Winter Park Mountain Facts
Winter Park Resort
150 Alpenglow Way
P.O. Box 36
Winter Park, Colorado 80482
(970) 726-5514
Denver direct (303) 892-0961
Snow Line (970) 726-SNOW,
Denver direct (303) 572-SNOW
Email: wpinfo@skiwinterpark.com
Web: www.winterparkresort.com
LOCATION
Winter Park Resort is located 67 miles (108 kilometers) northwest of Denver and 85 miles (137 Kilometers) from Denver International Airport. Set in the Vasquez Mountains of Arapaho National Forest, Winter Park is the closest major ski resort to Denver (1½ hours driving time).
OWNER
City and County of Denver
MANAGER
Intrawest Corporation
SEASON
Mid-Nov. - Early April
HOURS OF OPERATION
9 a.m. - 4 p.m. weekdays
8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. weekends and holidays
THE MOUNTAIN
Winter Park, Mary Jane, (including Parsenn Bowl), Vasquez Cirque and Vasquez Ridge make up Winter Park Resort, one of the largest ski resorts in Colorado. The four adjacent mountains, each possessing unique characteristics, are connected by a network of trails and lifts. The 2003-04 season marks Winter Park's 65th year of operation and is the oldest continually operated resort in Colorado.
ELEVATION
Winter Park: Base 9,000 feet (2,743 meters); summit at Sunspot 10,700 feet (3,261 meters). Vertical drop: 1,700 feet (518 meters).
Mary Jane: Base 9,450 feet (2,880 meters); summit 12,060 feet 3,676 meters) at North Cone. Vertical drop: 2,610 feet (796 meters).
Vasquez Ridge: Base 9,486 feet (2,891 meters); summit 10,700 feet (3,261 meters). Vertical drop: 1,214 feet (370 meters).
Vasquez Cirque: Base 10,400 feet (3,170 meters); summit 11,900 feet (3,627 meters). Vertical drop: 1,500 feet (457 meters).
Combined: Vertical drop: 3,060 feet (933 meters); summit at North Cone to Winter Park base.
TERRAIN
Total Winter Park Mary Jane & Parsenn Bowl, Vasquez Ridge, Vasquez Cirque
Easiest (green) 9% 33% 3% 13% 0%
Intermediate (blue) 21% 26% 24% 44% 0%
Advanced
(blue-black) 13% 14% 12% 2% 0%
Most Difficult
(black) 54% 27% 60% 41% 88%
Expert
(double black) 3% 0% 1%
0% 12%
TRAILS
Total skiable acreage is 2,762 acres (1,119 hectares) which includes 134 designated trails and 1,467 acres (594 hectares) of off-piste terrain.
LONGEST RUN
Winter Park: 2 miles (3.2 kilometers)
Mary Jane: 4.5 miles (7.2 kilometers)
Vasquez Ridge: 1.4 miles (2.3 kilometers)
Vasquez Cirque: 2.9 miles (4.6 kilometers)
Combined: North Cone to Turnpike: 5.1 miles (8.2 kilometers)
TERRAIN PARK
Rail Yard terrain park, located on Allan Phipps trail, has a new look this season with added rails and jumps and a 420-foot Superpipe. The terrain park on Jack Kendrick trail offers a wider variety of features. New entry-level features have been introduced to Discovery Park for beginners.
LIFTS
Twenty-one lifts including eight high-speed express quads, three triples, seven double chairlifts, two conveyors and one rope tow provide an uphill capacity of 33,510 riders per hour. The Zephyr Express is modified to accommodate 20 gondola cabins for dinner service to The Lodge at Sunspot atop Winter Park Mountain on Saturday nights.
SNOWFALL
An average of 359 inches (9.1 meters) annually based on snowfall from the past 10 years.
SNOWMAKING
Winter Park has snowmaking on 26 trails covering 294 acres (119 hectares).
AREA ACTIVITIES
Winter Park
West Portal Station:
This base facility houses a new coffee bar, the Boxcar Deli; Base Camp 9000 retail shop; West Portal Outfitters; West Portal Rental & Repairs; West Portal Boots & Boards; lost and found; lockers; an indoor climbing wall; and the National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD).
Moffat Market at West Portal Station:
Newly remodeled with a railroad theme, fresh cuisine and specialties reflect the different regions of the country. New storefronts and names identify the different food stations with options such as New York-style pizza at Grand Central Station, Tex-Mex at the Santa Fe Station, Asian cuisine at the Orient Express and more.
The Derailer Bar:
This favorite après ski bar is now larger, with a two-tiered drink and entertainment center. It offers a full-service lunch menu offering pub-style food and a much wider variety of après ski specials.
Adventure Junction-Children's Center:
Located adjacent to West Portal Station, this facility includes a nursery and children's ski and board school meeting rooms, children's rentals and reception area. 7-Mile Medical Clinic and Ski Patrol/First Aid occupy the ground floor.
Balcony House:
At the base of Winter Park Mountain, this facility houses the Guest Services Center, which offers one-stop shopping for ticket sales, ski and snowboard lessons and on-mountain tours. Coffee & Tea Market, ATM, Ski Video Mountain Memories, Sharpshooters Photography, Competition Center, Security, Season Pass Office and coin-operated lockers.
The Lodge at Sunspot:
A mountaintop lodge with panoramic views of the Continental Divide and the Rocky Mountains. Sunspot features fine dining, a full-service restaurant in The Dining Room and the Provisioner food marketplace, lounge, lockers, The Mercantile accessory and gift shop and the National Disabled Ski Hall of Fame. Two distinct dinner options are served in The Dining Room and Provisioner on Saturday nights during the season.
Zephyr Mountain Lodge:
Located at the base of Winter Park mountain, the lodge has 230 condominium units on the upper levels and a variety of shops and restaurants on the ground floor including Kickapoo Tavern, Slopeside Gear & Sport, Trail's End Mercantile, Black Diamond Liquors, Rocky Mountain Eyewear, Grand Elk Alpine Club, Stephen's of Colorado and an ATM.
Snoasis Mid-Mountain Restaurant:
This mountain oasis and market is the place to take in the fun and sun, especially for the young and young-at-heart. Enjoy the great outdoor barbecue or tantalizing soup, salads or pizza.
Mary Jane
Mary Jane Center:
Nestled at the base of Mary Jane Mountain, this facility houses The Club Car, a local favorite offering full-service bistro-style dining and bar, Pepperoni's Pizza & Sports Bar, food court, ticket sales, The Jane Shop, Guest Service Center, Ski Patrol/First Aid room, lockers and meeting rooms.
Lunch Rock: This place rocks out with music, a barbecue deck (weather permitting), snack shop and restrooms.
Vasquez Ridge
Sundance Cafe: Warming hut with vending convenience, picnic deck and restrooms.
TICKET PRICES
For specific pricing details, visit www.winterparkresort.com/tickets/
Rentals Ski, telemark ski, snowboard and snowblade rentals are available at convenient locations at the base of Winter Park Mountain; West Portal Rental & Repair and Slopeside Gear & Sport in the Zephyr Mountain Lodge, and at The Jane Shop at the Mary Jane base. Prices include free overnight storage. For specific pricing details, visit www.winterparkresort.com/tickets/
SKI & SNOWBOARD SCHOOL
Programs Winter Park Resort offers adult class lessons and private lessons, including unique learning experiences such as First Tracks, Last Tracks, Family Privates, and specialty clinics. For more information and pricing, contact the Guest Contact Center at (800) 729-7907 or visit www.winterparkresort.com/skischool/
ADVENTURE JUNCTION - CHILDREN'S CENTER
Winter Park Resort is well known for its outstanding youth ski and snowboard program and child care facilities. Registration, rentals and meeting rooms are all located in the Children's Center at the base of Winter Park. Advance reservations are available. For more information and reservations, call the Guest Contact Center at (800) 729-7907.
Child Care:
A non-ski program for children 2 months through 5 years with indoor activities and lunch is available on site. A complimentary beeper/pager is included. Reservations are required. A one-hour private ski or snowboard lesson is available for children enrolled in full-day Child Care for an additional cost.
The Kid's Daily Program:
The program for 3- and 4-year-olds is a non-chairlift riding ski orientation with all-day supervision, playtime and lunch. Children are introduced to skiing through indoor and outdoor activities designed and paced for each group. Participants must be potty-trained and willing.
Classes for all other kids are determined by ability level; beginner through advanced, and age; 5- and 6-year-olds, 7- to 10-year olds and 11 - 17 years of age. Cost includes ski/snowboard rental, lift ticket, complimentary helmet rental, lunch, snack and instruction. Indoor supervision is provided for kids, 3 - 10 years, before and after their lessons. Snowboard lessons are offered for those as young as 5- and 6-year olds. These particular classes are kept small, with no more than three kids per instructor, to provide the necessary student/teacher ratio for optimal learning. Price includes rental, lift ticket and lunch. Registration for all kids' lessons is from 8 - 9 a.m. on lesson day at any Winter Park Resort Guest Service Center Desk. Kids enrolled in the full-day ski or snowboard program may add on a one-hour private, starting at 8:30 a.m., for an additional cost.
NATIONAL SPORTS CENTER FOR THE DISABLED
Information and reservation line:
(970) 726-1540 or Denver (303) 316-1540 or visit www.nscd.org.
The internationally acclaimed National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD) is the largest and most successful program of its kind in the world. The NSCD began in 1970 with 23 amputee children from Denver taking ski lessons at Winter Park. Launching its 34th season, the non-profit organization teaches more than 22,000 lessons annually in a variety of year-round sports for children and adults of all disabilities. In 1984, the NSCD Competition Program was founded to provide race training and coaching for disabled skiers participating in regional, national and international events.
COMPETITION CENTER PROGRAMS
Information line: (970) 726-1590 or Denver (303) 316-1590.
Seasonal training programs are available in alpine, freestyle and nordic disciplines, for all ages of intermediate and advanced skiers and snowboarders. Clinics are offered throughout the year. Other services include tuning, binding mounts, boot fitting and equipment repair.
NASTAR Races:
Recreational racing every day from 11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. on Cranmer Trail, above Snoasis mid-mountain restaurant. Gold, silver and bronze medals are awarded for qualifying times.
WINTER PARK TOUR CENTER
Redfeather Snowshoe Tours:
Tours depart daily at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. for a two-hour guided trip. The tour begins with a ride up the Gemini Express and continues with a gentle downhill trek through forested trails on Winter Park Mountain. Guides introduce the basics of snowshoeing and tell about the history and native plants and animals of Winter Park and the Fraser Valley.
For those who want to explore on their own, snowshoe rentals are available for full-day and half-day (8 a.m. - 12 p.m. or 12 p.m. - 4 p.m.).
Scenic Snowcat Tours:
These two-hour tours depart at 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. daily from the Winter Park base area and follow various ski trails to the top of Winter Park mountain with opportunities to stop and take pictures along the way.
Snowcat Lunch Shuttle:
A snowcat shuttle service is also offered so non-skiers can meet their friends and family for a 1½-hour lunch on the mountain at either Snoasis or The Lodge at Sunspot. Shuttles depart from the base at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. and the return trips leave Sunspot at 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Twilight Snowmobile Dinner Tours:
Participants can drive or ride with a friend on this two-hour excursion to the top of Winter Park, Mary Jane and Vasquez Ridge with incredible vistas of the Continental Divide and twinkling lights of the Fraser River Valley below. Midway through the tour, a casual dinner is served featuring chicken stew in a bread bowl, salad, dessert and a drink. Drivers must be at least 18 years old and passengers must be at least 6 years old. Tours depart nightly at 5 p.m. and return at approximately 7 p.m. Reservations are required.
Base Camp 9000 Climbing Wall:
Located in West Portal Station at the Winter Park base, this 30-foot wall offers multiple routes that can be changed to vary the degree of difficulty. Climbing equipment, including helmets, climbing shoes and chalk bags are included. Open Friday and Saturday evenings from 5 - 7 p.m.
LODGING
Winter Park Central Reservations (WPCR) is the central booking agency for more than 100 condominiums, family-friendly mountain inns (serving breakfast and dinner daily), hotels, bed and breakfasts, lodges, motels and property management companies. WPCR can also book air and rail tickets, rental cars, airport transfers, lift tickets, lessons, equipment rentals and non-skiing activities throughout Winter Park and the Fraser Valley.
Winter Park Central Reservations
P.O. Box 36
Winter Park, Colorado 80482
(800) 729-5813 (toll free U.S. and Canada)
(970) 726-5587
(970) 726-5993 (FAX)
e-mail: reservations@skiwinterpark.com
TRANSPORTATION
Winter Park is accessible by car, bus or train. By car, from Denver, take Interstate 70 west to exit 232 onto U.S. Hwy 40 to Winter Park. The resort is 85 miles (137 km) from Denver International Airport.
Hertz rental cars are available locally or in Denver. Other rental car agencies are also available in Denver. Call Winter Park Central Reservations at (800) 729-5813.
Home James Transportation Services offers door-to-door van trips throughout the day from Denver International Airport to the Winter Park area during ski season. Private charter and taxi service is also available. For reservations call Winter Park Central Reservations at (800) 729-5813 (U.S. & Canada) or (970) 726-5587 (international).
Amtrak's California Zephyr serves Winter Park daily, with westbound service from Chicago and Omaha and eastbound service from Los Angeles, San Francisco and Salt Lake City. Sleeping accommodations are available on both routes. Call Winter Park Central Reservations at (800) 729-5813 (U.S. & Canada) or (970) 726-5587 (international) for reservations.
The Ski Train departs Denver's Union Station each Saturday and Sunday at 7:15 a.m., beginning Dec. 20 and continuing through early April, bringing skiers directly to the Winter Park slopes. The return trip leaves at 4:15 p.m. and arrives in Denver at 6:15 p.m. Additional trips are scheduled Dec. 27-30 and on Fridays beginning Jan. 30 through early April.
"The Lift" is the free local shuttle service that runs to and from most lodging properties and activities in the valley and Winter Park Resort base area. Buses run every 30 minutes from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
TOWN
Downtown Winter Park is located two miles (3.2 kilometers) from Winter Park Resort. More than 40 restaurants and bars, a movie theater, shops, day spas, recreational activities and other services are available.
Winter Park/Fraser Valley Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 3236
Winter Park, Colorado 80482
(970) 726-4118 (local and international)
(800) 903-7275 (toll free U.S. and Canada)
e-mail: chamber@winterpark-info.com
web site: www.winterpark-info.com
CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING
Devil's Thumb Ranch:
Located north of Fraser, this popular Nordic center offers a scenic network of 105 kilometers (65 miles) of groomed trails. Lessons and rentals available. For information, call (970) 726-5632.
Snow Mountain Ranch:
Located about 15 minutes from Winter Park, this expansive facility offers 100 kilometers (62 miles) of groomed trails for all abilities, including three kilometers of lighted track for night skiing. This is a favorite spot for skaters and track skiers. Lessons and rentals are available. For information, call (970) 887-2152.
Fraser Experimental Forest Ranger Station:
Marked trails suitable for beginners, intermediate and expert skiers. No trail fees and no facilities.
ICING ON THE CAKE
Snowmobiling
Ice skating
Horse-drawn sleigh rides
Sno scoots Snowshoeing
Tubing
Hot springs
Dog sled rides Fitness clubs
Shopping
Day spas
Comedy Club
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