All About Keystone Resort, CO

 

Located off of Loveland Pass in Summit County, CO, you the little ski getaway of Keysone.  Max Dercum and his wife founded Keystone back in 1970, and now the resort covers 3 mountains that give us 3,148 acres of skiable terrain. On the front side of the you have Dercum Mountain and North Peak, and the back side is known as The Outback. Keystone stretches along the Snake River with a 3,128 vertical feet elevation gain.  The mountain also has 3 separate villages that include quaint shops, great après bars and delicious restaurants. Just one hour and 30 minutes away from the Denver International Airport, this is the perfect mountain destination for your ski vacation!

Keystone typically opens mid-November and goes until mid-April with 128 trails on the mountain ranging from beginner to expert. The beginner trails are housed on the front side of the mountain, starting out with Schoolmarm that is 3.5 miles long and the longest run at Keystone. Located on Schoolmarm are kid friendly trails that weave in and out of trees and man-made turns. Lost Mine is located on the Schoolmarm family ski trail area, which has mine shafts that you can ski through that teach children how to control their skis and snowboard.  Fourteen beginner runs are located on Dercum Mountain, that give the newbee’s enough space to prep for the bigger slopes.

If you’ve gotten on the hill a few times before, the blue runs are a perfect spot for you to start.  Gassy Thompson, located on the front side of the mountain, is a shorter run covered in moguls and will get your legs warmed up.  This trail is a great beginner introduction to moguls on steeper surface.  24 blue runs spaced on all three mountains to let you get the feel for the big mountain, and can get you around the resort without becoming stranded in the middle of the expert runs.  Other great intermediate slopes on the North Peak are Last Alamo, Prospector, Spillway and Anticipation. Take your time and enjoy the view!  Some of those runs can last over 20 minutes and are perfect for a leisurely stroll down the mountain, and with halfway resting locations and bars scattered throughout the mountain, you are in no rush to have a good time.

Last but not least, the advanced runs take the trophy at Keystone with 38 different trails.  The Outback holds most of the black runs at the resort, with steeper terrain than the blue runs and plenty more obstacles to challenge even the expert skier.  Keystone is situated in National Forest land, so whether you are looking for the deep powder tucked in the woods to enjoy being on a nice steep groomer, you’re in for a treat. Some great runs in The Outback are Geronimo, The Grizz, Coyote Caper, Timberwolf and Wolverine, each equipped with a mix of moguls, trees and steep terrain.