From tight trees to steep moguls to quick chutes, Colorado’s ski resorts provide plenty of thrilling ski courses to test even the finest of the best.
Here are some of Colorado’s most difficult ski runs.
Editor’s Note: There are numerous hard ski runs in Colorado, and this list does not cover them all. It’s just a taste of the state’s great expert terrain. Have you have another suggestion? Drop it in the comments area or in an email!
1. Highline (Vail Ski Resort).
This steep, double black diamond line is regarded as one of Vail’s finest (and longest) bump runs. It’s a long one that will put skiers to the test in terms of mogul skiing ability.
2. Prima Cornice, Vail Ski Resort
Prima Cornice is another advanced-level bump line on Vail’s front side that puts skiers’ mogul skiing skills to the test.
3. Rambo, Crested Butte Mountain Resort.
According to Peak Rankings, Rambo is North America’s steepest tree-defined ski trail. The double black diamond run features a 55-degree pitch from top to bottom. Skiers may also come across trees, bushes, and other obstacles to avoid.
4. Stone Creek Chutes, Beaver Creek Resort.
The Stone Creek Chutes provide some of Beaver Creek’s most dramatic and demanding terrain. Skiers will encounter cliffs, rocks, trees, and ungroomed natural terrain on these expert routes.
5. Steep Gullies (Arapahoe Basin Ski Area)
The Arapahoe Basin’s ‘The Steep Gullies’ section was formerly backcountry, but it is now expert-only terrain consisting of steep, narrow, rocky chutes.
According to A-Basin, it is among of Colorado’s most difficult in-bounds terrain, necessitating “serious skills and commitment” and a 20 to 30-minute trip back to base.
6. Seniors at Telluride Ski Resort.
Senior’s is situated at the summit of Telluride’s highest point, Palmyra Peak. According to Ski Magazine, skiers and riders must climb over a tight ridgeline to reach the run.
They’ll next have to ski between boulders down a 52-degree gully before arriving at the Black Iron Bowl.
7. 52° Trees (Wolf Creek Ski Area).
Wolf Creek Ski Area, one of Colorado’s lesser ski slopes, has a variety of challenging ski terrain, including the aptly dubbed route ’52° Trees.’ The run is located in the resort’s Waterfall Area, which also features some other hard routes.
8. Lake Chutes, Breckenridge Ski Resort
If Breckenridge’s lift-serviced terrain isn’t challenging enough for you, consider the extreme-rated hike to Lake Chutes near the mountain’s summit.
According to Peak Rankings, Breckenridge’s Lake Chutes trails vary from “typical expert pitches to some of the hardest in-bounds terrain in all of Colorado.”
9. Body Bag, Crested Butte Mountain Resort.
As the name suggests, this Crested Butte run is not for the faint of heart. Body Bag is filled with rocks and chutes and concludes with a forced cliff leap.
10. Two Smokes, Silverton Mountain Ski Area
Silverton Mountain is difficult in general and only suitable for advanced and expert skiers. According to 303 Magazine, Two Smokes is a straight chute down the mountainside.