winter
season |
|
summer
season |
|
resort height |
2743m |
highest lift
|
3676m |
snow range |
9,000 - 12,060ft |
snow
probability |
excellent |
transfer
times |
Denver 1.5hrs |
From Denver by train - 2hrs, leaves
7.15am, returns 4.15pm |
resort map |
|
© Winter
Park Resort |
click to enlarge |
|
queues **** | scenery *** | resort charm ** |
restaurants *** | convenience *** |
Winter Park,
is a mountain of world class, offering value for money and lots of
snow. Winter Park straddles the
continental divide, high in the Colorado Rockies. Being close to
Denver, Winter Park is affordable, convenient and offers a great
skiing experience for everyone. Winter Park also has great facilities
for disabled skiers! (see right)
At the turn of the century, Winter Park was a
railway town. The railway still plays a part, with a station at the
base of the slopes, dropping off weekend day trippers from Denver.
|
Recently, 'Winter Park Resort' or 'The Village' is a
new car-free development of accommodation, shops and restaurants at
the foot of the slopes and is an addition to the majority of hotels in
the main resort, a bus ride away, and dotted along the highway.
Unfortunately, there is no real town centre, with most of the
accommodation, bars and restaurants situated along Highway 40. |
|
© Winter
Park Resort |
Winter Park is big, even by US standards. There are five distinct (and
well linked) ski areas, allowing a great mix of terrain for all
standards. A high-speed quad takes you up the original 'Winter Park'
to the Sunspot restaurant area. From here, you have the choice of 'Vasquez
Ridge' (an area perfect for beginners and intermediates), 'Mary
Jane', for tougher runs, the 'Persenn Bowl' for
intermediate terrain in and above the trees, or for the advanced, the
extreme slopes of 'Vasquez Cirque'.
From the Persenn Bowl, you can now get a tow by snowmobile, known as
the 'Ridge Ride' for about $5. For lunch, a must is the wood and glass
'The Lodge' building at Sunspot (top of the lifts).
For good skiers, Berthoud Pass, a few miles away
offers some fab wild terrain! For the future, there are plans for a
gondola from the resort to the slopes. |
ü good points |
û
bad points |
ü |
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great snowfall record |
ü |
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wide choice of slopes for everyone |
ü |
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quiet on weekdays |
ü |
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little queues |
|
û |
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limited range of restaurants |
û |
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town is bus ride from slopes |
û |
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crowded weekends |
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après ski |
lots of choice on offer- try The Crooked Creek Saloon,
or for frequent live music at the slope, the Bucket |
activities |
dog sledding * snowshoeing * sleigh
rides * snowmobiling * cross country skiing* hot sulphur springs |
eating out |
try The Shed of Winter Park, BBG and the Lodge at
Sunspot |
other amenities |
shopping * swimming pool * cinema * Silverthorne
factory outlet |
children |
3-12 years |
disabled skiers |
Winter Park is home to the US National Sports Centre
for the Disabled (NSCD). Its the world's leading centre for teaching
skiing and snowboarding for people with disabilities. People are
placed with instructors trained to teach those with a specific
disability, whether it be blindness, one leg, no legs or paralysis!
Its important to book ahead.
To find out more, contact NSCD, PO Box 36, Winter
Park, CO 80482, USA. Tel +1 970 726 1540 |
tourist
office |
Winter Park CO 80482 |
tel +1 970 726 5514 |
fax +1 970 726 1572 |
|