Boutique Skiing

Beaver Creek ski area in Western Colorado is Vail’s little sister. Ten miles to the West of Vail, Beaver Creek is smaller, tamer, and less difficult. So the reader might logically ask, “Why would anyone want to ski there?” Many probably would not, but there are advantages I have discovered over the years.

Beaver Creek is less crowded than Vail. The slopes rarely are congested, and when the lift lines get long, one can head to Arrowhead, a smaller ski area annexed by Beaver Creek some years ago. Lower in altitude than Beaver Creek and Vail, Arrowhead still offers great intermediate trails that have plenty of length. Rarely are these slopes crowded.

Beaver Creek has a wonderful village at the base of the ski mountain. There are tasteful shops and restaurants, and an ice skating rink sits in the middle of everything. The village has a European feel to it, and is aesthetically very pleasing. Cars are not allowed in the village, so it is quiet and peaceful.

Beaver Creek is expensive, but the town of Avon, which offers reasonably priced accommodations and restaurants, is only a couple of miles away. Shuttle buses from Avon run skiers to the ski area all day long. It is also easy to get to Vail, should the call of the back ski bowls beckon.

My favorite run at Beaver Creek is Latigo, an upper intermediate run accessed by the main high speed quad lift. The trail starts with a gentle downhill slope. Rather quickly the skier turns left and then dashes down a steep face while picking up speed. The trail then flattens out and bends sharply to the right, where it becomes a long, undulating route to the bottom of the mountain. It has speed, turns, and interesting contours.

The best way to reach Beaver Creek by air is to fly to Denver and rent a car or take a van for the two hour drive. It’s approximately a twenty hour drive from San Diego to Beaver Creek