Winter Park, Colorado, is a ski resort in the Front Range. It has many pastimes for both summer and winter visitors. There are several places that close during the spring and fall, however.
Get in
Winter Park is a little over 65 miles from Denver, and is one of the closest ski resorts from Denver. The route is I-70 West most of the way, with the remainder on U.S. Route 40 West, which goes over Berthoud Pass. Be sure to check for current conditions on Berthoud Pass, as it's common for it to be snowing (sometimes heavily) on the pass with no snow in Denver or on the way up I-70.
Powderhound Transportation provides shuttle service from Denver International Airport to Winter Park, and the town has an adequate free shuttle between Winter Park Resort, the town of Winter Park, and the town of Fraser.
By train
- Winter Park Resort Station, 39.887558°, -105.763039°. For over sixty years, the train going from Denver Union Station to Winter Park was an institution and something of a rite of passage for skiers in the area. It was cancelled in 2009, but will be back for the 2017 winter season. Departures are once every Saturday and Sunday morning with the return in the evening. See Amtrak's page on this service (dead link: August 2020) for more information. As Denver international airport is connected to Union station by light rail, you can fly into Denver, take the train to the ski area and never once have to use a car.
By bus
- Greyhound, 78841 Hwy 40, 39.91913°, -105.78452°.
Get around
The Lift provides free local bus service.
See
Do
- Winter Park Resort, 239 Winter Park Dr, 39.8869°, -105.762°, +1 303-892-0961. Ski Resort. Check out the Alpine Slide in the Summer!
- Hot Sulphur Springs Resort, 40.07491°, -106.11166°. A fantastic set of hot springs pools, fun in both the winter and summer. They also have lodging here, but there's a level train crossing and 3 to 4 trains come through in the middle of the night blowing their whistles within half a mile of the rooms.
- Grand Adventures, 81699 US Highway 40, 39.88772°, -105.76299°, info@grandadventures.com. Snowmobiling, Sleigh Rides, ATV Rentals, and Horseback Riding.
- Pole Creek Golf Course, 6827 County Rd 51, Tabernash, 39.9886°, -105.85056°, +1 970-887-9195. 27 holes of Colorado Mountain Golf on 3 distinct courses The Meadow, The Ranch and The Ridge. Course is at 8,600 feet, and plays to 7,107 yards from the back tees. Voted Best New Public Course in North America in 1985.
Buy
Eat
- Hernando's, Pizza and Pasta, 39.92774°, -105.78812°. Local, $7 per person
- Pizza Shop. In Fraser. Good pizza and Italian food. Local, $6 per person.
- Fontenot's Seafood Restaurant, 78336 US Hwy 40, 39.92575°, -105.78856°, +1 970-726-4021. This restaurant has been around since 1990 and is favored by the locals. Seafood is their specialty with or without a Cajun slant, but they also serve steaks, chicken, and pasta. A great selection of wines by the glass as well as some micro brews. Lunch is great value and they also have great happy hour deals on appetizers. Located in King’s Crossing Shopping Center, downtown Winter Park.
Drink
- Hernando's Pizza Pub, 78199 Us Hwy 40, 39.92774°, -105.78812°, +1 970 726-5409. Good variety of pizza and beer.
Sleep
- Iron Horse Resort, 101 Iron Horse Way, 39.88022°, -105.76047°. Ski-In/Ski-Out, Full-Service resort offering condominiums in hotel style atmosphere.
- Winter Park Mountain Lodge, 81699 U.S. 40, 39.88535°, -105.75942°, +1 970 726-4211, sales@winterparkhotel.com. Check-in: 4 PM, check-out: 11 AM. 2021-08-11
- Best Western Alpenglo Lodge, 78665 US Highway 40, 39.92148°, -105.78527°, +1 970 726-8088.
- About 10 miles north of Fraser is a golf resort that has many very nice condos as well as hotel rooms, for around $140 per night. The condos all seem to have hot tubs in them. No CDMA coverage though.
- Destinations West at Beaver Village Condominiums (Teverbaugh Heaton Management), 50 Village Dr (From Denver- Exit 232 Highway 40 west, 26 miles on the left, marked by a large oval green sign.), 39.91418°, -105.78351°, +1 970-726-8813. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 10AM. Condos range in size from 1-4 bedrooms. Located only 2 blocks from downtown and 1.5 miles to the base of the ski resort, easily accessible to all of Winter Park. Free town ski shuttle will transport to the ski area directly from all of the condos. Centrally located Clubhouse has a heated indoor pool, hot tubs, sauna, guest laundry and 1200 square feet of meeting space. The Clubhouse and condos are also equipped with free high speed wireless internet services. from $95
- Wild Horse Inn, 1536 County Road 83, Fraser, 39.98568°, -105.80887°, +1 970-726-0456. Lodge rooms and 3 private cabins. Breakfast included at Wild Horse Inn. Open year-round. $135 - $235 for individual rooms, $195 - $285 individual cabins
- StayWinterPark, 50 Village Dr, 39.9136°, -105.78339°, +1 970-726-6200. Offering a variety of condos, cabins, townhomes, and houses for rent in areas of Winter Park such as Beaver Village, Lakota, and Fraser. 2018-06-11
- Winter Park Escapes, 670 Winter Park Drive Winter Park, CO 80482, 39.88558°, -105.76111°. 2021-09-01
Connect
The hostel has dial-in on a public terminal.
Winter Park has great Sprint CDMA coverage which extends north to Fraser, but not much further. AT&T provides GSM and 3G (UMTS 850/1900) on US40 from Winter Park north through Fraser to Tabernash; further afield, coverage is sporadic due to mountains. Some spots are 3G-only, serviced only by another carrier or completely dead.
Wireless Internet
- Rocky Mountain Roastery and Coffee Company, with branches in Fraser and Winter Park, added pay-per-use wireless Internet connectivity in August 2014.