Best ski areas to hone your skills

Arapahoe Basin Ski Area

A favorite “locals” ski area, A-Basin offers no ski-in, ski-out condos or ritzy restaurants, but it does boast the longest ski season in Colorado – a benefit of having a base elevation at 10,780 feet and a summit cresting at more than 13,000 feet. The parking lot party on “the beach” during spring skiing is not to be missed, but to savor the best of it, you’ll want to leave the kiddos at home.

Skiable acres: 960Trails: 109% Easy: 10% Intermediate: 30% Advanced: 37% Expert: 23

Aspen Highlands

Steep, wide-open bowls in the deep snow of the majestic Elk Mountains are the hallmark of this ski area. If that sounds like the ideal vacation to you, then get thee to this expert skier’s paradise. Hike the ridge to Highland Bowl for a sweet run, or simply cruise along the midmountain groomers off the Cloud Nine chairlift.

Skiable acres: 1,028Trails: 119% Easy: 18% Intermediate: 30% Advanced: 16% Expert: 36

Crested Butte Mountain Resort

Steep and deep – those two words define this ski area, which in a good snow year (and most years are) has some of the more terrifying and thrilling terrain in the state. The views are stunning, and Crested Butte proper is cherished for its downtown, which has retained a sense of community even as the tourists have come flocking.

Skiable acres: 1,547Trails: 121% Easy: 27% Intermediate: 57% Advanced: 13% Expert: 3

Silverton Mountain

Now we’re talking serious Colorado skiing. Getting to the hamlet of Silverton in the San Juan Mountains can be an ordeal, but once you reach the ski area, a true big-mountain experience awaits. One chairlift, no groomers and no clearcut runs, all in a town known more for its rustic ties to the past than any current attractions. Or as Silverton puts it: “All thrills, no frills.”

Skiable acres: 1,819Trails: 69% Easy: 0% Intermediate: 0% Advanced/Expert: 100

Winter Park Resort

There’s the large expanse of groomed runs and a developed base area. Then there’s Mary Jane, consistently rated the best mogul skiing in North America. For the truly bold, the lifts at Mary Jane take skiers even higher into the tundra, where true adventure awaits. Experts rule the roost at Winter Park, but there’s still something for the newbies.

Skiable acres: 3,081Trails: 143% Easy: 8% Intermediate: 18% Advanced: 19% Expert: 55

Lance Benzel, The Gazette