Colorado is home to a wide variety of ski areas, from smaller mountains to some of the biggest resorts in the country. As such, there’s quite a broad range of terrain difficulty available across the state, and when it comes to in-bound expert terrain, there’s only a few states that have better or equal options. If you’re looking to truly push your limits on the slopes without heading into the backcountry, this list of Colorado’s 5 hardest ski areas from SRG Skiing is for you.
SRG Skiing’s 5 Hardest Ski Areas In Colorado
5. Arapahoe Basin
Arapahoe Basin’s extreme terrain is some of the most accessible in the state, with the East Wall standing tall above the ski area. Those willing to hike can access some serious chutes via the North Pole or Willy’s Wide Staircase, and the Steep Gullies, some of the hardest terrain on the mountain, are accessible without a hike (though a hike out is required).
4. Aspen Highlands
With the Highland Bowl, Aspen Highlands features some of the steepest in-bounds skiing anywhere. It does require a pretty strenuous 40-minute hike, though a snowcat can make that a bit shorter. A full run in the bowl can take 1.5–3 hours, but it’s worth it for those looking to push their limits.
3. Telluride Ski Resort
Telluride features a combination of large quantities of high-quality expert terrain and backcountry access and heli-skiing. A ridge hike and drop into Palmyra Basin accesses the intense Gold Hill chutes, and a longer hike from the top of the Prospect lift can take skiers and snowboarders into some intense terrain off Pee Wee’s Big Adventure, Dihedral Chute, and ultimately Palmyra Peak.
2. Crested Butte
Crested Butte has a lot of iconic runs, including the steepest tree cut run in the country, Rambo, but it’s full of proper expert terrain elsewhere. The Teocalli Bowls feature some serious tree skiing, though Teo 2 rarely opens and requires a 30-minute hike out. The North Face T-Bar includes some of the steepest skiing anywhere, filled with obstacles like rocks, cliffs, trees, chutes, and logs, but the mountain really shines in Third Bowl.
1. Silverton Mountain
Silverton Mountain is about as close to a backcountry experience while still technically being inbounds. Skiing at Silverton requires a guide throughout most of the year, and it’s always an experts only ski area. There are a variety of lines and routes around the mountain all suited to different terrain preferences, but they’re all expert.
