By Allison Cohn
Big, bad Colorado mountains can seem daunting to beginner skiers and snowboarders. Their jagged profiles, looming peaks and soaring elevations combined with trees, moguls, steeps and fluffy powder provide resorts with some of the most sought-after terrain in the world. But have no fear: Colorado also is home to some of the most exciting beginner-friendly green runs around. Here’s a glimpse at some of Colorado’s most family-friendly, accessible green runs (just in time for Spring Break).
Aspen Snowmass has some of Colordo's, maybe even the world's, best beginner runs and programs. | Photo: Aspen Snowmass
Keystone: Schoolmarm
Schoolmarm is nearly three miles from top to bottom, with about 2,300 feet of vertical drop. It’s long yet leisurely, branching off at many points, if you want to insert a jolt of blue into the otherwise mellow green run. Wide, well groomed and gentle, Schoolmarm meanders down Keystone’s forefront most mountain, Dercum, from the top of the gondola back to the River Run Village Area. If your kiddos (or you!) get weary about halfway down, you can always ride the gondola down the rest of the way (we won’t hold it against you, we promise—especially if you’re a beginner from out of state).
Breckenridge: Frontier (+ take a detour into Ripperroo’s Forest!)
Located on Peak 9, Frontier parallels Lower Lehman, which is deemed Peak 9’s “Lazy River,” so to speak. Frontier offers a slightly steeper pitch than its lazy neighbor, plus it doesn’t take you awkwardly under any chairlifts, where you’re all too aware of the passersby up above, unknowingly making you self conscious as you make your turns. Frontier is located just off to the left of the Quicksilver Super Chair, past Ten Mile Restaurant. Since most people just hop onto Lower Lehman, Frontier is usually less crowded too.
Vail: Sourdough Express Lift Runs
Vail is overwhelming. Between its ultra flat cat tracks and super steep and world renowned bowls—plus a trail map that’s more confusing than navigating a Japanese subway—where to start? As a beginner, it can be a bit intimidating.
Here’s the deal: From Vail Village Mountain Plaza, hop on Gondola One and ride up to Mid-Vail. Then take the Mountain Top Express Lift all the way to the top. From there, cruise along the (too) mellow Timberline Catwalk towards the Sourdough Express Lift. Ride that bad boy up and you’ve got access to a handful of fun green trails you can continue to lap all afternoon via the Sourdough Express Lift. Plus, you’ll be rewarded with impressive views into Vail’s Blue Sky Basin, without having to actually brave the wide open outback. Sourdough, Tin Pants and Flapjack are all green runs at your disposal here—or, if you’re up for it, make the long trip back down by riding Flapjack to the Northface (which is blue) back to a variety of greens that’ll send you back to where you started in Vail Village.
*Alternatively, if you don’t want to go to the top of the mountain, you can take Gondola One up to Mid-Vail and ride greens all the way down: Waffle Way to Gitalong Road to Windisch Way (to return to Vail Village) or Lionshead Catwalk (to go to Lionshead Village). Note: Just keep an eye out for those friendly green squares, because occasionally Vail’s green runs are intercepted by steep Black Diamond sections, if you’re not paying attention.
Beaver Creek: Red Buffalo
Clocking in at just under one mile long, Red Buffalo might be one of the more scenic green runs in the state. While it’s located at the tippy top of Beaver Creek Mountain, it’s just off of the Cinch Express Chairlift, which is reassuring for beginners. The top of the run’s elevation is about 11,385 feet and you’ll descend about 770 feet to the base of the Drink of Water Lift (which you can take back up the top). There are several other green runs surrounding Red Buffalo that are accessible from the same lift area, so you can literally spend the afternoon lapping high altitude groomers (Booth Gardens, Piney, Powell, etc.). When you’re over it (or just ready for a drink) you can cruise all the way back down the hill by way of Cinch (ride straight passed Drink of Water Lift to find it), which will take you way, way back down to Beaver Creek Village.
Crested Butte: Red Lady Lift Runs
Houston is a long and meandering run is located off of the Red Lady Lift, perfectly manicured and great for snow enthusiasts of all ages. Poverty Gulch, Mineral Point, Peanut and Roller Coaster are all green runs of varying widths, pitches and lengths, also located just off of the Red Lady Lift. In fact, that entire segment of the mountain is lousy with green runs—it’s a beginner’s heaven. If you’re feeling frisky, follow the Kubler run (also green) through the trees to Smith Hill (blue) to the Lower Keystone Jib Park to get back to the base area. Hit some features… or cruise along the side and watch the kids show off their tricks.
Telluride: Prospect Bowl
Nearly 60% of Telluride’s ski terrain is dedicated to beginner and intermediate skiers and snowboarders, so you’re in luck. If you’re looking for something uniquely Telluride, try the Prospect Bowl on so size. It’s wide and open, including green trails Madison, Magnolia and Sandia. Located at the base of Palmyra Peak, Prospect Bowl’s groomed trails cut in and out of trees, boasting spectacular views of both Gold Hill and Palmyra Peak. Test your endurance on Galloping Goose, Telluride’s longest ski run, located just off of the Prospect Express (Lift 12). The Galloping Goose is a groomer, cascading down the Ski Area Boundary about 4.6 miles all the way to the base of Sunshine Express (Lift 10).
Aspen Snowmass: Homestead Road at Buttermilk
This run is a whopping 2.25 miles, so your legs will be feeling it by the time you follow it from the top of Buttermilk’s Summit Express Lift (elev. 9,606 ft.) all the way down to the main base area, descending about 1,353 ft in the process. There are many opportunities to hop onto a blue shortcut run in between the wide switchbacks of Homestead Road, if you’re feeling up for a challenge. For the most part, they all lead back to the warm embrace of the beloved green run—but be wary of the Baby Doe blue run, which will dump you out into the point of no return: Black Diamond territory bordered by the Ski Area Boundary Line.
