drops up to 1,400 feet per run. Ski Cooper offers Snowcat tours to the ridge from mid-December to early April.
There is more than just alpine skiing. Telemarkers, cross-country skiers, snowboarders and snowmobilers enjoy this great terrain in the San Isabel National Forest.
Close to Ski Cooper is some great cross-country skiing. The Piney Creek Nordic Center offers 25 kilometers of groomed cross-country (track and skating). Or, you can tour the Continental Divide at your own pace by snowmobile.
After a day of skiing, explore nearby Leadville. You will find a variety of reasonable lodging options and a variety of things to do from sleigh rides, shopping and museums to just relaxing in one of the many fine restaurants.
From Denver, take I-70 west to Exit 195 at Copper Mountain Resort, go south on Highway 91 to Leadville. On the north side of Leadville turn right on Highway 24 and go another nine miles to the top of Fremont Pass.
| MOUNTAIN STATISTICS | ||
|---|---|---|
| Base Elevation: | 10,500 ft | (3,200 m) |
| Summit Elevation: | 11,700 ft | (3,566 m) |
| Vertical Drop: | 1,200 ft | (366 m) |
| Skiable Area: | 400 acres | (162 hectares) |
| Annual Snowfall: | 250 in | (635 cm) |
| Longest Run: | 7,400 ft | (2,256 m) |
| Snowmaking: | 0 % | |
| Number of Lifts: | 4 | |
| Uphill Lift Capacity: | 3,300 per hour | |
| Types of Lifts: | 2 Surface Lifts 1 Double Chair 1 Triple Chair |
|
| Number of Trails: | 26 | |
| TRAIL RATINGS | ||
|---|---|---|
| Easiest: |  |
30% |
| More Difficult: |  |
40% |
| Most Difficult: |  |
30% |
| Experts Only: |  |
0% | Trail ratings indicate the relative difficulty of the runs within a given ski area and are not meant to be used for comparison between ski areas. |
| AREA DETAILS | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine Skiing: | Yes | ||||||
| Snowboarding: | Yes | ||||||
| Required: | Yes | ||||||
| Snowcat Skiing: | Yes | ||||||
| Cross Country: | 25 km | ||||||
