Beaver Creek has branded itself as an exclusive and somewhat stuffy resort. Despite the hubris in the marketing the place boasts some stunning skiing and some of the best double-black terrain in Colorado.

Trail Notes

The ski area covers a series of ridges. From the summit of Beaver Creek Mountain (3,488m) a smorgasbord of beginner, intermediate and expert terrain opens up. Steep double-black diamond runs peel off the side of the main ridgeline. The Stone Creek Chutes have some particularly good expert terrain.

The nearby peak of Grouse Mountain is basically one big mogul hill. It does haves some good tree runs in Royal Elk Glade but the traverse in and out, necessitated by the limited entry gates, can get tiresome.

Larkspur is a great high speed carving run. Further across the mountain is the intermediate stalwart of Bachelor Gulch. Beyond this is the Arrow Bahn express which suffers from poor snow conditions (read ice) and poor piste design with steep narrow runs that don’t suit modern carving. Arrow Bahn really exists to service the condo development at its base.

Planning your trip

There is enough terrain to keep skiers of all abilities entertained for weeks or even months. Official Ski resort website: www.beavercreek.com

Accommodation is available up in the resort village or in the worker town of Avon in the valley floor.  To keep costs down its worth sharing a condo with a group of friends or family. Most condos have full kitchens and there is a good supermarket (CityMarket) in Avon. There are plenty of dining options ranging from upmarket dining at on-piste clubs to family restaurants and fast food options in Avon.
There are a variety of short and long term accomodation rental websites:  www.vrbo.com  Beaver Creek on Dwellable

Lift Passes: By far the best value is the Epic season pass, particularly if bought early. There are a range of passes that must be bought before the start of the ski season and offer access to several fields:  www.snow.com

Facilities

Plenty of express quad chairlifts in great condition. Beaver Creek village and Red Tail Camp both offer decent mountain food. There are a plethora of exclusive clubs smattered throughout the resort if you are here for the food, not the skiing. Top pick for a drink at the end of the day is the slope-side Ritz at Bachelor Gulch.

Access to and from

Situated just along the valley from Vale, the resort is easy to reach from Denver by car or shuttle.  CME has the market share of shuttle transport and offers a variety of options, the most inexpensive being the point to point shuttle. www.coloradomountainexpress.com.

There are free buses between Avon and Beaver Creek village. There is a regular bus service Between Avon and Vail that costs ~$5 , timetables available here: ww.eaglecounty.us/transit/schedules/