Beaver Creek is one of my favorite places in the US regardless of the season. I have fond memories of hiking the mountain in spring, summer and the fall. During the winter, though, there is a special kind of magic at Beaver Creek that feels like you’re in a Hallmark movie. It even made my list of best ski resorts in the US. The picturesque village is filled with dreamy shops and delicious restaurants. The hill offers a full range of runs for all abilities, and the luxuries and five-star services are endless. From the escalators that transport you to the slopes to the slope-side ski valets to store your gear and warm your boots, the attention to detail makes you feel like a celebrity at Beaver Creek. Check out these ten reasons why you should definitely add Beaver Creek to your winter bucket list.
Why Add Beaver Creek to Your Winter Bucket List
The Mountain Terrain
Let’s start with the mountain terrain since skiing or snowboarding are most-likely the reason your visiting Beaver Creek during the winter.
Beaver Creek Mountain provides access for every level of skier. You’ll delight in the meticulously groomed runs as you explore over 2,000 acres of terrain and discover the three distinct base areas.
While I love to ski more difficult terrain, I rarely make it to anything beyond a beginner slope when visiting ski resorts with my kids. We pay particular attention to the beginner slopes so we can have fun as a family.
At Beaver Creek, the very top of the mountain has plenty of beginner trails to enjoy. You don’t have to be an advanced skier to venture to the top of the mountain.
The dedicated Haymeadow Express gondola ensures that beginners of all ages can safely access beginner-only trails. Haymeadow Express leads to Haymeadow Park, which is the perfect place to learn and grow. From Haymeadow Park, you can head to Red Buffalo Park, the ultimate on-mountain skiing experience for beginner and intermediate skiers.
Blue square trails at Beaver Creek are perfect for intermediate skiers. A few favorites include: C Prime in Rose Bowl, Larkspur in Larkspur Bowl, and Gunder’s in Bachelor Gulch.
From some of the longest bump runs on Grouse Mountain to the adrenaline-charging drops of Stone Creek Chutes, Beaver Creek also offers double diamonds for advanced skiers.
Small World Kids Club
Beaver Creek provides a child care center to make your stay, even with the little ones, easy and fun.
I love skiing with my kids, but it’s a lot of work teaching them and it doesn’t allow me to enjoy the more difficult slopes (at least not yet). The Small World Play School at Beaver Creek is a fun environment where kids can play while you enjoy the mountain or any of the other amazing experiences at Beaver Creek. They entertain children between the ages of 2-6 with fun-filled activities both inside and out.
Admittedly, I was nervous leaving Max at the child care center. He’s shy and doesn’t spend much time away from me.
When we arrived at the center, the staff put my mind at ease. They asked plenty of questions to get to know Max’s personality better and to make sure they were providing the best care possible for Max.
A few hours after I left, they called me to let me know how it was going. That made a huge difference for me. It was exactly what I needed to reassure me that everything was ok. I felt confident continuing my time on the mountain without stressing about Max. It was the first time this season that I was able to ski on my own and enjoy the slopes of my choice. When I returned to Max, I felt rejuvenated. I was ready to get back to family activities and time in Beaver Creek without feeling like I missed out on anything for me. We were all able to enjoy the activities and experiences to the fullest.
Attention to Detail
One of my least favorite things about skiing is walking in ski boots. Beaver Creek found a way to help alleviate the well-known struggle. There are escalators and elevators found throughout the village leading to the mountain.
In addition to escalators taking you from Beaver Creek Village to the chairlifts, there are chocolate chip cookies handed out by bakers carrying silver platters every day at 3pm, prime parking, ski valet, boot dryers, private lockers, and a collection of restaurants, spas, shopping, and an on-site performing arts venue.
At Beaver Creek Resort, everything is the peak of perfection and ready for your to enjoy.
Ski Instructors
We are strong supports of getting ski or snowboarding lessons. With as little as one private lesson, you can completely change your ability to ski or snowboard. Whether you prefer steep slopes, or you’ve never tried skiing or snowboarding, the Ski Instructors at Beaver Creek have you covered. They will help you sharpen your skills and explore more of the mountain with confidence.
All group lessons are sorted by ability level and child lessons are sorted by age as well. The instructors determine a plan for the day based on individual needs or group goals.
Private lessons are customized specifically for each person or group. Whether you and your family or friends want a group experience, or you want 1-on-1 attention, Beaver Creek’s world-class guides will assess your goals and make this a day to remember.
Lodging
There are a number of fantastic hotels, condos, and rental properties at the resort, including The Pines Lodge, Sheraton Mountain Vistas Villas, Park Hyatt, and The Ritz-Carlton.
We stayed at St James Place, and we were fortunate enough to enjoy a 2-bedroom condo with our own fireplace and mountain views. It had a cozy living room, a huge kitchen, a dining room, and two large bedrooms. It is the perfect setup for families, especially if you prefer to cook your own meals.
In Beaver Creek, you can find every time of accommodation from boutique hotels like The Osprey to Arrowhead Village private homes. You can even find a luxury log cabin at 9,500 feet equipped with skiing, snowshoeing, hiking and mountain biking right outside the door. It also features a cozy fireplace, Jacuzzi tub, and magnificent views of the Gore Mountain Range to the east and McCoy Park to the south.
Dining
The award-winning food and drink options at Beaver Creek range from multi-course meals with featured wine pairings to casual burgers and beer. You can find it all at Beaver Creek.
One of our absolute favorite dining options at Beaver Creek is Citrea. It combines fresh local ingredients with Mediterranean cuisine. Located in the heart of Beaver Creek Village, Citrea focuses on upscale dining in a high-energy setting. We enjoyed every minute of our dinner at Citrea and then ordered their delicious s’mores kit to continue the experience next to one of the many firepit after our meal.
If you’re looking for a more unique dining experience, try Allie’s Cabin. An open-aired sleighride will deliver you to the mountain cabin where you can enjoy a scrumptious meal fireside. Tucked away into a grove of aspen trees overlooking Beaver Creek village, Allie’s Cabin is an experience not to be missed. Executive Chef Jonathan Alonso and Executive Sous Chef Sean McDonough bring Northern Italian Steakhouse cuisine to life while guests bask in the glow of the open fireplace.
For on-mountain dining, Spruce Saddle is conveniently located at the top of Centennial Express Lift. Offering a variety of foods including artisan deli sandwiches and salads, an American grill serving burgers, fries and chicken strips, grilled cheese sandwiches and a variety of soups and chili, they are certain to provide the perfect choice for you. They also serve a selection of ready to drink cocktails, canned beers, and wine and many non-alcoholic warm and cold beverages. Ride the gondola up for something to eat and ski back down to work off your lunch.
The Ice Cream Parlour is also a fun mountain experience. Located inside The Ranch, at the top of Haymeadow Express
Gondola, the Parlour offers nostalgic ice cream novelties, hot chocolate, or a simple and quick soup and sandwich lunch.
Exceptional Equipment Rentals
We had an amazing experience renting our equipment from Beaver Creek Sports. Actually, our equipment was so new that the paper was still in the toes of the boots. They were never worn before!
Even the ice skates we rented at the ice skating rink in the center of the village were top-of-the-line. Not only did they look brand-new, but they were warmed, which spoiled Athena.
Activities
There are plenty of non-skiing activities to enjoy, too, besides afternoon cookies at 3pm.
Ski School participants get access to Red Buffalo Park’s Cookie Cabin, serving those signature fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies at the top of the mountain.
Also at Red Buffalo Park, you can see whimsical snow sculptures alongside the trails. Additionally, the are kid-friendly adventure zones throughout the mountain, marked on the trail map.
Ice skating is one of our favorite experiences in the village of Beaver Creek. There are skate and helmet rentals available and the rink is in the center of the village.
You can watch brilliant fireworks every Thursday night, and watch, listen, and laugh at a variety of performances at the Vilar Performing Arts Center.
At the center of Beaver Creek, you can explore the charming alpine village at Beaver Creek. There is an elegant array of dining, shopping, and entertainment. Enjoy a hot stone massage, a facial, or yoga classes. You can also shop for anything from a one-of-a-kind oil painting to specialty clothing. You’ll find 60-plus boutique shops, galleries, and spas throughout the resort.
New this season, Beaver Creek has an Eager Beaver Adventure Company Scavenger Hunt. It guides participants
throughout Beaver Creek Village in a series of challenges designed for kids aged 7-14, but fun for the whole family. You can pick up your Adventure Kits from the St James Place front desk. It will include an adventure guide and a souvenir Cookie Compass that unlocks solutions to certain challenges. If you complete the scavenger hunt, you can collect a prize at the end. This was one of our favorite, family experiences at Beaver Creek. It was perfectly designed for Athena’s age, but had fun activities that incorporated the entire family. We spent over an hour enjoying the scavenger hunt and discovering new places in the village.
EPIC Pass
Beaver Creek is part of Vail Resorts EPIC Pass.
It gives you unlimited access to Vail, Breck, Pary City, Keystone, Stowe, Whistler Blackcomb and more! Plus, you get epic mountain rewards including 20% off food, lodging, lessons, and rentals. And discounted tickets for you, friends, and family.
Getting There
Getting to Beaver Creek is either exceptionally easy or exceptionally beautiful.
You can either fly into Denver International Airport or into Eagle County Regional Airport.
If the weather isn’t great, flying into Eagle is a better choice, but with the right vehicle, driving from Denver can be part of the adventure.
We chose to fly into Denver and took a Mazda CX-5 on the drive. It’s a 2-hour, scenic drive to Beaver Creek. With dynamic handling capabilities, i-Activ all-wheel drive, and smart braking support in the CX-5, we felt safe while enjoying some of the best views in Colorado.
We parked at St James Place since we were staying on-site but parking at Beaver Creek is both easy and free!
