Beaver Creek

BEAVER CREEK ULTIMATE RESORT GUIDE

Beaver Creek is just 10 miles from Vail and is, well, as smart as you can get!  It’s kind of the perfect computer generated ski resort. Beaver Creek is a fascinating resort in the evolution of the global ski industry. It has many claims to fame, perhaps most notably that, having opened as recently as 1980, it’s one of the ‘youngest’ of the world’s great ski areas. As a result of its modern evolution it is also sometimes described as being “the first resort to be designed by computer” (and if so, it’s a good argument in favour of computers!).

The slopes are served by high speed chairlifts and it’s rare you queue.  The slopes cover a huge area from Bachelor Gulch and Arrowhead to Spruce Saddle plus a whole new area for beginners just opened.

The nearby town of Avon is slightly less expensive but youve travelled all that way, you might as well live it while you are there.   but if Avon is your choice, there’s a free bus from Avon to take you up to the Beaver creek slopes.

The town is pedestrianised and swamped with up-market beautiful hotels and restaurants, heated pavements and pedestrian escalators – obviously!

If you buy an Epic pass you will also get access to Vail, Breckenridge and Keystone.

Copper Mountain is nearby but not on the same lift pass.

The slopes are all tree lined so you are going to love that alpine feel when in Beaver Creek.

WHAT HEIGHT IS BEAVER CREEK?

Beaver Creek a high altitude resort, with a summit elevation of 11,440 ft (3,488 m) and a vertical rise of 3,340 ft (1,018 m).

WHAT IS THE SKI AREA LIKE IN BEAVER CREEK SKI RESORT?

Of the 150 trails (as they call them in the USA), many are suitable for beginners and intermediates, allowing for easy progression. Indeed, the Haymeadow Express gondola is dedicated to less experienced skiers, ensuring that beginners of all ages can safely access beginner-only trails. For the 2020/21 winter season, an entire new area is scheduled to debut. The McCoy Park area will add 250 new acres of lift-served terrain to Beaver Creek, in the form of a family-friendly learning area with 17 trails.

There are terrain parks to cover all levels of skier and boarders, so there’s plenty of fun to be had for skiers of all levels.

WHAT’S THE NEAREST AIRPORT TO BEAVER CREEK?

Beaver Creek is serviced by Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE) and Denver International Airport (DEN). Denver Airport is  130 miles away and takes about 2 hours 18 minutes.

WHAT IS ACCOMMODATION LIKE IN BEAVER CREEK?

There is a variety of lodgings in Beaver Creek, from condos to 5 star hotels.

ARROWHEAD VILLAGE CONDOS

These premier Colorado vacation rentals are spitting distance from the Arrow Bahn Express lift.

ARROWHEAD VILLAGE PRIVATE HOMES

Quite a nice (and unusual option for us Brits) are the private homes – exquisite accommodations, the best resort amenities, convenience and accessibility.

BACHELOR GULCH CONDOS

If you want ski in/ski out convenience, and unparalleled service and resort amenities, close to shops, eateries and family fun in Bachelor Gulch this is the place for you.

BEAR PAW, BACHELOR GULCH

A stylish, ski in/ski out location with easy access to world-renowned attractions, delicious dining and more.

ELKHORN LODGE

Discover the ultimate in luxury and convenience at the beautiful Elkhorn Lodge, adjacent to the Beaver creek Golf Course Clubhouse.

HORIZON PASS LODGE, BACHELOR GULCH

A classic alpine lodge perched at the top of Bachelor Gulch, with perfect views of Beaver Creek Mountain and the surrounding Rockies.

WHEN DOES BEAVER CREEK SKI RESORT OPEN AND CLOSE?

Beaver Creek opens 23 November 2022 and closes generally around April 17th…unless there’s real snow.

WHAT IS BEAVER CREEK’S SNOW RECORD LIKE?

Obviously predicting snowfall is (almost) impossible but looking at past records is pretty helpful.  The snowiest week in in resort is the last week of February.

It has an impressive snow record of over 310inches average per season so you won’t be disappointed, in fact last time we visited on closing day it was dumping with snow…so they just stayed open.

WHAT ELSE TO KNOW ABOUT BEAVER CREEK SKI RESORT?

The most interesting fact is that Beaver Creek, which was built by Vail, 18km (11 miles) away to the east, to be “America’s most elegant resort”, is located in the territory which Vail’s founders had chosen as first choice for Vail itself. However, back then in the 1950s, the rancher who owned the land was happy with his lot and didn’t want to sell. It was 16 years later, in 1972, that Vail, by then one of North America’s leading resorts, succeeded in purchasing the land the resort now now sits. Work began in 1977 and, since the resort’s opening, it has become the epitome of the general popular perception of high class, high taste lodging, dining and other facilities with an exceptionally well designed resort and lift system.

In conjunction with Vail, Beaver Creek has hosted the Alpine World Championships three times in its short history, most recently in 2015, another unique achievement. The ‘Birds of Prey’ downhill course constructed for the event has quickly established itself as the toughest downhill in North America and on a par with the classic Alpine world cup runs, generally perceived as tougher than anything North America could offer prior to this new run opening. ‘Birds of Prey’ is now considered one of the top three downhills in the world.

Beaver Creek also claims to offer ‘European style village to village skiing’ – a rare phenomena in North America where only Stowe and Smugglers Notch in Vermont are as yet linked together by ski lifts, although others could if they chose to be. In Beaver Creek’s case the ‘villages’ it is linked to  (Arrowhead and Bachelor Gulch) have had to be built from scratch by Vail, just like Beaver Creek.

For the latest snow forecast and updates on where is best to ski now, as well as ski news, gear reviews and resort spotlights, you can check out our regular podcast here Apple | Spotify | Podcasts or search The White Out on your chosen podcast directory.