One of the highest lift served ski areas in North America, sitting right at the Eisenhower Tunnel on the Continental Divide an hour from Denver. The base is at 3243 metres and the top lift reaches 3937. That altitude gives it one of the longest seasons in Colorado, often opening in October and running into May, and the snow stays cold and dry. A free snowcat takes skiers along the ridge to terrain that would otherwise need a hike.

There is no village and no real estate, which keeps prices well below the resorts further west and keeps the atmosphere unpretentious. Most people drive up for the day. Take the first day gently, because this is serious altitude.