Only a couple of hours from Denver International Airport, Keystone Resort is a paradise for winter sports lovers looking to explore vast ski terrain. Don’t overlook it when planning a ski trip to Colorado—it offers much more than its reputation as a family-friendly ski resort.
Summit County’s largest ski resort is home to 3 mountains, 5 bowls, and 140 trails. From learning how to ski on a 3.5-mile green run to carving challenging slopes long after the sun sets over the Rockies, Keystone has it all. Let’s take a look at where to ski at Keystone.
Why Ski at Keystone?
Simply put, Keystone Ski Resort is one of Colorado's largest and most diverse ski resorts. With nearly 3,150 acres of skiable land, it's a local favorite in the Denver metropolitan area and Summit County.
Extended PM Hours: One of the main draws of Keystone Resort is night skiing. With over a dozen trails on the River Run Village side of Dercum, night skiing is a big draw. You can ski anything from easy-going greens to a black diamond run on scheduled dates from 4 pm to 7 pm.
Don't worry about driving back to Denver at the end of the day, there are plenty of vacation rentals at Keystone, from hotels and ski-in ski-out condos to luxury chalets.
Epic Tree Skiing: Keystone Resort’s 3 mountains all have their draws, but tree skiing is one of its true treasures. After all, the resort is located in the high alpines of White River National Forest. Head to higher elevations in The Windows or the Outback to experience some of the premiere tree skiing in the USA.
Fresh Powder: It’s no secret that the Rocky Mountains get some mighty fine powder. While Keystone doesn’t get the 400+ average inches that Wolf Creek does, it still averages over 200 inches yearly. There’s a good chance you’ll need to break out your powder skis or board for a day on Keystone. Pro tip: head up to the Outbacks for the best chance of fresh snow.
Skiing Keystone’s 3 Mountains
One of the most impressive things about Keystone is that you ride 3 unique mountains at the resort. Each area within Keystone has access to lifts, with a mix of terrain for all ski levels.
Dercum
This is the area where most visitors begin their time on the mountain. It’s near the largest village, River Run Village, and has both gondolas and chairs to access green, blue, and black trails. It’s also home to Summit House at the top of River Run Gondola, where you can refuel with food and beverages.
Family-Friendly Slopes: Keystone is renowned as a family-friendly mountain, and Dercum is a favorite spot for families due to its convenient location to River Run and Mountain House villages, where you’ll find the resort’s only two gondolas. Staying at Keystone lodging in these villages offers easy access to Schoolmarm, the most popular beginner’s area, featuring an impressive 3.5-mile trail. This side of the mountain caters to all skill levels, with intermediate trails branching off the long green run.
Intermediate Terrain: Dercum has plenty of intermediate terrain, with many favorite trails on the right side as you ski down from River Run Gondola. There are plenty of groomed trails around Dercum, including the fun but very busy Mozart or the more spacious and equally fun Flying Dutchman.
Black Diamonds and Bowls: From Summit House, you can take the Outpost Gondola to North Peak for access to black diamond runs in The Windows. You can also hike from Bergman Express to Independence Bowl and ski down ungroomed trails from one of the resort’s highest points.
North Peak
You can get to North Peak from Dercum by gondola or skiing. The popular groomer Mozart takes you to the middle of North Peak, or you can take the Outpost Gondola near the top.
Lap the Blues: North Peak is where the Keystone crowds begin to thin out a bit as you’re entering the backside of the mountain. There are some excellent intermediate trails, like Last Alamo, which is a fun trail with plenty of open space and scenic views of the mountains. It meets up with another blue run, Mozart. Once you get to the bottom, take Santiago Express back to the top to run it back.
Ski Moguls: North Peak has the best collection of mogul runs at Keystone. From the top of Santiago Express, you’ll have access to a few of the best on the mountain, including Starfire and Cat Dancer. Cat Dancer is particularly popular, as it’s a long run with scenic views and lots of moguls.
Outback
The most experienced skiers and intrepid travelers will want to head to the Outback when they visit Keystone. This section gets the freshest powder and generally has the fewest skiers on most days.
Ski Groomers: The Outback Express opens access to some fun intermediate terrain. Porcupine and Elk Run are the most popular blue runs but are generally kept in good shape. Oh, Bob is another intermediate trail, but it will often have moguls and a lot of traffic.
Tree Runs: If it’s glades you’re after, the tree runs at the Outback are going to keep you plenty busy. There are several excellent options. Wolverine, near the top of the Outback Express, offers plenty of challenging terrain. Or you can opt for Pika Glades, which is a challenging tree-lined trail just off of Porcupine.
Explore Keystone
Now that you know more about Dercum, North Peak, and the Outback, you'll probably want to start exploring where to stay in Keystone. The Lodging Company connects ski vacationers with lodging and accommodations at 37 ski resorts in the US and Canada, including Keystone.
With their free trip planning, competitive lodging rates, and exclusive discounts on lift tickets, lessons, and shuttles, it's no surprise The Lodging Company is North America's first choice for ski travel. Reach out today and let their snow vacation experts guide you to the slopes!
Deric Brown is a writer who has traveled domestically and internationally, writing about his journeys along the way. A storyteller at heart, he’s always looking at both the small details and the big picture. Whether snowboarding in the Sierra Nevada Mountains or hiking the Marin Headlands near his San Francisco home, he loves experiencing the beauty of California and beyond and writing about each solo adventure and family trip.
Photo Credit: Vail Resorts