Keystone Resort is the biggest ski area in Summit County and the place to squeeze the most out of a Colorado ski day: 3,149 acres across three peaks, a 3.5-mile beginner run, hike-to bowls, and the largest night skiing operation in the state.

Keystone opened in 1970 and spreads across three connected mountains in the White River National Forest. Dercum Mountain, at 11,640 feet, rises right above the River Run and Mountain House base areas and is home to long, gentle groomers, including Schoolmarm, which winds 3.5 miles from the summit to the base. Behind it, North Peak (11,660 feet) is known for long bump runs, and the Outback (11,980 feet) is the farthest and tallest peak, with tree skiing and powder. Above them sit more than 1,000 acres of high alpine bowls: Independence, Bergman, Erickson, North and South. The six-person Bergman Express makes Bergman Bowl an easy lap, even for confident intermediates. In all, the resort counts 21 lifts, 140 trails, a 12,408-foot top elevation and about 235 inches of snow a year.

Keystone’s calling card is the longest ski day in Colorado. On select Fridays, Saturdays and holidays from Thanksgiving onward, lighted trails on Dercum Mountain stay open after dark, so families can keep skiing long after other resorts close. River Run Village, at the base of the River Run Gondola, is a walkable pedestrian village with restaurants, shops, ski rentals and lodging, and this winter Keystone also welcomes guests to Kindred Resort, its first luxury hotel. Snow tubing is part of the winter lineup, too. Keystone is a short drive east of Lake Dillon and the towns of Dillon and Silverthorne, and it pairs well with a day at Breckenridge Ski Resort on the same Epic Pass.

Insider tip: Arrive early on a powder morning and head straight for the Outback Express, then hike to North or South Bowl for untracked turns. If you have beginners in your group, the green runs off the top of Dercum let new skiers enjoy a real summit view instead of being stuck at the base.

Keystone opened the 2026/27 season on Friday, October 30, 2026, one of the earliest openings in North America, with more than 2 miles of groomed terrain on Schoolmarm and Silver Spoon, reached by the River Run Gondola and Montezuma Express. More terrain opens as conditions allow, and night skiing starts on select nights from Thanksgiving. Epic Pass prices go up after November 15. Check the Keystone hours page for current lift times.