Skiing in the Colorado Rockies is enjoyed by professional, experienced and novice skiers alike, with many resorts to choose from. Two hours west of the Denver metropolis is Beaver Creek Ski Resort, which has 149 ski slopes, 25 lifts and three distinct towns.

Resorts in Vail

Beaver Creek is run by Vail Resorts, which also runs Breckenridge, Keystone and Vail in Colorado and Heavenly Ski Resort in California and Nevada. RockResorts and Grand Teton Lodge Company are two other brands owned by Beaver Creek’s parent company. Along with Vail, the two resorts are scheduled to host the prestigious FIS Alpine World Championships in 2015.

Beaver Creek includes three towns: Beaver Creek Village, Bachelor Gulch, and Arrowhead Village, and two towns: Avon and Edwards. The villages are managed directly by the resort, while the towns are independent of Beaver Creek, although their economies are closely tied to the area’s ski resorts.

three towns

Beaver Creek Village is prized for its ski-in accessibility, which means that all accommodations, including hotel rooms, bed-and-breakfasts, and condominiums, are reached via ski trails and bridges. The town’s bars, restaurants, art galleries and shops are connected by elevators and air-conditioned corridors. This town boasts an outdoor ice rink and an impressive performing arts center.

The centerpiece of Bachelor Gulch is the Ritz-Carlton, a 180-room hotel that is active year-round. This hotel includes 40 suites and offers guests ski-in/ski-out access to Beaver Creek Mountain and championship golf. Forbes has given the resort’s 21,000-square-foot spa a four-star rating, while Conde Nast has placed this Ritz-Carlton on its Gold List of best places to stay. Each room at the Ritz-Carlton features two double beds or one king-size bed, bathrobes, minibar, Internet access, coffeemaker, sitting area, and desk.

Arrowhead Village is home to numerous private homes and condominiums and is the westernmost of the three towns. One of this town’s favorite places to dine is Broken Arrow Cafe, known for its base-of-the-mountain location and outdoor terrace with a full-service bar and outdoor grill. Arrowhead is accessible to the other towns via ski lifts or shuttle service. The town boasts a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course, townhouses, and many condominiums.

Colorado Great Show

While Vail is probably the best known name in the Colorado Rockies, Beaver Creek has a lot to offer on its own. Collectively, these ski resort communities provide year-round enjoyment, from slopes to golf courses to entertainment services.