Beaver Creek Colorado

Beaver Creek is the epitome of a luxury ski resort. Their old motto was “not exactly roughing it” and it is definitely a long way from roughing it at the Beaver Creek Ski Resort where you’ll receive over-the-top pampering. At Beaver Creek Colorado it’s all about the little things. Firstly you don’t have to do much traipsing about in your ski boots because there are escalators that transport you to the slopes from the plaza and bus area. Slopeside ski valets store your gear and warm your boots, and the guest service staff anticipate your every need. The white glove service also extends to extras such as handing out free cookies in the afternoon. At Beaver Creek Ski Resort, all guests are treated like royalty.

Beaver Creek caters to a well heeled market, yet it doesn’t have some of the pretentiousness that can be found at nearby Vail. And whilst Vail is usually bustling, it’s slightly less busy at Beaver Creek. Beaver Creek is more intimate and suited to guests who want sophistication and privacy. People don’t visit Beaver Creek to be seen or for the scene. They visit because they want to go skiing or snowboarding.

Pros & Cons of Beaver Creek Colorado

Pros 

• Beaver Creek Resort is a very good all-rounder for most levels of skier or snowboarder. It’s particularly renowned for the corduroy for beginners and intermediates.
• Much of the Beaver Creek lodging is ski-in ski-out.
• It is a very polished resort with great amenities, lunch spots and shops, plus a decent range of activities for non skiers.

Cons

• There are better options in Colorado for expert powder hounds.
• The night life is usually sedate.
• Whilst the lift lines at Beaver Creek Ski Resort are reasonable compared to Vail, it’s still a busy resort where powder hounds will be hard pressed to find long lasting freshies.

Pro or Con Depending on Your Perspective

• Beaver Creek Colorado is not the place to stay or ski on a shoestring, but the price tag comes with lots of perks including amazing amenities, fast chair lifts, and good service (including those famous cookies!).
• Beaver Creek lodging in the village is expensively ritzy and ideal for those who want some spoiling and uber service. Of course you can stay off-mountain to save pennies.
• Day lift ticket prices are outrageous, whilst the Epic Pass is an economical option for longer stays or if you plan to sample other ski resorts on the pass.
• The elevation, particularly at the base, is rather low for a Colorado ski resort. The upside is that altitude sickness is unlikely to be a problem.

Beaver Creek Ski and Snowboard Terrain

At 2,082 acres (843 hectares) of skiable terrain, Beaver Creek Ski Resort is medium sized relative to other Colorado ski resorts. The terrain is serviced by 24 lifts which include 2 gondolas, a chondola, and an abundance of high speed quad chairs. The vertical drop is a big 3,340 ft down to the Beaver Creek Village, although the full vertical of BC cannot be skied continuously.

Beaver Creek has an abundance of wide groomed trails, so it’s particularly well suited to beginners and intermediates, or those that just want to cruise. The grooming is very good and occurs 24/7 and an amazing amount of corduroy is created each day!

You’d be excused for assuming that a resort that is luxurious and family friendly has limited terrain for the hardcore ski bum, however Beaver Creek is certainly not completely lame and there is some steep below tree-line terrain.

Beaver Creek Snow

The Beaver Creek Ski Resort receives an average of 325 inches (8.2 metres) of Colorado powder per season, and many of the slopes have a northerly orientation so the snow stays in good shape. If the snow gods aren’t happy, BC can make huge amounts of artificial snow. Remarkably, 650 acres (31%) of the terrain has snow-making capabilities.

Where is Beaver Creek Ski Resort?

Beaver Creek Colorado is located near Avon, 10 miles west of Vail in Eagle County. It is situated approximately 105 miles (169 km) west of Denver; just a little further from Denver relative to other ski resorts on the I-70 corridor. This distance contributes to slightly fewer crowds at Beaver Creek.

Beaver Creek is 133 miles (213 km – 2 hours) from Denver International Airport. You can rent a car for the drive, or there are loads of transport operators that will shuttle you to your lodging. Alternatively if you’re not on a budget, Eagle County Airport is just a 25 minute drive from Beaver Creek. Taxis and regular shuttles service this regional airport.

You don’t need a car during your stay at Beaver Creek. Most lodging is located within easy walking distance of the lifts and amenities, and there are on-demand complimentary shuttles within and between the villages. A very cheap bus service provides transport to and from Vail.

Beaver Creek Lodging

There are three purpose-built villages that are linked via the slopes, lifts and free shuttles. The majority of the accommodations, shops and restaurants are located in the pedestrian village of Beaver Creek. The upscale accommodations include condos, lodges and hotels, including the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort & Spa.

The serene Bachelor Gulch Village is home to the ritzy Ritz-Carlton Hotel and vacation homes.

Arrowhead Village to the west is rather tranquil and it doesn’t have as many facilities and services. Accommodations here includes private vacation homes and condominiums. The town of Avon is only a few minutes away and is connected to Beaver Creek Mountain via a gondola. Avon has some economical options for lodging.

See our Beaver Creek lodging page for more information.

Beaver Creek Accommodations Listings

Facilities & Other Activities

Several of the restaurants on-mountain are members-only clubs, whilst some fine dining restaurants require a lunch reservation to be made many months in advance; perfect for those seeking an exclusive dining experience. In the evenings you can visit one of the classy Beaver Creek restaurants or hire a private chef to visit your condominium.

Beaver Creek doesn’t have a party scene or rampant nightlife. Evening festivities tend to be more of the refined variety.

Alternative activities to downhill skiing and snowboarding include cross-country skiing, snow-shoeing, hot air ballooning, dog sledding, ice skating, tubing, or a visit to a day spa for some R and R. The Beaver Creek shopping can also keep the black Amex card busy.