Loveland Ski Area sits right on the Continental Divide, 53 miles west of Denver at the last exit on I-70 before the Eisenhower Tunnel. With 1,800 lift-served acres, a summit at 13,010 feet, a free snowcat ride to the ridge and more than 380 inches of snow in a typical year, this family-owned hill is one of the first places in Colorado to open each fall and a local favorite for no-frills, big-mountain skiing.

Loveland has been a family-owned operation for nearly 60 years, and it still feels refreshingly old-school, with free parking, short drives from the city and a down-to-earth crowd. The resort is split into two areas. Loveland Basin is the main mountain, where the lifts climb to the high bowls along the Divide, and Lift 9 carries skiers to about 12,700 feet, one of the highest chairlift rides in North America. Across the road, Loveland Valley is a gentle area set aside for beginners and ski school, so new skiers can learn away from the fast traffic. A free shuttle links the two base areas and the parking lots.

The numbers speak for themselves. Loveland has 94 named trails, nine lifts and 2,210 feet of vertical drop, and the terrain leans steep, with 46 percent rated advanced, 41 percent intermediate and 13 percent beginner. The longest run stretches 2 miles. For a taste of backcountry-style skiing without the effort, hop on the Ridge Cat, a free 18-passenger snowcat that carries skiers along the Continental Divide to steep, ungroomed terrain that would otherwise require a long hike. There are another 100 acres of hike-to terrain for those who want to earn their turns. Snowmaking covers 240 acres, which is how Loveland is able to open early. Car-free skiers can catch the Snowstang bus from Denver’s Union Station on winter weekends.

Loveland fired up its snow guns on Oct. 14, 2026, and is aiming to open the 2026-27 season in late October or early November, weather permitting; no official opening day has been announced yet, so watch skiloveland.com for the call. Early-season window tickets run $119 for adults and $40 for kids 6-14 through Dec. 13, and Loveland Valley is scheduled to open for beginners on Nov. 20. The Snowstang bus from Union Station starts its weekend runs on Dec. 13.