Beaver Creek

Skiing Beaver Creek

Vail's polished neighbour — immaculately groomed, a pedestrian village, and at 3pm every day someone hands out complimentary fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies. The Birds of Prey World Cup downhill course is a thrilling run when groomed.

Terrain by Level

Beginners: The best beginner terrain in Colorado. Haymeadow Park at mid-mountain (accessed by gondola) has gentle terrain in a sheltered setting, specifically designed for first-timers.

Intermediates: Grooming is legendary — corduroy runs like Centennial and Larkspur are consistently ranked among the best in North America.

Advanced: Stone Creek Chutes, Grouse Mountain, and Rose Bowl offer steep ungroomed terrain. Find an instructor at Beaver Creek →

Families: Core identity. The gondola to Haymeadow, the 3pm cookies, the car-free village, and the ski school's children's programmes. See our guide for parents →

Choosing a Ski School

• Haymeadow Park for beginners: The best first-timer experience in Colorado. Gondola access means no intimidation.
• Birds of Prey introduction: A lesson down the World Cup downhill course is a bucket-list experience.

Insider Tips

• The 3pm cookies are real, free, and delicious. Position yourself at the base around 2:50pm.
• Beaver Creek is on the Epic Pass — same as Vail, 15 minutes away.
• Beaver Creek is less crowded than Vail despite sharing the same pass.