Loveland Ski Area

Loveland Ski Area is one of the most popular Colorado ski destinations for Denver area residents and visitors. Much of the resort's appeal lies in its relatively affordable rates, not to mention the fact that it is just 56 miles from Downtown Denver. Also helping to make the Loveland Ski Resort so popular is the fact that it is often the first ski resort in the state to open. You can start making turns in the snow at Loveland about a month before most of the other resorts in the state start opening their lifts to the public.

The Loveland Ski Area is split among two different areas and is known for its old-fashioned style. Much like Arapahoe Basin, which also tends to open earlier than most Colorado ski resorts, the Loveland Ski Resort is one of the highest ski areas in the state. Its summit is 13,010 feet, with the highest lift-served areas sitting at around 12,700 feet. All that separates the Loveland Ski Area from the nearby Arapahoe Basin Ski Area is the Loveland Pass, so it's easy to include a visit to both destinations when staying in the area. You can also entertain the option of visiting a few other area resorts if you secure Loveland Ski Area lodging and are thinking of spending more than just a couple of days in the area. These other area resorts include the Winter Park Ski Resort, Breckenridge, and Copper Mountain.

The base elevation of the Loveland Ski Resort is 10,800 feet, so it might take you a day or so to get used to the altitude. As long as you stay hydrated and take things relatively easy on the first day, you should be alright. Of course, you might be tempted to tackle as many of the 93 different trails as possible on the first day. The 93 trails wind their way through 1,570 total skiable acres and offer something for all levels. Thirteen percent of the trails cater to beginners, while the rest are better suited for intermediate and advanced skiers and snowboarders. The total vertical drop is 2,210 feet, and as far as the white stuff is concerned, some 400 inches fall on the resort on an annual basis. This usually means plenty of powder days. When you're not hitting the more traditional slopes at the Loveland Ski Resort, you might visit the terrain parks and work on your tricks.

Loveland ski packages are available in good supply. As such, saving some money can likely be part of the deal when visiting this fun resort. Some of the Loveland ski packages include accommodations and lift tickets, though you can pass on the ones that include accommodations if you already have your lodging sorted out. The Day Tripper package that the resort itself offers is among the most attractive packages if you need equipment more than lodging. This package includes a lift ticket, a rental snowboard or rental skis, a hat, gloves, a jacket, and some snowpants. You'll even get some goggles to use when you book this package.

Ski and stay packages are also among the most popular Loveland Ski Packages. A number of area lodging establishments offer special packages that include discounted lodging and discounted lift tickets. Among the lodging establishments that is closest to the Loveland Ski Area is the Arapahoe Inn, which offers 60 affordable rooms. You can actually find the Arapahoe Inn within steps of the ski lifts at Keystone, and it's worth noting that the motel is also the closest lodging establishment to A-Basin.

There is no lodging at the Loveland Ski Area itself, so the motels, hotels, B&Bs, and vacation rentals that are found in the general area are your best bet. You could also stay at one of the Denver hotels and make the drive out if you prefer. Parking near the lifts is free, and if you want to leave the driving up to someone else, there are Denver shuttles that offer transportation to and from a number of ski resorts, including Loveland. Once you get to the Loveland Ski Resort, you can use a horizontal lift or take a shuttle bus to get between the resort's two ski areas.