Beaver Creek
Travel Guide
Everything You Need to Know
Planning a trip to ski Colorado? This Beaver Creek travel guide will tell you everything you need to know before hitting the slopes. Perched high in the Rocky Mountains, this exclusive Colorado ski resort is home to some of the highest slopes in the country and is known as the pampered skier’s paradise! Think: freshly baked cookies delivered by chefs in white suits, warm lift seats, heated sidewalks, conveniently-placed escalators, and crowds that are half the size of surrounding resorts. The level of service and luxury is unparalleled at Beaver Creek, making for the perfect boujee winter experience! This Beaver Creek travel guide will give you the run-down of the best places to eat and drink, best accommodations, ski information & more!
Tell Me More
Beaver Creek is the perfect ski destination for all levels, with slopes that are evenly divided between beginner, intermediate, and expert. The resort was opened by Vail Resorts in 1980 and has since undergone numerous expansions. Today, the mountain has over 150 trails and 25 ski lifts, spanning over Beaver Creek Mountain, Bachelor Gulch Mountain, Larkspur Bowl, Grouse Mountain, and Arrowhead Mountain. In addition to world-class powder skiing, Beaver Creek is also home to the Birds of Prey downhill course that hosts the Xfinity Birds of Prey Audi FIS Ski World Cup each year. Better yet, the resort is included as one the resorts on the Epic Ski Pass, which we highly recommend investing in if you plan to ski more than one weekend a season!
Quick Tips
WEATHER
Expect sunshine and 70-degree temperatures in the summer & lots of snow in the winter.
WHEN TO VISIT
The best time to visit for skiing is February and March when the weather is mild and snow is fresh.
TIME ZONE
The time zone is Mountain Standard Time, BC (GMT-7), or two hours behind New York City.
Getting There
The easiest route to get to Beaver Creek is flying into the Denver International Airport, then heading to the mountains. The drive from Denver is just under 2 hours with low traffic conditions, but the main highway (I-70) is notorious for congestion and bad traffic. As such, we recommend planning your drive time around peak traffic, avoiding Friday afternoons, Sunday afternoons, and holidays. We have included the two most accessible travel options in our Beaver Creek Travel Guide below.
RENT A CAR: If you are comfortable driving in snow then renting a car is a great option! This will allow you to check out the surrounding resorts such as Vail, Breckenridge, etc., drive to and from the ski resort each day, and make it easier to get around town.
TAKE A SHUTTLE: The Denver airport offers numerous door-to-door, roundtrip shuttle services, costing around ~$130. EPIC Mountain Express is one company that we continue to have great experiences with!
What To Expect
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT?
With an average of 300 days of sunshine a year, 300 inches of snow each winter, and mild 70-degree temperatures throughout the summer, Beaver Creek truly is a year-round destination! When you choose to visit completely depends on what adventures you are wanting to do! The high mountain climate provides breathtaking scenery and perfect conditions for dozens of seasonal outdoor activities. In the winter months you can expect snow storms to roll through, providing fresh powder for some of the best snow sports in the world! As things start to warm up, Beaver Creek offers sensational spring skiing conditions. And finally, the summer months are beautiful, perfect for hiking, white water rafting, mountain biking and more.
GETTING AROUND
Like most ski towns, Beaver Creek is very easy to get around, offering a variety of shuttle services, as well as ample parking options. If you are staying right in Beaver Creek village, we recommend taking advantage of the on-demand, door-to-door shuttle service through the Village Connect app. If staying off-site, Avon and Eco Transit provide public bus service to Beaver Creek Resort from Avon, Vail, Eagle-Vail, Edwards, Eagle and Gypsum. However, the fastest and most convenient route from Avon to Beaver Creek Mountain is via the 3 minute Gondola. If driving, we recommend parking in the Bear Lot or the Elk Lot and taking the free parking lot shuttle to the base of the mountain. Here, you can expect a daily parking rate of $10, rather than a steep fee of $35 to park closer to the slopes.
WHAT ABOUT THE ELEVATION?
With a base elevation of 8,1000 feet and a summit elevation of 11,440 feet, Beaver Creek is perked extremely high in the sky! High altitude conditions can take a toll on even the most physically fit of visitors, so it is important to take precautions to prevent altitude sickness. We recommend drinking double your standard water intake, taking it easy the first day to let your body adjust, and avoiding alcohol when possible. If you are prone to altitude sickness, consider discussing a Diamox (Acetazolamide) prescription with your doctor.
WILL I NEED SUNBLOCK?
Yes! You may not be laying on a beach, but at higher elevation the sun is actually much stronger than at lower elevations. Make sure to protect yourself by wearing sunscreen, hats, sunglasses and goggles, even if the clouds are out.
HEELS OR NO HEELS?
Similar to most ski towns, Beaver Creek is a laid back, casual destination. Leave the heels at home and pack your workout clothes, layers, and boots! The streets and walkways can be icy, so pack shoes with good traction. For outdoor activities like skiing, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing, we recommend stacking on layers with a warm base layer, light jackets and neck gaiter, followed by a warm winter jacket, snow pants, wool socks, snow boots, hats, gloves, glove liners, and goggles. If you are hitting the slopes, don’t forget your helmet!
Is Beaver Creek
Expensive?
COSTS TO KEEP IN MIND
- $50-$100 per day to rent
- $200 a day for lift passes
- $150 for trip from airport
- Cost of hotel rooms
- Cost of flights
- Apres skiing expenses
- Groceries and food
MONEY SAVING TIPS
- Book in advance
- Take public transportation
- Show up prepared
- Bring your own lunch & snacks
- Borrow ski clothes from friends
- Purchase a ‘Buddy Pass’
- Buy an EPIC pass in advance
Accomodations
This stunning Avon home sleeps 10 guests comfortably and offers river views, a private hot tub, an outdoor firepit, and easy slope access. Set right on the banks of the Eagle River, you’ll be less than a mile away from Beaver Creek’s world-class ski resort! Unfortunately, the hot tub was broken when we visited. But otherwise, it made for the perfect accommodations.
Skiing And Snowboarding
THE BASICS
Beaver Creek offers 1,800 skiable acres, a 3,340-foot vertical drop, and terrain for all levels. You can expect endless groomers, allowing for fast and controlled skiing, as well as extremely short lift lines. In fact, on the first day we skied over 20 runs! As intermediate to advanced skiers, our favorite areas were off the Larkspur Express Lift, the Bachelor Gulch Express Lift, and the Centennial Express Lift. We can’t recommend this mountain enough!
SKI LESSONS
Whether it is your first day on skis or a snowboard, or you’re riding through the trees with ease, ski lessons are an incredible way to fine tune your skills and make the most out of your time on the mountain! Lessons can be booked in advance through the Beaver Creek Ski & Snowboard school, offering private and group options for both children and adults.
LIFT TICKETS
Lift passes run about $200 a day and can be purchased online or at the base of the mountain. Generally speaking, the earlier in the season you buy passes, the less they will cost. Another great option, that we had to include in our Beaver Creek travel guide, is the EPIC pass. This multi-resort pass can be purchased prior to the ski season, and is the most cost-effective means of skiing. When purchasing, there are numerous pass options to choose between, which allows for a tailored mountain experience. The EPIC pass even includes 20% off food, lodging, ski lessons, and rentals.
RENTING EQUIPMENT
Whether it’s your first time on the slopes or you’re a pro, you will likely need to rent equipment at some point. Personally, we prefer bringing our own ski boots and renting skis & poles, mainly for the ease of traveling. Regardless, all equipment can be rented from a vast array of ski shops around the town, and the process is usually pretty seamless (they do all the work for you). When choosing a ski shop, we recommend renting from an independent retailer to get the best selection, quality, and customer service. A few of our favorite rental places include Christy’s Sports and Base Mountain Sports.
RENTALS: ADDITIONAL TIPS
1. Make reservations in advance to avoid long waiting times.
2. Learn how to use all of your gear before leaving the rental shop! There is nothing worse than paying for a $200 lift ticket, getting to the slopes, then realizing there is an issue with your equipment.
3. Pick up your equipment the day before you hit the slopes to maximize your time. The slopes usually run from 9am – 4pm.
Things To Do
SKI & SNOWBOARD
The main winter attraction and an absolute must-not-miss! Skiing this mountain truly feels luxurious and is probably our favorite mountain we have ever skied! Not only is it packed with intermediate, groomed terrain, but it even offers challenges, such as the Olympic downhill run “Birds of Prey”.
BEAVER CREEK HIKING
In addition to the numerous ski & snowboard trails, there’s also numerous hiking trails! The best time to go hiking is in the Spring and Summer, when the snow is all melted. There are even trails for half-day, full-day, or multi-day treks through glaciated valleys.
EXPLORE THE BEAVER CREEK VILLAGE
The Beaver Creek village offers up plenty of off-mountain activity! You can expect a great collection of shops, restaurants and spas, and at the center of it all, an outdoor ice rink.
WITNESS THE BIRDS OF PREY MEN’S WORLD CUP
Plan your visit in December to witness one of the world’s premier ski events happening right in Beaver Creek! Between the skiing, live music, beer tastings, ski films, parties, and more, the world cup is a must-not-miss event!
EXPLORE THE VAIL VILLAGE
After exploring the Beaver Creek village it is time to check out the Vail village! Located a quick 25 minute drive away, the Vail village is filled with endless shops, restaurants and après spots. This is also the place to head for a fun night out!
CUSTOMiZE A HAT AT KEMO SABE
Get ready for all of your hat dreams to come true at Kemo Sabe in the Vail Village! A visit to this famous shop needs to be at the top of your list. During the visit you will be able to pick out a hat, pick out hat bands, add feathers, brand it, and boom, you have a gorgeous custom hat!
Restaurants
Hooked
Make a reservation as early as possible and get ready for some of the best sushi you will ever eat! This a staple in Beaver Creek Village.
Beaver Creek Chophouse
Located right at the bottom of the main lift, this restaurant is perfect for lunch on the slopes, après afterwards, and even a delicious steak dinner at night! You can expect delicious key lime pie martinis, freshly shucked oysters, and more!
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Beano’s Cabin
A legendary Beaver Creek 5-star dining experience! Enjoy a 20-minute, open-air sleigh ride up the mountain to access this delicious restaurant hidden within the snow.
Allie’s Cabin
Tucked away behind an aspen grove overlooking Beaver Creek Village, Allie’s Cabin offers diners Northern Italian dishes following a 12 minute open-air sleighride under the stars.
Splendido
Treat yourself to a date night at this modern American bistro located at the gorgeous Chateau Hotel!
Conclusion
We were hesitant to book a trip to Beaver Creek, solely because we did not know much about the resort. Upon arrival, we were blown away by this secret gem of a place! The skiing and snowboarding are next level, truly offering something for every level. And to top it off, there’s rarely lift lines, they serve freshly baked cookies, the slopes are groomed daily, there’s always live music at the base, and the après is insane! On the flip side, the nightlife scene is almost non-existent, but this didn’t bother us much, as we were in bed by 9:30pm every night. It is crazy what 20+ runs a day can do to your energy levels! Anyways, thanks for reading! We hope to see you out on the slopes next year!
Be sure to check out more of our Mountain Destinations and Winter Sport Destinations!
