Are you planning a ski trip to Colorado in 2024? As an avid snowboarder, I can tell you that picking the “best” time to go skiing is incredibly important and not always the easiest endeavor. Colorado has some of the best skiing in the world. Whether you are planning a trip to Vail, Breckinridge, Steamboat, Winter Park, Beaver Creek, Telluride, Arapahoe Basin, Crested Butte, Loveland, Copper Mountain, or any of Colorado’s majestic mountains, you are going to want to make sure there is enough snowfall and plenty of opportunity. The ski season runs from November to the end of April.

My name is Sam. I love snowboarding, and I love to travel. That said, I always make sure I visit the mountains at the best time of year.

Every skier’s winter schedule is like a snowflake: different and unique. Before you delve into the best time to visit Colorado, it might be a good idea to find out what is the best time for you. How many vacation days do you get this year? When do the kids get off for Spring Break? Are you free over Christmas and the winter holidays? These are things to think about. Before you book that flight to Denver, read this.

What Is Your Definition of “Best?”

The ski season is different for everyone. Some want a relaxing vacation with their family. Others want to chase powder off-piste. Depending on who you are and what you are looking for in terms of a skiing experience, you might want to visit Colorado at different times. I’ve broken up this article into three sections: the best time for weather, the best time to avoid crowds, and the best time for good prices.

Weather conditions are typically dictated by the time of year and usually drive the most traffic to Colorado. Let's start there.

The Best Time For Good Weather: February and March

When it comes to favorable weather conditions, the best time to visit Colorado is in February or March. February might be a little chilly for some folks, but snow conditions are peak! When planning a ski trip, it’s important to make sure the mountain is covered in snow.

Personally, late February and early March are my favorite times of year to ski and snowboard. At that time, the snow is flowing like drinks at apres-ski, and if you are lucky, you can avoid the busyness of Spring Break crowds.

Colorado has some of the best off-piste/backcountry skiing in the country. If you like to hike and then ski, lots of snow is a necessity, which means skiers and snowboarders should visit during February and March. Late-season skiing in the backcountry offers more stability when the snowpack becomes isothermal. Most importantly, check weather conditions and reports to make sure your ski trip is filled with snow. Likewise, when it comes to backcountry skiing, it’s important where you go. Some ski destinations get more snow than others.

If good weather is your priority, you’ll want to avoid skiing before late November and December. Oftentimes, there is not a lot of snow, and you run the risk of skiing unfavorable terrain. Every year is different, but if a ski resort lacks snow, they often open only a portion of the mountain at a time. Typically, it takes until Christmas for most resorts to have 100% of their trails active.

After Christmas, things start heating up. Ski areas get more snow, trails get groomed, and the slopes see more visitors. Likewise, skiing in late April is oftentimes not ideal. Once the warmth of Spring begins to return, that powdery snow transforms into a slippery slush.

The Best Time to Avoid the Crowds: December and April

If you are like me, then you’ll want to visit Colorado when the slopes aren't packed with skiers and snowboarders. Early-season skiing tends to be the most wide-open. Early December and before Christmas are prime if you want to avoid long waits and crowded trails. That said, there isn’t always lots of snow on the ground at this time of year.

The next best thing is to make sure you avoid busy holidays. Kids and teenagers get out of school, and those with jobs have the day off. This often leads to busier ski resorts (aka crowded slopes). Here are some dates to remember: MLK Day is January 15th. Presidents Day is February 19th this year. Spring Break is in mid-March.

Additionally, if you can avoid skiing on the weekend, you’ll have more of the mountain to yourself.

The Best Times For Good Ticket Prices: November, December, and April

I don’t like paying top-dollar for lift tickets. Those with large families and tighter budgets should make sure they are getting the best price for ski tickets. If you are not buying the EPIC pass or ICON pass this year, I would recommend taking advantage of resorts that are either not as busy or often lower their prices.

Keystone, Vail, and Breckenridge might be tempting, but their tickets are going to be WAY more expensive than others in the area. Colorado has several options when it comes to affordable skiing. All it takes is a little research. Most ski resort websites have calendars that tell you exactly how much it is to ski per day. Similar to how ski resorts will be busier during the weekends and holidays, lift ticket prices tend to be more expensive during the weekends and holidays, too.

Some Resorts With Cheaper Tickets:

• Winter Park - $67/day in April (WHAT?!)
• Purgatory - $42 in late March and $9 in early April.
• Sunlight Mountain Resort - $80 (kids under 12 ski free!)

The Best (Overall) Month to Ski Colorado: February

The best month to ski in Colorado is February. This month encapsulates all there is to enjoy when it comes to a holistic skiing experience. With lots of snow, decent weather, reasonable prices, and less busy Colorado ski resorts, February is easily the best month to ski in Colorado. If you don’t like the cold, I’d recommend skiing in March. Although, you risk waiting in long lines and paying extra for your ski tickets. Anything after March gets a little slushy. I don’t recommend skiing in May (that’s when the snow melts and white water rafting begins).

Take Advantage of Curated’s Expert Community

At Curated, you can talk to real experts in real time. Whether you need gear recommendations or simply want to ask when the best time of year to visit Colorado is, we are here to fulfill your needs. Just like you, we are passionate about skiing, snowboarding, and traveling.

Before working for Curated, I was a customer in need of guidance. It was through one of Curated’s Snowboard Experts that I was able to find what I was looking for. Don’t be afraid to ask us anything!