The Best Ski Runs at Beaver Creek, Colorado

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Welcome to ThinkVail – we hope you find this article about the best ski runs at Beaver Creek helpful.


If you’re vacationing in Beaver Creek, Colorado this winter and plan to hit the slopes, here is the inside scoop on the best ski trails.

Beaver Creek Resort is a luxurious, world-class ski area that is located just 8 miles from Vail, Colorado. It consists of 3 very distinct European-like villages, each with its own corresponding ski mountain; Beaver Creek, Arrowhead and Bachelor Gulch.

It offers 1,800 skiable acres with more than 150 ski runs accessible via 25 lifts.  The mountain offers an ideal mix of 19% beginner trails, 42% intermediate trails and 39% expert/advanced areas.

Every year Beaver Creek hosts the Birds of Prey World Cup —currently, the only World Cup race held in the United States.

This upscale ski resort enjoys five-star dining, grand hotels, great shopping, nightlife, an outdoor ice rink and a nationally ranked ski and ride school. Bachelor Gulch Village is anchored by the exclusive, on-mountain Ritz-Carlton resort and Arrowhead is the western-most entry point and is very family friendly.

Beaver Creek’s mission is to provide the ultimate guest experience, and it succeeds beautifully.

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See Also: Best Ski Helmets


The Best Ski Runs at Beaver Creek


Best Beginner/ Green Ski Runs


Red Buffalo

Access via Red Buffalo Express Lift (#11)

Red Buffalo is the perfect playground for beginners and surprisingly, it is located at the very summit of Beaver Creek, 11,4440 feet above sea level. Tucked into the top left corner of the mountain, this area boasts fun trails like Booth Falls, Powell, Piney and of course, Red Buffalo. It’s the ideal place to learn or to practice your free riding skills. There is a dedicated family zone and slow zone here. This part of the mountain is serviced by the Red Buffalo Express Chairlift, a high-speed quad lift that makes it easy to do laps. Enjoy the magnificent view from up upon high while you explore this special section of Beaver Creek. Perfect for families.

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Little Brave

Access via Arrow Bahn Express Lift (#17)

This fun, twisty trail is located in Arrowhead and is a terrific blue/green run with lots of variations to keep you delighted and on your toes from top to bottom. This long, mellow run is perfect for carving big, swooping turns and the view is beautiful. It rarely gets busy, you are usually running most of this section by yourself. This trail starts at the top of the Arrow Bahn Express chairlift and runs all the way to the bottom where you can stop at Broken Arrow cafe for a drink and enjoy their sunny patio while watching skiers coming down the mountain.

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Best Intermediate / Blue Ski Runs


Harrier

Access via Centennial Express Lift (#6)

Harrier is a wide run that is consistently groomed and is flanked on both sides by really fun, challenging trees. This run holds the snow as it is protected from the wind. The entrance to Upper Harrier isn’t obvious, it’s almost hidden, so many skiers pass by, leaving this blue trails less tracked than most. This is a gem that should not be missed. Harrier is the perfect mix of glades and bumps with a nice pitch and is a perfect run to lap. Harrier is centrally located and dumps you out at the convergence of three of Beaver Creeks’ most popular chairlifts: Birds of Prey, Larkspur, & Grouse Mountain. But watch out as the very bottom section of Harrier turn’s into a more demanding black diamond run. Stickline Glade parallels Harrier and should not be missed as you will love skiing through the aspen and pine trees here.

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Stone Creek Meadows

Access via Rose Bowl Express Lift (#4)

Rose Bowl is a with wide open bowl with gradually sloping terrain and gorgeous views. Much of this bowl is made up of black diamond bump runs except for intermediate run Stone Creek Meadows. It is usually groomed and has lots of variation and big undulations that are perfect for cruising. This bowl is popular and scenic where skiers and boarders enjoy big, open fields, trees, steeps and moguls, everything you could want. The trees in Keller Glade also make for a nice diversion. Rose Bowl is serviced by Chair # 4, a high-speed, four-person chair that makes skiing this area a breeze.

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Gold Dust & Latigo

Access via Centennial Express Lift (#6)

These fun, wide trails run right down the front face of Beaver Creek mountain and the 24 fully-automated snow guns keeps these runs in the white and ensure they have fresh snow most days.  So, even if there hasn’t been a recent storm, you may wake up to a fresh layer of snow. These trails are long, easy intermediate trails that are ideal for big turns and some steep pitches mean you are sure to pick up some speed.
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.Larkspur Bowl

Access via Larkspur Express Lift (#11)

Larkspur Bowl is a wide, really wide, fantastic intermediate area, and thanks to its sunny, south-eastern orientation, the face of this bowl is usually softer even if the rest of the mountain gets icy.  As you ride up the chairlift you will see that Larkspur is flanked to the left with some killer mogul fields but there is a huge, smooth, groomed swath that runs down the middle with lots of rollers. To the far right Larkspur boasts some fun, tree skiing that kicks this trail up another notch or two. These trails are very popular, and it can get very busy back here but the views and the skiing are spectacular.

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Coyote Glade

Access via Bachelor Gulch Express Lift (#16)

Coyote Glade is an intermediate run found in Bachelor Gulch and it’s the ideal run for blue skiers and snowboarders searching for memorable glade skiing. This trail features spacious terrain with gorgeous views of the valley below.  Duck in and out of the trees or find your perfect line through the aspens.

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Grubstake

Access via Bachelor Gulch Express Lift (16)

Grubstake runs parallel to Coyote Glade in Bachelor Gulch and it is a wide, open run with smooth, rolling terrain that also has little islands of pine trees throughout the run and aspen glades border each side of the trail. This run is fun and forgiving and takes you all the way down to the Ritz Carlton where you can order a cocktail on their elegant patio and enjoy the views.

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Best Expert /Double Black Diamond Ski Trails


Royal Elk Glade

Access via Grouse Mountain Express Lift (#10)

Get ready for this challenging, steep pine forest that takes you through some seriously beautiful terrain. With a traditional back-country feel, this area is accessed through a gate at the top of Grouse Mountain and boasts extraordinary views before you drop in. These tight trees offer no high-speed rhythms. Instead, this entertaining glade varies in width from uncomfortably tight to exhilarating wide. You can usually find lines that are untouched even several days from the last snowfall but it is a popular run and can track out quickly. If you like trees you will love Royal Elk Glade.

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Stone Creek Chutes

Access via Cinch Express Lift (#8)

If you ask any local where the best skiing on Beaver Creek is the answer is always, Stone Creek Chutes. This use to be an out-of-bounds locals’ secret but now it is part of the resort and easily accessible. Access Stone Creek Chutes at the top of Cinch Express Lift and take Red Buffalo Trail down, on skiers’ right, you will see the upper gate. The trail opens onto a rock band with several options to drop-in. Back here you will find 180 acres of expert terrain categorized as extreme due to cliff bands. Practice throwing yourself off steep cliffs and making big drops and enjoy the 45 degree pitches that makes the landing so enjoyable. If you are an extreme athlete, enjoy these sweet lines.

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Bald Eagle

Access via Grouse Mountain Express (#10)

There is no shortage of bumps, big bumps on all of Grouse Mountain but Bald Eagle boasts nearly 2,000 vertical feet of steep bumps. This run is not for the faint of heart, this trail is a workout. Access Bald Eagle via the Grouse Mountain Express and get ready for a true challenge. This is the ideal area to test your ski and snowboarder skills. Make no mistake, these are double black diamond runs and are some of the steepest terrain around. Grouse Mountain includes Falcon Park, Osprey and Screech Owl. Raven Ridge is the easier run on this mountain, and if it’s groomed, its amazing.

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Beaver Creek Terrain Parks & Pipe

Access via Cinch Express Lift (#8)

  • The 101 Park is located in the beginners’ area near the summit and is suitable for novice shredders and is perfect to practice freestyle basics. Try entry level boxes, rails, jump line and four tabletops and a bonus kicker at the bottom.
  • The Zoom Room is a medium sized terrain park that is also found in this same area, right next to 101 Park and is perfect for challenging intermediate skiers and riders. Here you will find a variety of different features like boxes, rails, log-slides, stall features, and 20-30 ft jumps.

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Beaver Creek Mountain Tours

If you really want to learn the lay of the land and which ski runs are the best at Beaver Creek Resort —and you are an intermediate to advanced skier or boarder—take a complimentary guided mountain tour. This is a great way to find the terrain that’s best for you. The tours meet daily at 10 am at the top of the Centennial Express Lift.

Click here to learn more about the Beaver Creek Mountain Welcome Tour

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See Also: The Best Ski Runs at Vail Resorts


Comments

We hope you found this article about the best ski runs at Beaver Creek helpful. Have you skied Beaver Creek before? Do you agree with this list of the best ski runs? Is your favorite trail on this list? If not please tell us in the comments along with why it’s your favorite. We wold love to hear your thoughts, comments and of course stories about your experiences skiing or snowboarding Beaver Creek.

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