Loveland Basin Ski Resort: A Colorado Local’s Favorite That Expert Skiers May Like

Loveland Ski Area is the closest large mountain ski area to Denver, Colorado, so it’s easy to see why the locals like to ski there: less drive time. However, it is also a great place for skiing. High altitude means that the quality of the snow is usually very good: High altitude and colder temperatures mean that the snow stays light and fluffy for a long time.

If you are an expert skier with a taste for adventure, The Ridge is a great place to ski. Served by chairlift 9, the Ridge runs several miles along the top of the vast basins that comprise the Loveland Ski Area. To access most of the ridge you will have to do a bit of walking uphill. It’s usually not much of a gain in vertical feet, but the high altitude (between 12,500 and 13,000 feet or 3,800 to 4,000 meters) can make you gasp for breath, especially if you’re from sea level.

However, the effort invested in the short hikes uphill is often rewarded with some of the best skiing in the world. The short uphill sections discourage many skiers, and powder snow can be found for days after a blizzard. Often it is helicopter skiing without the helicopter.

Another great advantage of Loveland Ski Area, if you have a car, is that you can park right at the Base Lodge. So if you have extra gear, multiple pairs of skis, etc., you can take it all with you and easily get back to the car to balance gear, skis, etc.

Loveland is a great place to ski, but you should be aware of the following differences between Loveland and a ski area like Vail:

1.) The weather on The Ridge can be severe and can change quickly. Don’t assume that because the weather is nice on the lower lifts that it will be nice on the Ridge. If the weather is bad, head further down the mountain, maybe even as far as Loveland Valley, Loveland’s beginner and intermediate area.

2.) Do not enter enclosed areas. Beautiful, fluffy powder snow like you see in ski movies is inherently unstable, and if it gets into an enclosed area it could easily trigger an avalanche. If you stay in bounds, the ski patrol does an excellent job controlling the hazard, but if you dodge the ropes and go out of bounds, you are putting yourself at risk. This warning is especially directed at non-Colorado snowbikers. If you don’t understand Colorado snow, don’t assume that high-altitude Colorado is like snow at home.

3.) Loveland is a ski area, not a fancy resort. There’s no on-site lodging, no real estate, no fancy shopping, and no pretty ski town. The base hostel cafeteria is ok, reasonably priced and functional. It is not a 5 star dining experience. If you have guests who don’t ski with you, they might get bored.

You won’t meet the rich and famous in Loveland. You’ll meet regular Colorado skiers, ranging from families with small children to extreme skiers hitting crazy lines on The Ridge.