Beaver Creek Mountain And Terrain
Walking through the welcoming archway at Beaver Creek Ski Resort is an exciting time for the whole family as there is something for everyone across Beaver Creek’s 150 trails, serviced by 23 lifts and 1,832 skiable acres of perfectly groomed and open runs, bumps, glades, and steeps. The base elevation of 8,100 feet (2,469 m) rising to a summit elevation of 11,440 feet (3,488 m) makes for an impressive vertical drop of 3,340 feet (1,018 m) and is blanked each year with around 325 inches of light dry hero powder snow.
There are four ways to gain access to Beaver Creek ski area; via the three villages of Beaver Creek, Bachelor Gulch, and Arrowhead, and via the town of Avon, the small town at the base of the mountain, via a free shuttle or by catching the River Front Gondola. All three areas are serviced by a world-class high-speed lift system.
Each season Beaver Creek hosts the famous Birds Of Prey World Cup downhill that brings the fastest skiers in the work to town.
From Beaver Creek Village, head up the Centennial Lift, and from there, you can head higher for the easier terrain along with the aptly named Chinch Lift, or you can head skier left across to Red Tail and the Talons Restaurant area. From there, your options to ski and snowboard are only limited by your imagination.
New for season 2021/21 is McCoy Park’s opening, a welcome 250-acre expansion of beginner and intermediate skiing and riding.
Beaver Creek Ski Resort Beginner Skiers and Riders Guide
Beaver Creek Mountain is a delightful place to learn to ski and build your confidence, with three distinct park areas on the mountain to get you going and entertain you for days. Plus there is also great beginner terrain in and around the Bachelor Gulch and off Chair 18.
Haymeadow Park
Located at the base of the mountain, a ride up the beginner-friendly Haymeadow Express gondola takes you to Haymeadow Park, which is perfect for discovering how to ski and ride on gentle terrain and easy to navigate lifts. If taking a lesson, you can try the Smarte Terrain which uses a mix of natural and manufactured features to improve your skis and enjoyment of skiing and riding. If you need to refuel, The Parlor at the top of the Gondola offers beverages and prepacked snacks, sandwiches, and salads.
Red Buffalo Park
For the more experienced or confident beginner, you can ride the Centennial Express Lift and Cinch Express Lift to Red Buffalo Park, where you can enjoy amazing views and open, friendly green terrain lapping on Red Buffalo Express Lift.
McCoy Park
McCoy Park that you access from the top of Chairs 12 and 18, is a separate family-friendly zone of 250 acres that offers two lifts and 17 trails of natural groomable glades along with snowshoeing and cross country skiing.
Beaver Creek Resort Intermediate Skiers and Riders At Guide
If you are an intermediate skier at Beaver Creek Resort, you are in luck, and there are plenty of fun options to fill your days skiing and snowboarding. Riding out of the main village on Chair 6, you can warm up on some golden options. Head skiers right from the top down Cinch to Gold Dust, Gold Rush, and through Haymeadow to the lift. Riding to the top of the same lift, head skiers left down Redtail for a fun open groomer, and from there, you can ride Chair 9 over to Red Buffalo or head onto Chair 11 that opens up endless opportunities are you can slowly make your way around the mountain through Bachelor Gulch and if you keep heading skiers left where eventually you will end up at Arrowhead.
Beaver Creek Mountain Ski Resort Expert Skiers and Riders Guide
There is fantastic skiing off Chair 9 in the Birds of Prey area, Chair 10 Grouse Mountain Express, and Chair 4 in the Rose Bowl, but be sure to be on the lift before 3 pm as that’s the only way out of the area. There are also some fun and challenging runs off Chair 6, including Centennial, Moonshine, and Buckboard. The double black runs on Beaver Creek are super fun for expert skiers and snowboarders and are mostly found off chairs 9 and 10.
Beaver Creek Resort On A Powder Day
The whole mountain is sensational on a powder day. We especially like the Birds of Prey area and Bachelor Gulch has some great powder stash options in the lower trafficked areas. Also if you can hit Larkspur at the right time or any of the upper areas when they open up will have you smiling from top to bottom.
Beaver Creek Ski Resort Park and Pipe Guide
Beaver Creek has one halfpipe and four terrain parks, including Park101, The Zoom Room, The Rodeo, The Lumbar Yard, and Half Barrel halfpipe.
Park 101 and the Zoom Room are located at the top of the Cinch Express Lift. Park 101 is smaller, and the Zoom Room is a step above Park 101. At the top of Centennial Express Chairlift, you’ll find Lumbar Yard just above the halfpipe.
The Rodeo is designed for expert skiers and riders and is the largest terrain park at Beaver Creek and is where you can go big.
Beaver Creek Bumps Guide
Once warmed up, you can ski pumps until your legs give out on what can feel like seemingly endless bump runs. Off char 4, you have Rip Saw, an easy pitch that increases towards the bottom. If you retake Chair 4, take Spider, a local favorite, or Sheephorn or Centennial to Chair 8.
Off Chair 10 Screech Owl is another local’s favorite. Off Chair 6 to Heads Up for a mix of moguls and trees to Moonshine, which is a ripper. From there, you can explore out to Goshawk, Ptarmigan, Shooting Star and finish the day off with Osprey. Beaver Creek has some of the best double black bump bump skiing in North America.
Beaver Creek’s Top 5 Green Runs
- Piece-O-Cake
- Stirrup
- Cabin Fever
- Red Buffalo
- Solitude
Beaver Creek’s Top 5 Blue Runs
- Jack Rabbit Alley
- Gold Dust
- Grubstake
- Cresta
- Red Tail
Beaver Creek’s Top 5 Black Runs
- Bald Eagle
- Royal Elk Glade
- Golden Eagle
- Cataract
- Stone Creek Chutes
EPIC Pass To Access The Terrain
Beaver Creek is owned and operated by Vail Resorts and you can ride for a day or a season on the EPIC Pass. The EPIC pass is the best value ski pass which is available each season for a limited time.
Final Thoughts On Skiing & Snowboarding At Beaver Creek
The team here at SkiBookings.com love skiing Beaver Creek. The snow quality is 10/10, the grooming is always impeccable, and 10/10.
The three mountain areas and high-speed lift are well planned and spaced out which makes it a pleasure to ski from village to village. The on-mountain facilitates are fantastic as are the three dedicated family beginner parks to explore.
Like all similar Colorado areas, the altitude does take your breath away when you arrive, especially if you are coming from sea level but just take it easy for the first day or two and you are bound to have a fantastic time skiing and snowboarding around wonderful Beaver Creek.
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