by Ralph Trayfalgar

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Introduction

Colorado is still one of the best states to go to for your next ski vacation. Home to such picturesque ski towns as Aspen, Vail, Breckenridge, and Telluride, Colorado offers everything you could ever want whenever you feel the need to hit the slopes.

But like any great vacation, the perfect ski trip needs proper planning. Because Colorado is such a popular destination, it's important to set the right date for your trip so you won't end up wanting to go home when you get there.

As such, we've prepared this helpful guide on the best time to go skiing in Colorado so you can have as amazing and memorable of an experience as we have.

What is the best month to go skiing in Colorado?

With lockdown restrictions slowly being lifted this year, we can tell you've been itching to take to the mountains for a while. We know—we have, too!

But even though ski resorts are only just starting to reopen this winter season, we're happy to report that nature didn't shut down along with it.

As such, we can still make the same analysis and recommend that you set your ski date somewhere around January.

Of course, that isn't the only good month to plan your next ski vacation. If January isn't feasible for your schedule, we could just as easily recommend any date from December to March. Here's a short rundown of what to expect when you plan your trip for each month:

December: Because December is still pretty early in the winter for Colorado, the snow on the mountains at this point is relatively thinner than later in the season. That being said, there's still more than enough powder on the slopes to have a good time, and you also get to enjoy the vibrant Christmas spirit when you head back into town.

January: As we've mentioned, this is our pick for the best month to go skiing in Colorado. The ample amount of snow, relatively smaller crowds, and the fresh smell of the New Year lingering in the air makes it our top pick.

February: Offering the thickest snow of the year, February is our recommendation for true rippers who want the best powder on the slopes. Be sure to layer up, though, as it gets exceptionally cold around this time.

March: The warmer days of March mean you don't have to layer up as much, but you will be meeting a lot of competition as the spring break hits.

What is the snowiest month of the year in Colorado?

To give you a short answer, average data from NOAA shows that December holds the spot as the snowiest month of the year in Colorado. However, the long answer is a bit more complicated than that.

You may have noticed in the previous answer that February offers the thickest snow of the year. Now why would this be if February isn't the snowiest month of the year?

This is because having the thickest snow of the year doesn't necessarily mean that it's the snowiest month of the year. We have to take into account how much snow is accumulated on the mountains over the previous months, as well as how much of it is melted away by the temperature of the month.

For example, December might be the snowiest month of the year in Colorado, but that doesn't mean there will be as much snow on the mountains as the following months because October and November didn't bring in as much snow.

Likewise, April might have a lot of snow gathered from the previous months, but that doesn't mean all that much when a lot of it starts to melt away by then.

What month do people stop skiing in Colorado? (850-1000)

Since we've mentioned April already, let's talk about that month in more detail now. The reason why we left April out of our recommendations for great skiing months is because April tends to be the month that people stop skiing in Colorado.

Around this time, the sun tends to stay out for longer, which means the days are hotter, which in turn means the snow melts away faster. And when the slopes get wetter, less people want to hit the slopes. Finally, with this lower demand, ski resorts start to close up shop for the season, so by the end of the month, there's basically no way for you to actually go back up there.

But if April happens to be the only month you could find time to go out, then you still have hope. There's still a reasonable amount of snow on the mountains early on in the month, so you could definitely still get a few runs if you book for the first week of April or so.

How much does skiing cost in Colorado?

Let's not kid ourselves—ski vacations are expensive. You've got a ton of costs to deal with in order to get the best experience.

For one, there's the matter of ski gear, which you can either buy to own for life or just rent out for however long your stay is. Then there's the matter of your accommodations—unless you live right next to the mountains, the price of a week-long stay at a lodge would be eye-watering, to say the least.

And then you have the issue of actually getting into the resort, which we will tackle here. Based on what we know from the pricing of the four most popular ski resorts in Colorado (Vail, Breckenridge, Telluride, and Aspen), you can expect a day pass to cost around $150 to $200 for an adult, with discounts for children.

Now, if these prices seem a bit too steep, that's because they are. But you don't have to pay these sorts of prices necessarily—with advance bookings and discounts, you can expect to pay as little as half of the prices we've written here.

Conclusion

While you can have a good time with an impromptu getaway, the best travel experiences are made after a lot of planning.

We hope that this guide on the best time to ski in Colorado was helpful to you, and we look forward to seeing you on the slopes!