Where to Night Ski and Snowboard in Colorado

While night skiing is common at many ski resorts in the United States, it is still rather uncommon at most ski resorts in Colorado. During the day, Colorado ski resorts offer a variety of challenging terrain and in healthy amounts. Nearly all skiers and snowboarders are ready for some apres-ski or the hot-tub when the sun sets for the day.

There are a few ski resorts and ski areas in Colorado that turn on the lights at night and allow skiers and snowboarders to brave the frigid nights. Those who work during the day and vacationers arriving late can then enjoy uncrowded ski slopes and terrain parks at night. Many ski resorts offer reduced price lift tickets for their night ski sessions.

Ski Granby Ranch (formerly Sol Vista)
http://www.granbyranch.com/ski/solvistabasin.asp

Located between Winter Park and Grandby, CO, Sol Vista opens terrain to skiers and snowboarders every Saturday evening from December 26, 2009 to March 27, 2010 during the 09/10 ski season. Hours are from 5-8 pm. Lift tickets are $10.00. Night tubing is also available for $10.00. A night skiing and tubing combo ticket is $15.00.

Echo Mountain
http://www.echomt.com/

Located just 35 miles west of downtown Denver, Echo Mountain is the closest ski area to the Denver Metro region. It's open for skiing and snowboarding from early Dec to early May for the 09/10 ski season. Echo's hours are 9 am to 9 pm on Mondays and Wednesday's thru Saturday. Sunday hours are 9 am to 5 pm. It's closed on Tuesday's. From 3 pm to closing, lift tickets are just $29.00. There are 15 trails and a variety of terrain parks & features.

Keystone Resort
http://www.keystoneresort.com/

Keystone Resort is located just 90 miles west of Denver in Summit County, CO. Keystone offers the most night skiing and snowboarding terrain in the state of Colorado. Keystone's scheduled night skiing runs from Dec. to March depending upon weather and conditions during the 09/10 season.

Keystone offers a variety of lighted trails and the A51 Terrain Park during its night operations. Night skiing and snowboarding trail hours run until 8 pm Wednesday to Saturday and go until 6 pm on Sundays. The A51 Terrain Park is open until 6 pm during night ski. Lift tickets are just $24.00 on Liftopia.com. The night skiing trail map can be downloaded at http://www.keystoneresort.com/~/media/keystone/files/keystonetrailmapnight.ashx.

Eldora Mountain Resort
http://www.eldora.com/

Eldora Mountain Resort is located a short 21 miles up Boulder Canyon from the city of Boulder, CO. On Wednesday nights from January 20th to February 24^th, 2010, Eldora will host their ever popular Nighthawks Race Series. Competitors can come race in alpine, telemark, snowboard divisions.

Contestants can race individually or in teams of up to 6 people. Courses are a dual Giant Slalom format. Racers must either have a season pass or purchase a $15.00 lift ticket. Race entry fee is $10.00/person or $50.00 per team each night.

Those wishing to race should register at 4:30 pm in the Indian Peaks Lodge. The training course is open from 4:30-5:30 with racing starting at 6 pm. The lifts close at 8 pm. For more information call 303-440-8700.

Ski Hesperus
http://ski-hesperus.com/

Ski Hesperus is located next to the town of Hesperus, Colorado and just 11 miles west of Durango, CO. Hesperus has 80% of its terrain illuminated so skiers and snowboarders can hit the slopes anytime. Tubing is also available for $7.00/hour.

Night ticket hours for the 09/10 season are from 4-9 pm Monday - Saturday. Adult night lift tickets are $26.00 and Junior (12 & under) tickets are $15.00. Night season passes are available for 270.00.

Telluride Ski Resort

Telluride Ski Resort is located in southwest Colorado and is well known for its daytime skiing and snowboarding. New for the 09/10 season, Telluride is building a new terrain park and superpipe under the existing lights in Mountain Village. The new park will open approximately January 14, 2010 and will feature plenty of jumps and rails.

The park and superpipe will be open from Thursday - Sunday from 4- 8 pm. Night tickets are $25.00/night or a night season pass can be purchased for $200.00. Regular season pass holders can purchase a season pass for $150.00. Purchase night tickets and passes at the Mountain Village ticket office.

http://blog.tellurideskiresort.com/blogs/davesblog/archive/2010/01/03/welcome-to-2010-telluride.aspx

Howelsen Hill Ski Area

Operating since 1914, Howelsen Hill Ski Area is Colorado's oldest continually operating ski area. Just steps away from downtown Steamboat Springs, CO it has provided an outdoor outlet for generations of Steamboat Springs residents. Today Howelsen's slopes provide opportunities for day and night-time skiing, snowboarding, and tubing.

Howelsen's season runs from Dec 5, 2009 to March 28,2010 for the 09/10 ski season. Night sessions are held Tuesday through Friday from 5:30 - 8 pm. Night tickets are $8.00. For more information call (970) 879-8499.

http://steamboatsprings.net/departments/parks_recreation/facilities/howelsen_hill_ski_area

http://www.colorado.com/Articles.aspx?aid=42320