Chill out in the mountain air

By Liam Easley

After being shut down earlier this year at the peak of spring skiing, many Colorado ski resorts have reopened their mountains to outdoor enthusiasts.

During the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, resorts were forced to close under an order from Gov. Jared Polis. With extra precautions in place, families are again welcome to visit and the resorts are excited to extend their services as the summer heat begins to rise.

We’ve highlighted three resorts that will provide a thrill for all ages.

Breckenridge Ski Resort

Breckenridge Ski Resort is offering scenic chairlift rides so visitors can view the backcountry from above, without hiking for miles and miles. For a faster mode of travel, the resort is also equipped with its own Goldrunner rollercoaster. With a drop of 2,500 feet, the coaster twists through the trees providing a scenic, yet thrilling ride. In addition, three alpine slide courses carve through the mountainside, also dropping more than 2,600 feet.

Outside of amusement attractions, the areas in and around the resort town also offer plenty of recreational activities, including fly fishing, hiking, biking, rafting, horseback riding and golfing.

The resort also has several food options. Ski Hill Grill is open for lunch and will be offering pre-packaged meals for pickup. Sevens Restaurant, on the other hand, offers food all day as well as pre-packaged pickup meals. In downtown Breckenridge, there are plenty of restaurants and drinking holes available. For more information on the ski resort, visit the website.

Purgatory Resort

Despite what its name might imply, the Purgatory Resort is not a place of judgement and suffering. It’s actually quite the opposite, even during the summer. The glacier-carved San Juan Mountains provide the backdrop for the resort and its many activities.

Among their amusement activities include their Inferno Mountain Coaster, alpine slide and scenic ski lift rides. For the youngsters, treasure panning and a child-friendly, off-road tracks are available for hiking or biking.

For the older kids, biking and hiking trails dot the large Purgatory property. The resort even has its own bike shop and lessons for new riders. To get to the various trails and activities, the resort has a free shuttle system.

For dining options, the resort’s three eateries - The Bear Bar, Paradise Pizzeria and Village Market and Deli - will offer food for dining in and for pickup. More information is available on the website.

Arapahoe Basin Ski Area

Enjoy the Rocky Mountains from 10,000 feet to 13,000 feet in elevation at the Arapahoe Basin Ski Area. The resort offers plenty of recreational activities and relaxation in the form of mountain biking, hiking, disc golf and yoga. Like the other resorts on this list, A-Basin’s ski lift is being used to explore the resort and to check out the terrain from above.

Photo: courtesy Arapahoe Basin Ski Resort

By late July, the resort will introduce its aerial adventure park: a seven-course jungle gym that has multiple difficulties. Five courses are for adults while two are for young children.

All seven courses are built into the forest without obstructing trees or anything else that is there naturally. Along with a forest-friendly structure, the courses all contain outstanding views of the surrounding mountains.

Dining will also be open during the summer. The 6th Alley Bar & Grill, one of the resort’s restaurants, will be open with limited menu options. Libations and food are also available at the Black Mountain Lodge, which is only open on weekends. Visit the website for more information.