In addition to independently owned and operated Sunlight Mountain Resort, six world-renown ski areas are located under an hour’s drive from Glenwood Springs. Ski and snowboard Glenwood Springs, it is smack-dab in the middle of the best skiing in the state of Colorado.

The same snow that flies at the mega resorts of Aspen and Vail, falls on the hometown hill – Sunlight Mountain Resort. One of the few remaining independent ski areas, Sunlight is skiing as it’s meant to be: fun, friendly and affordable. With 680 acres and 67 trails for skiing and riding, visitors to Sunlight Mountain Resort can easily spend a week exploring the nuances of each run. Sunlight is exceptional in many ways; it has some of the best tree skiing anywhere, one of the steepest runs in the state and hosts a crowd-pleasing cruiser called Ute that spans 2.5 miles from summit to base.

Just for snowboarders, Sunlight’s terrain park is the place to practice or show off skills and tricks. Resort amenities include a base lodge with indoor and outdoor dining areas, gear rental shop, a retail shop and ski and snowboard school. Sunlight usually opens around Thanksgiving and closes in early April.

For those who want to ski further afield, within a 40-minute drive of Glenwood Springs are some of the most recognizable names in the sport. To the south visitors will find Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk, and Snowmass. To the east, there’s Vail and Beaver Creek. In a race for the best downhills in the state, with seven mountains to choose from, Glenwood Springs is the clear winner.