Photo Credit: Telluride Ski Resort
I'm a total beach bum once summer rolls around however, having been fortunate enough to travel beyond the friendly confines of my Jersey Shore locale I can honestly say that summer in the mountains is very underrated. This is especially true when those mountains are in Colorado. I know it is still snowing there, and many resorts are actually still open for skiing, but summer season is around the corner in Colorado’s high-country and Colorado Ski Country USA (CSCUSA) member resorts are offering a little something for everyone.
Can you say bluebirds days, breathtaking scenery and endless opportunities for adventure? That's right, mountain coasters, alpine slides, scenic chairlift and gondola rides, downhill mountain biking, hiking, disc golf, white-water rafting, zip lining, paragliding, festivals, dining and food events and more will have you and your family craving more. It doesn't matter if it's your first time or if you're a seasoned veteran, Colorado has all the activities you need to keep you and your family busy for an entire trip.
Arapahoe Basin Ski Area: June 28 – September 15
Low Country Boil, July 13
Arapahoe Basin is will host the Low Country Boil on Saturday, July 13. This celebration will feature peel and eat shrimp, andouille sausage, Cajun boiled potatoes, sweet corn and smoked cheddar grits in the beautiful base area. Enjoy a scenic chairlift ride and hike down to get the appetite going and enjoy an all afternoon feast with live music.
Aspen Snowmass: Aspen Mountain: May 25 – October 6. Snowmass: June 21 – October 6.
The Audi Power of Four Race, August 17
The Audi Power of Four Race Series is a premier endurance race series utilizing the unique and varied terrain of each of the four Aspen Snowmass mountains. Each race is designed to test the limits and skills of both elite and recreational athletes. The weekend will feature several running options including 10K, 25K, and 50K races, plus a unique 33-mile mountain bike race.
Cooper: Summer operating dates: Friday, July 12 and Friday, August 2
Fridays on the Mountain
Cooper will be hosting Fridays on the mountain during the summer. Friday, July 12 will be an Italian themed dinner and Friday, August 2, will be a seafood themed night.
Copper Mountain: Summer operating dates: June 14 – September 1
Copper Live, Starting July 6
Experience the magic of the Rocky Mountain acoustics with a free live summer concert series July through August. Copper Live is a curated series of six diverse musical performances ranging from up-and-coming indie folk, funk, jazz, reggae and electronic artists starting July 6, 2019.
Echo Mountain: Summer operating schedule: Opening Saturday, July 13.
Summer Concert, July 13
Echo mountain is hosting a concert Saturday, July 13. The concert and performers will be announced at a later date.
Granby Ranch: Summer operating schedule: ‘The Grill’ opens May 26. Open weekly Wednesday – Sunday, June 5 – September 29
Music at Milestone Series, Summer Wednesdays
Join Granby Ranch for the first annual Music at Milestone Series, an extraordinary lineup of award-winning musicians from around Colorado. Be sure to join on Wednesdays throughout the summer, at the base of the Milestone Lift to enjoy this live concert series. The event is every Wednesday from 5-8 pm and is free for the whole family.
Powderhorn Resort: Summer operating dates: June 14 – October 6
Gears & Beers Festival, August 31
Powderhorn’s 4th Annual Gears & Beers Festival will feature a fun filled day of live music, multiple beer, wine, distillery vendors and biking. It is free for all guests and is sure to be a great day on the Grand Mesa.
Purgatory Resort: Summer Operating Date: May 25 – October 13
Muck and Mire Mud Adventure, August 2
Purgatory will host the Muck and Mire Mud run on August 2. This is one of the most popular events of the year and is great for the whole family. The event features a 5k course filled with mud pits, a giant slip n’ slide, more mud pits, hay bales, climbing walls, and more mud pits.
Steamboat Resort: Summer operating Schedule: May 24 – October 13
Photo Credit: Curtis DeVore
Oktoberwest, September 13-14
Steamboat will host the 11th Annual Oktoberwest September 13-14. The weekend will feature a beer stroll through downtown Steamboat restaurants on Friday and a tasting at the base of Steamboat Resort on Saturday with over 40 craft breweries, live music, and a beef cook-off. The famous beef cook-off will have local chefs competing for the title of the best beef brisket in town.
Sunlight Mountain Resort: Summer operating dates: May 20 – October 31
Sunlight Mountain Resort will offer excursions to Hanging Lake, one of the most popular hikes in Colorado. Departing from its retail store in downtown Glenwood Springs, Sunlight’s new Hanging Lake Excursions include a shuttle ride to Hanging Lake, a Hanging Lake hiking permit plus bike rentals to enjoy a scenic 10-mile downhill cruise through the majestic Glenwood Canyon back to Glenwood Springs. The cost is $50 for adults, $40 for children 12 & under and must be booked 48 hours in advance.
Telluride Resort: Summer Operating Dates: May 22- October 20, 2019
Telluride Reserve, August 15-18
Telluride Reserve is a new food and wine event that celebrates the character and uniqueness of Telluride’s Mountain Village. This unique celebration will immerse guests in the vibrant story of food and wine, as told by a diverse collection of award-winning chefs, winemakers, farmers, authors and culinary influencers. Limited to 500 guests, Telluride Reserve brings intimacy to each tasting and close interaction with chefs, winemakers and producers.
Winter Park Resort: Summer operating schedule: June 15 – September 2. Weekends only from September 7 – October 6
USA Cycling National Mountain Bike Championships, July 23-28
The USA Cycling National Mountain Bike Championships will bring some of the best riders in the nation to Winter Park to compete in various disciplines like downhill, cross-country, short-track cross-country, team relay, enduro, and the spectator-friendly dual slalom. USA Cycling is anticipating over 1,200 participants ranging from 6 to 70 years old representing juniors, amateurs, and professionals to compete over the event’s six days.
