Ski Cooper Reviews

Cooper (not to be confused with Copper) is a smaller very friendly ski resort with good prices and a reasonable amount of terrain. The kids ski school is EXCELLENT with instructors who are so good with the little people. Our two are a real handful and the instructors had them under complete control and happy.
You are not going to find the most challenging runs here, but Cooper is good for your skier who ski's occasionally and wants to be safe. We were skiing late season, and it was great as there were no lines or queues for the lifts, and the slopes were not busy. We were even able to park really close to the facility and the lifts.
There is a cafe with a limited menu and at lunchtime and outdoor BBQ team. Also a pleasant little bar for apres ski refreshments , but I do not see it as a wild party place - which is great for me - a "senior".
Highly recommend for learners, those want space on the slopes, and families.

This place is awesome!! My wife, my kids (13 & 9) and I were the recipients of a discounted lodging stay near some of the "big name" resorts on I-70. We were excited to take them skiing for the first time but we quickly realized that we couldn't justify spending $500 or more per day on the slopes at these places, especially considering we had two kids who had never been on skis . We happened to see a sign for "Ski Cooper" at the highway 24 exit on I-70 so on a whim we decided to go there even though we had never heard of it before Best. Decision. Ever. We parked our car right near the clubhouse and the first lift on Monday morning. We were amazed that adult lift tickets were approx $50 and the kids were only approx $30! They also still considered my 13yo a child, which was another plus. While paying, they told me that on Tuesdays they were running a buy one, get one on lift tickets so it would be 50% less the next day. Then they told me that on Thursday it was $30 for all lift tickets! Needless to say, we went on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday! Most of those days all four of us skied for less than one adult lift ticket at those other places. The staff was so friendly and helpful. They really went out of their way for us, telling us about the mountain, the deals, the surrounding area, etc. They have an awesome place for the youngsters or beginners to learn to ski, and a "magic carpet" belt takes you to the top. We thought we'd be able to teach the kids to ski there on our own..Ha ha. Lesson learned. Quickly realized that they needed lessons so the staff was able to get both of the kids together with a private instructor for the day. Also very affordable. My wife and I were able to ski and enjoy the mountain. Many times it seemed as if we were the only ones on the runs. It was amazing. By the end of the day, both kids were skiing on their own. The instructor, Corey, really did great work with them. On Tuesday it snowed beautiful big snowflakes and they ended up with over a foot when many of the other resorts got very little. Again, it seemed at times that we had all that fresh powder to ourselves and it really helped slow the runs down for the kids. I never once felt like they might get lost amongst other skiers because it just wasn't that crowded there. The views were spectacular. The "ski experience" we had must've been what it was like before all the big corporations took over and overly commercialized everything. History buffs will appreciate the fact that the 10th Mountain Division trained on the mountain starting during WWII. The lodge was simple but spacious and had everything you could want. Food was very reasonable if you want to buy it there, or you can pack your own lunch and eat on the third floor with other brown baggers. There is a small Irish pub that serves good, reasonably priced food as well. We went there after the first day and had a few appetizers. I almost forgot, it was Monday Man Day so I had a coupon for a free beer and appetizer. So again, to recap, it's an awesome place for a family and you don't have to feel like you need a second mortgage on the house to ski there. We will definitely be back, and are considering the possibility of doing annual trips. This would not be possible without a place like Cooper. Thanks again to the friendly, helpful staff. We will see you again!

We took our 3 and 8 year old skiing for the first time at Ski Cooper. We didn't really want to start them out at one of the mega resort mountains. Seems like these days, most of the places like Ski Cooper have gone away but this one is still here. If you are looking for the latest high speed lifts, 20 plus lifts, five star dining, etc. go elsewhere. If you want a place your kids won't get lost or hurt, a place you can ski and have money left over, or you won't feel out of place if you ski in jeans, Ski Cooper is your place. Even on a spring break weekend they weren't so busy you spend all your time waiting in line. We didn't wait longer than 5 minutes I think. Food is basic, and true to ski places overpriced but it was still reasonable. Lift tickets were not out of line either. Ski equipment rental was available right there and priced affordable. All the staff we had contact with was fantastic. Everyone had a great attitude. Both my kids had private lessons since it was their first time and they not only got the basics but loved their instructors, Mark and CoCo. I hope Ski Cooper can stay at it another 73 years. They do it right.

Ski Cooper is a relatively easy drive from Frisco on Rt 91, a major road that connects to I 70 at Copper Mountain. Facilities are small but decent and certainly not pretentious--white plastic chairs in the lodge. We went there 12/30/11 when conditions in the big resorts were poor with thin cover and high winds, and didn't feel like paying big dollars for mediocre conditions.

The resort is like going back a few decades with the lifts. The double on the front is very long and pretty flat, which means that for decent skiers, it takes about 3 times as long to get up the lift as down. The triple that you pick up at the top of the hill is better, but is is certainly not a high speed lift and most if the terrain it serves is blue at best. The terrain park was also closed, so we skied until early PM and checked out.

Bottom line: Cooper is a good value for families or people learning to ski, or possibly after a big dump of powder. But bring your earphones or a book for the lifts.

Every time I got on the lift they thanked me for joining them today. When I bought my lift ticket thay told me how glad I came to visit them today. When I paid for my lunch the lady said "glad you are here", WOW I felt like family. The runs are not for the expert. Great place for families and just some solitude from the crowed massive ski areas. Guess what you'll have change back from your Ben Franklin.

Wow. I waivered back and forth on driving to Ski Cooper versus staying in Vail and so glad I did. What a cool ski resort! Once the clouds lifted during the day it looked like we were in the Alps. Super easy parking, great little lodge to hang out and eat in. Hardly any lines for the lifts..LOVED IT.

WOW! What a terrific ski resort. I found Ski Cooper by googling cheap CO ski resorts and then whittling it down to Ski Cooper which had a daycare for my 3 year old. I only used the word cheap as I knew it would bring up smaller mountains that would be good for my wife as a novice skiier, my 10 year old who has never skiied and my 15 year old who only learned to snowboard last year. This mountain was more than perfect! I have skiied for about 20 years and found plenty of great runs to challenge me plus I found out that I REALLY enjoy the "off trail" skiing in the MANY runs through the forest (and some runs with the forest running through the trail). My wife was able to ski many trails even from the top. My daughter took two days of ski school and on the 3rd day she was able to ski from the top as well...GREAT JOB SKI SCHOOL INSTRUCTORS. We got a pre-season 4 day pass for $99 per person and used 3 days which still saved us $65 per person. The lodge was more than comfortable...plenty of storage for personal items, a ski store with almost anything you need for a day on the slopes (reasonable prices for the items), and a fairly common cafeteria that resembles every other ski resort food option that I have seen (we ate their all three days for @ $30-40). YES this mountain is smaller, but we were NOT sick of it after 3 days (maybe a little sore though) and how many ski mountains can offer people that remember you day to day - the rental guys always asked how our day went and remembered us at the end of the day; the gal as the guest services desk remembered us from our many questions the previous day and the lift operators ALWAYS remembered my daughter from her ski school and offered congratulations and way-to-gos for making it up the chair lift!
THANK YOU SKI COOPER!!!

Have been skiing at Ski Cooper since 1989. It has always been fun and casual. Great for families and children.
Affordable tickets and classes.

The friendliest family-sort. Food and on-sight rental equipment fit into my price range meeting my ski level for the day.

I held a season pass here for 6 years, despite having my pick of the other, bigger resorts in the area. The snow is never man made and the lift lines are non-existent. The ski school is well recommended & it would be hard for your kiddos to get lost. Look for the public Cooper Cup Races for some fun competition & a chance to meet some locals. I had family visit who bought a multiday pass to Copper Mountain. After one day in 45+ minute lift lines, they sold their tix in the parking lot and skiied at Cooper for the rest of their stay! With $90 tickets at other resorts, Cooper is definitely worth the money.

Went on a Saturday in the summer. Really cool and not as big at Keystone or Beck so its a nice feeling. They have smores at the globe and fireworks. Nice visit

Had reservations for their Friday series. had BBQ and country band. Great tasting food and wonderful wait staff. Seemed to be out of a lot of bar items but this is off season. Was a great time and would recommend to go for Friday night dinner and music.

Beautiful day with excellent conditions and the friendliest employees. A great family run ski area that we go to again and again each year.

Small local mountain with no crowd and no lift lines! Well maintained runs, friendly employees, and great prices! I just found my new favorite little Colorado ski mountain.

I like Ski Cooper because it's small, easy access. On a Friday, runs not crowded, not much wait for lifts. BUT the lifts are old and SLOW! Price is right for seniors.

Ski Cooper is family run. It's about 24 miles south of Copper Mountain Resort and is about half the price for lift tickets. This is a great place for average ski slopes and very orientated for families. Everyone there is very friendly and helpful. They have a ski school and a variety of slopes from green to black. My family has been skiing here for the past twelve years. Leadville is close with cheap housing and activities, one can even rent snowmobiles in Leadville......the great thing here is you do not have to play follow the leader, you are on your own from 1-3 hours

Love this place! Been up 3 times this season always a fun time. It reminds me of when I first started skiing. Great pricing, close in parking, no lines and Awesome snow conditions. We will be back MANY more times.

If you want to get away from the crowds and ski a nice little local mountain this is it. The snow was great, prices are reasonable, the staff was very friendly, and we never waited in a single lift line all day. I like the open glades and the mountain is easy to navigate. If you are not looking for all the commercial stuff that the big resorts have and you are looking for a family-oriented ski area, this is a good one. My only regret is that we did not stay around Leadville so we could ski/snowboard at Cooper the whole trip. My kids were overwhelmed at the big I-70 resort we stayed at...

We have three kids (7, 11 and 13), and we wanted to take them skiing over the Christmas break. After pricing the popular places and seeing that it would cost a small fortune, we found this place after some internet research and decided to give it a shot. We were not disappointed. The kids did ski school the first day for less than $120, which included lift ticket, rentals and lunch! The lift lines were short, the slopes were well groomed, and the staff talk to you like they’ve known you for years. We can’t wait to come back!

If you love the trees try Treasure trove, Corkscrew, Peek a boo, Blarney Stone and Powder Keg.
Thoroughly enjoyed a great value lunch in the Irish Bar, with friendly service.
We enjoyed our day here, very relaxed. Great to go somewhere local, quiet and low key. Then we spent the night at the Tennessee Pass sleep yurts. A great day/night excursion from our main base in Breckenridge.

I am from Alabama and was visiting family in the Denver area and wanted to try snow skiing for the first time. I visited Ski Cooper and was very pleased with the facility and beginner ski area. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful. I didn't take a lesson but did observe a class being taught. The other skiers were extremely friendly and helpful to me . I found Ski Cooper a welcoming and friendly place and would highly recommend it.

Went on a sunny Saturday, and never had to wait to catch the chair lift. Great snow and great value for the family

We went this past December and had a blast though we had a blizzard warning the next day it was a great experience. They even have short bunny slopes for those like me who have never done it before. Highly recommend and we will definitely be back!!!

We took our 7 and 9 year old to Ski Cooper. The staff is very friendly and helpful and you get more for you $ than at most other ski areas. My 7 year old progressed an amazing amount with her skiing in her one day class. Renting equipment was very easy compared to other resorts. Everything is close so you don't have to trek all over for breaks etc. We will likely return to Ski Cooper next season.

Perfect for families that want an easy and enjoyable ski experience together. the mountain is small and easy so your group will have a good time but need not split up because of the difficulty of various runs at larger mountains. If youre a good skiier, there's still plenty to enjoy and a few runs with bumps, but overall its just good, uncrowded fun at a reasonable price!

We have been skiing at this small family resort for 10 years. Our 3 kids learned how to ski and snowboard here.
The runs are awesome, they always have fresh powder, and the lift lines are 5 min. Max. The staff is very friendly and the lift tickets are the cheapest you will find anywhere in Colorado. We return every year for winter and spring skiing. In my opinion, the best place to ski with a family.

This was our first time at Cooper, but it won't be the last. While Cooper's a bit off the 'beaten path', it's well worth the drive. Our party of four included one intermediate, one experienced snowboarder also practicing telemarking, & two fearless tree skiers, & all four of us had a great day! The snow was great, there were no lift lines, & there was a surface & slope for all of us. It was nice to be able to drive right up to the base for free parking. The wait to get rental equipment was longer than expected, but after that everything went smoothly. The cafe is pretty basic, but we all found something to eat with prices much cheaper than most other resorts in the area.

One thing we did find interesting is that the lift up from the base is a slow double, but the one farther up the mountain is a higher-speed triple with footrests; you'd expect the longer lift from the base area to be the 'larger' one.

We traveled to Ski Cooper from Denver with friends for a first-time cross country ski lesson. We were very pleasantly surprised with Ski Cooper. The staff at the Nordic Lodge were very friendly and welcoming. Our instructor, Bill, was FANTASTIC. He was knowledgeable, kind, funny, and made learning the sport pretty fun. We all walked away feeling like we could ski and will definitely be trying it again. After our lesson we skied up to the cookhouse and yurts. The views were amazing and we will definitely be back to eat and enjoy. Ski Cooper has lots to offer and we are glad we stumbled across this little gem. We will be back!

Two for Tuesday: ended up paying just $24 to ski all day, thanks to a new friend I met in the parking lot. Not a big resort, but enough to keep you going for a day.

We had never skied here before and we had a two-for-one coupon that we used on a Saturday in January. It was easy to redeem and there were no lines! Free parking! Laid-back skiers and riders!

This is a local, very family-friendly, no-pressure ski area that I would highly recommend for those who are beginners all the way to those who want affordable cat-skiing. There is not really any lodging nearby – you'd probably have to go to Leadville or Minturn (we were staying in Beaver Creek to ski there the next couple days).

However, the rating system threw me off – Black Diamonds here are more like Blue Squares elsewhere, and Blue Squares here were more like Green Circles. The in-bound runs are very mild and short, so if you find yourself in a more difficult situation than planned, it doesn’t last long. The cat-skiing looks intriguing – maybe try that out next year.

We'd return!

Love this place, nicest staff, amazing ski school for the kids. Sooo afordable. This is our go to place for family skiing.

This relatively small ski area was built by the Army Corp of Engineers during World War II. It is still used to train Army Soldiers when needed (experience a platoon of soldiers coming off the lifts in White uniforms carrying riffles - well, "Dummy Riffles). The runs are long enough to get in a good run. They are different enough to experience various levels of skills. The daily fee is low enough to figure out if you like to ski without costing a small fortune. The school is small enough that you are in near private lessons. My husband and I enjoy it greatly. The restaurant and bar are good too. I am a 60+ year old skier and have the choice of 4 ski areas within 30 miles and this is my choice for the Small crowd and no (well not every time, but almost) lift lines...

As a Leadville local, it is sort of taboo to tell the world how great Ski Cooper is because we want to keep this little gem to ourselves. But, I think you all deserve to know that this place beats any of the big resorts. The prices are lower and the lift lines are almost non existent, even on the busiest days. The staff is super friendly and make you feel at home. Skip the lift lines and come ski at this little paradise in the mountains....this is the real Colorado that you have been seeking.

Ski Cooper was perfect for us newbie skiers. Zero crowd, small resort, so no logistics to figure out. It’s Leadville’s best kept secret. Everything was so affordable that if we decided skiing wasn’t our thing, we weren’t out a ton of money. Still has everything you need. Great instructor, food and adult beverages, patio to watch skiers come down. So close to Leadville- 15 min drive. Great overall experience

Continental Divide setting across Highway 24 from Holy Cross Wilderness Area. Great views. Local flavor. No hype.

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As first time (my husband and 8 year old daughter) and long-time lapsed (me) skiers we were advised to go here by some friends. Compared to a family day lesson in Vail ($960!!) the value is excellent. Book online two days prior to get discounts too. Panda Patrol is for the older youngsters and our daughter loved it. Considering she'd never seen a pair of skis before by the end of the 4 hours she was happily skiing green runs, going up via the button lift and turning and stopping easily. We had a 2 hour adult lesson which ended all too quickly so we upgraded to a private lesson for the afternoon. The staff are brilliant from fitting the rental equipment, through to teaching the basics and even building up to parallel turns by the end of the afternoon. Make the effort to drag yourself away from the main resorts and you won't be disappointed. But don't tell everyone.............!

After doing a lot of homework on where to take our kids for their first ski trip, we picked Ski Cooper. We placed them in ski school for a full day. The process of getting them situated in ski school was really busy, but ran very well by numerous staff. My husband and I headed down a green to practice after having not skied for 13 years! Just like riding a bike! We went down blues and a few blacks that day. Very friendly staff at the lift lines, equipment rental, and all over. We had lunch up at the yurt. Great burgers and chili! The kids loved ski school and learned so much in one day! We also had lunch as a family at the pub in the lodge and it was excellent! Great Reuben! We enjoyed skiing so much as a family and felt like the runs were perfect for young, first time skiers. They even did a black run called Motherload. Beautiful area, friendly staff, great runs, and overall amazing experience. We will definitely be back!

Ski Cooper is the best family oriented ski area in Colorado. The low price of a lift ticket is just one of the benefits. There are small crowds, varied terrain, excellent food (check out the Tennessee Pass Cook House) and a great Nordic Center for those who want something other than a trip down the hill. Lodging is close and reasonably priced.

If want to avoid the crowds, interact with friendly staff, not pay a lot compared the big resorts, and have a nice range of runs, then this is the place for your. Great for families, great for beginners, and experienced riders/skiers. If you book your lift tickets 48+ hours in advance you get a great discount on your lift tickets. Really enjoyed our 2 days here and hope to come back soon.

Our first time to Cooper, initial impression a bit like Monarch. No frills, reasonable lift tickets and no pressure social atmosphere. I like to ski, not be distracted by all the stuff the I-70 resorts "try" to provide, and usually don't come thru. The staff is friendly and helpful,, lift lines short, you can definitely get in all the Skiing you want. Only real downside, the lifts, maybe 1 high speed lift to the top? Otherwise bring die-hard ski family and friends!

We had an extraordinary Saturday at Cooper. Blessed with almost a foot of fine mid-December Colorado powder. With only a handful of patrons to share the slopes we found untracked descents until they closed the lifts.
I am a Colorado ex-pat who returns as often as possible. I had never ventured to Cooper Hill but avoiding the crush of the first big snow weekend at Vail seemed like the best strategy. Plus my ski buddy had a cousin who lived in Leadville. The snow was a bonus.
My skis, better suited to California hardback proved difficult to keep afloat I went to the rental shop. I especially appreciated the knowledgeable and thoughtful staff in the rental shop who assessed my skiing acumen and the snow and fitted me with a pair of of wider all-mountain boards.
The only downside was that my camera managed to escape my shirt pocket some time during the day. I reporter my loss at the service desk thinking about the new camera I would be shopping for. I was regretting not downloading all the photo memories from vacations and a recent grand kids' birthday. Calculating the odds of finding the camera, as next to impossible I accepted the loss. However call from Cooper’s lost and found several days later was the lost sheep had been found and a akin to a miracle. And, the camera worked and memory card were undamaged.

Skiing is simpler at Cooper, more like the skiing I remember as a kid growing up in Colorado in the 1950s. On the way back to Dillon, we took a quick tour of Leadville to size up the many nearby lodging options. If I could pick a ski area to introduce my grandkids to skiing, Ski Cooper is the place. It is a welcome relief from the maddening crowds of most other destinations. Based on my interactions with the staff and what the local season pass holder we skied with told me, I expect that all the instructors are first class.
After our experience on these gentle slopes I understood that the Army had in fact created the optimal hill to teach skiing during WWII. While Summit County and Vail resorts have also tried to claim the 10th Mountain Division, I felt the spirit of those brave souls at Cooper, just south of plot of now abandoned land where Camp Hale once prepared troops for the hardships of winter war.

Families are discovering the great value at Ski Cooper every day. The cost is about one third of what the major resorts charge. That means 3 days of skiing for the price of one. We just skied for 3 pre-Spring Break days. Lift lines and crowds are nonexistent. Parking is close in. The entire staff is top notch. Senior skiers over 60 are treated better than anywhere else in Colorado. It’s a 38 mile drive from Frisco which takes about 45 minutes. Because of the ease of access and no traffic or shuttles to ride from parking, one can be on the slopes in about the same time as it takes in Summit County. This years snow has been great offering an outstanding experience. Don’t miss out.

What a fantastic resort and great day my husband, older son and I had at Cooper! We were a little hesitant at first because we had planned on a ski day at a larger resort. We decided to try Cooper instead because we wanted to get away from large crowds. It was the best decision! We arrived the morning after 8" of powder fell and had a glorious day of skiing, sun, and fun. The mountain was not crowded, and we had many runs where we hardly saw other skiers. When we finished runs, we did not even have to wait in lines for the chair lift. We were happy we took trails that ended at the triple chair because the three of us could just ski right up to the chair lift. I don't ski often, so I was worried about holding back my husband and son. Not a problem, we all skied together for the first few hours. After that, I surprised myself and skied a little on my own while the other two skied on the black diamond trails. Another thing we enjoyed was eating lunch at the new yurt on top of the mountain! We got off the lift, skied to the yurt, took off our skis and walked right into the unique dining area. The food and people working in the yurt were were great! We made great memories at Ski Cooper!

As an intermediate skiier I found this a much better place than Monarch Mountain. Ski Cooper, as others have noted, has to be Colorado's best kept secret. Runs are WIDE and have a good combination of layout and chairlift access. I suspect many of them are wide due to the WWII army's training of the 10th Mountain Division there and teams and patrols would ski in tandem or formation. Runs are pretty and basically deserted. No lift lines, no hassles, no pretense from people in $3000 bunny suits with spoiled brats in tow. A great locals place.
If you need the steeps, which are much better at Monarch Mountain or some of the corporate mega resorts there are breathtaking descents off of Chicago Ridge with SnoCat access at $275 per person.
One has to decide what one wants, of course. But, Ski Cooper's theme is Less is More and I certainly found that to apply

This is the resort we chose to patronize while our sons were learning to ski. Their kids' programs are well done, not crowded, and reasonably priced. However, not long after our sons were comfortable on the slopes, they quickly conquered the entire mountain and were asking to visit other resorts.

My husband grew up skiing, but hasn't been on the slopes in about ten years. He loved Ski Cooper! He skied more in 2 hours than he would have all day at one of the more crowed resorts. I took a beginner lesson and felt very encouraged an supported despite my fear. I would recommend this ski school to even the most timid. We will definitely return next year!

Ski cooper is a great place for the beginner or intermediate skier or snowboarder. Lift lines are virtually nonexistent. Main runs are machine groomed. Ticket prices are ridiculously low. Our family of four can enjoy two days lift for around $250 TOTAL!! Food and drinks in the lodge are also a good value. Rental equipment is compatible to any other facility. Good quality and helpful staff. We love Ski Cooper.

On the one hand, I hate to rate the mountain because I really don't want to draw the crowds, but on the other hand, these people are AMAZING and they deserve every bit of appreciation. The instructors are wonderful, with kids and adults who ski as well as kids. The mountain is never crowded, and the overall feeling is that of small town goodness. We love Cooper, and cannot wait to go back each year.

Cooper is a great place to ski, enjoy outdoor activities and meet people. I did my first ski trip here in Feb after some online research. Can't say enough good things about the place, top notch staff, beautiful place, no crowds, fast lift lines. Everything is perfect. I immediately fell in love with the place decided to purchase season tickets for this year. Going back there this Christmas. Look forward to another perfect ski experience.

Right off let me tell you Cooper is NOT a challenging skiing mountain. There is nothing that I came across that would be more than a hard blue/mild black at other Colorado commercialized resorts. What makes Cooper stand out is the amazing scenery, friendliness, and relaxed fun that is missing at most resorts. Then again, because it is not trying to sell condos or time shares the place would have a different feel. Similar to Loveland this is a true "locals" ski area.

For me, coming from the low coastal area of NC, this is one of the best places to start my Colorado ski vacation. It allows time to adjust to the altitude while not over exerting physically and is kind on the wallet. I would not want to ski more than two days here but it is a definite place to start. I can also see it as a great place to take beginners to intermediate skiers to learn before spending the money at the more commercial resorts.

Finally, because it is surrounded by National Forrest on all sides the views are hard to beat for the ski level. What I mean is that most places you have to find a remote area, generally bowels (advanced ski area) to get away enough to find comparable views.

Great little gem of a ski resort high in the rockies. All day skiing for $30.
No line ups great cruising runs and very friendly lift operators.

Affordable lift tickets. No lines (and we were there on a Saturday). Perfect runs for beginning boarders. Small, so could leave the kids in their area and not worry about them getting lost. Loved this place. Will definitely be back.

I love love love skiing here! Friendly staff, super for every level of skier. Cheap tickets super fun ski runs.

A number of things have changed at Ski Cooper over the years, and not all for the better. Still, this unpretentious, family friendly ski area near Leadville retains its charm, and, most importantly, it's terrific and ample supply of the best, all natural, never-manufactured snow in the state. Ski Cooper is a smallish ski area, but with a surprising amount of terrain served by only two main ski lifts, and, on busy weekends, a platter lift that is pressed into service. The prices are still reasonable - less than $50 for a full day of access - parking is free, and there's a great little kids club and ski lesson area. Go during the week and you'll mostly have the place to yourself, go on the weekend and you'll feel like the only one there if you can stay on the Blue and Black runs and avoid the Greens. It's a "rustic" place, meaning the lifts are old and slow and take forever, and the cafeteria is worse than what most would like. If you're going on a weekend, pack your lunch, because you can wait in line 45 minutes to order really lousy chili, hot dogs, burgers and the like. They've a cute little bar for Apres Ski, but service is really going to depend on whether you have a mature adult behind the bar or a mohawk-wearing body piercing project who doesn't give a rat's hind end about serving you unless you're 22, heavily tattooed and sporting pink hair; cheap bar booze, and while the many good Colorado brews are represented by just a few bottled offerings, the taps ooze cheap, mass-produced Sam Adams imitation of real beer. Cooper still offers one of the most mellow and well-behaved ski experiences out there, with lots of families and kids and not so many wanna-be X-Games poseurs. Sadly, one of its historically finest features - it's outstanding Ski Patrol program - seems to have gone the way of the dodo, and it is no longer patrolled as well as it used to be. All in all, very, very good and in most measures hard to beat. Fix the food and beverage and bring back ski patrol, and Ski Cooper would be completely awesome.

We have been to Ski Cooper 3 years in a row. The ski school taught our 4 kids how to ski, great instructors! We would have paid twice as much at other resorts for ski school. Great runs. Short wait on lifts. We love it there. Cant say enough good things about this resort! Great value.

Even when it is the most crowded on a holiday weekend, still nice people, good service and short lines. Not as many runs but you get in more of them. Loads of families and lots of people bringing their own food. Very friendly family atmosphere.

Love this place... Its a small resort, but it is awesome... They have just two lifts but a lot of trails, very smartly built resort, great use of the mountain... It is very quiet, no lines for the lifts at all... There is no better place for beginners in Colorado... They don't have a lot of difficult trails, but there are a couple of fun ones... It is probably the cheapest as well... Have a great atmosphere of a small resort.. Lockers for 1$

Went to ski cooper for a couple days. Took intro adult lessons that were more entry level than anticipated but still got the job done. Also had a child lesson that seemed to get my kiddos confidence up to ski by themselves. A day of childcare and they had a building that seemed secure form people coming in, super great supervisor (Cera!), and the kids ski instructor was awesome and patient (Landon!). Good equipment overall. The only reason it was a 4/5 instead of 5/5 was difficulty levels of the Greens being more difficult than other places. Also the magic carpet was frustrating because so many people in ski school and they would all cut the line so wait times were long. Friendly and great staff, and facility was easy to navigate. Prices of the cafeteria were not bad, but limited.

We love Ski Cooper because we are beginner skiers and it is not as busy as most of the Ski mountains and the prices can not be beat. This is a nice place to ski in a beautiful forest setting. Hope to get back soon!

The area needed more snow at Ski Cooper (downhill area) as well as the groomed cross country ski area.

We have been driving here from Avon for many years and have never been disappointed! All the staff is very friendly. The lift tickets prices are a tremendous value, especially when compared to over $120.00 at the big resorts. Very family friendly--bring your lunch cooler! Easy parking! Great wide open terrain that is very suitable for average skiiers.

Just came back from CO and went to the small ski area of Ski Cooper. It was great. Drove from Denver for the day. It took us about 2 hours to get there from downtown Denver, but the drive was not bad at all. This is a great place to take the family for a day of skiing. Perfect for the beginner or the intermediate skiier. No long lift lines and the runs were fun and well groomed. A great secret in Colorado. If you want just skiing and not the expensive of a resort, I would highly recommend Ski Cooper!

We loved Ski Cooper. As a family from
England who had never been skiing before this was a great choice away from the glitz and glam of the likes of Breckenridge and vail. Much quieter lifts and a better atmosphere to learn at an affordable price. Ski lessons were well delivered. Ski rental affordable and easy to get arranged on site. Lift passes good value for size of park. There is a resteraunt / cafe on site for a bite to eat and refreshments. You do need to have a car to access this area, but we stayed in Breckenridge and drove 40 mins each day to this location (for us it was worth the drive through the beautiful country side to save the money on ski hire / lessons and lift passes compared to Breckenridge when we were new skiers). Apres ski here would be pretty non existent unless you went to Leadville the local town with a few resteraunts. I get the feeling this is where locals visit. We returned the year after as we loved it so much.

I've been here many times and basically taught three kids to ski here. Good accessible mountain, pretty veiw and very affordable. With a little work you can get the whole family on the slopes for < $100 and get a reasonable $30 lunch. At Vail that won't cover your parking and ticket. Of course the mountain isn't Vail in terms of terrain or lifts or shops but it has a great atmosphere and plenty of intermediate skiing so in terms of value it's an A+. Now they have a magic carpet for the bunny hill (my back could have used that years a go) so its even more friendly than before. Ski School is very good and we've always been happy. For some reason the rental shop is always crowded and slow... gotta have a weakness.

Cooper is a hidden gem. My family of varying ski abilities (advanced to never-ever) had a great two days of skiing here. We live in Colorado and have skied at many of the resorts so trust me when I say Cooper is worth the drive. It cost us less than $500 for four people (with the Colorado 5th grade passport). There were tree lines, powder stashes, and enough variety to keep everyone interested. Cooper is small too so it's easy to keep up with everyone; all runs lead back to the lodge. If you get bored, Copper Mountain is close enough to still use Leadville as home base. I've already booked our return trip!

As someone unfamiliar with skiing since the beginning of time, I didn't know what to expect, but the experience went so much better than I thought.

First, the buildings and rooms were straightforward and efficient. In the rental building, it's just "Get boots here, skis there, and helmets nearby". Plus, assistance was courteous and was there all the time, so the process was faster.

The next building was primarily restrooms and restaurants. No complaints there.

Then comes the skiing. I took first-time lessons, and I think she (the teacher) was fantastic. Going down the basic slopes helped. The other slopes were a challenge, but it's what made it fun.

I would LOVE to go back to Ski Cooper. I didn't want to go when it was almost 3:30.

Having recently moved to CO, I decided to take up skiing (I mean it’s what you do in CO, no?). So I signed up for my very first ski lesson at Ski Cooper. My instructor was Helmut. Upon learning that this was my first attempt at skiing and also that I grew up in the tropics, he pointed to the snow on the ground and asked if I put some of it in my tea that morning. (Like…ummm…whattt???). I decided not to engage or dwell on it: I was there to learn to ski, and I’d only have to spend an hour with him. Once we got on the slopes, he was very condescending, rude, and impatient. At one point I fell, in the split position and couldn’t get up. I was in pain and asked him to please help me get up. He just stood there, shook his head disappointedly at me, and took his sweet time helping me up. And he kept yelling at me the whole time. It was terrible! I really felt bullied by him. Eventually, I mustered the courage to tell him I didn’t want to go back up the slopes with him - whether my lesson was over or not. The other staff members were very pleasant, but it turned out to be a total waste of my time and money, having rented a cabin and ski equipment. If you’re assigned Helmut, request a different instructor. Helmut is just a bully on the slopes.

Near Leadville, this is a great place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the larger ski areas.

First day we felt like we had the place to ourselves. Late in the day and the next day had more skiers but no lines and plenty of runs and space tp yourself on these slopes. We skied the numerous blues and greens so many that we're not sure we skied all of them. There are also many black runs that we did not attempt but watched. This place has a lot of slopes. Breckenridge wanted $180 per day. ski cooper was $80 but if you buy online and early day passes go for as little as $40. Don't pass on this ski location.

So if you just love to ski/snowboard and dont need fancy lodge/resort accomodations then COOPER is the place to go!!! $52 Lift Tickets, 39 Runs, 3 Lifts, GREAT STAFF! Decent Cafeteria (of course it is overpriced as these places tend to be) however if y'all want french fries only get one order!! its a huge basket of fries!!No crowds no snobby people looking down there noses at you when you fall getting off the lift ( as I tend to do I cant help it the dang thing freaks me out lol) No long waits in linefor lifts, and they have monthly specials. we paid $30 on Thurs and got $5 off our tickets on Fri for brining in a canned item for the food pantry so check out their calender for specials and events on their website. They have rental equipment which we didnt think we would need but my daughter for got her helmet and goggles and while they do rent helmets they dont rent goggles so I paid $35 for a $15 pair of goggles. There is also a bar attached to the cafeteria which we checked out at the end of the day for a beer to unwind before driving back to town. 3 piople 3 days enjoying the slopes and we didnt break the bank!! we stayed in leadville at the Rodeway Inn ( nice cheap accomodations except we were on the 3rd floor and my legs were killing me by day 3 of boarding and those stairs were torture there is no elevator) Cooper is a beautiful scenic 30 minute drive from leadville with the "fourteens" on magnificent display..take your camera!!! We will be returning here regularly now that we have discovered this gem!

I been around Ski Cooper for about 17 years . Yes its been around a lot longer then that.
It is a ski hill that is old school, no glam , no fur jackets no SUV Rolls Royce or Mercadies filling up the parking lots . Its a hill that Families can go to and have a great day of skiing . Were you learn to ski better , before you move up to the more callenging terrian that bigger ski hiils have . Not any more ! They have opened the back side with terrian that is golden and will challege intermadte advance skiers and Put a Sh*t eatting grin on expert skiers . Think of Jackson Hole -The Ho Backs or WInter Park -Eagle WInd . With out he crowds and long lines . Shorter runs, but there challening . Which adds up to more runs in a day , then the other places .
As for the rest the hiil , the Bar is inproved and well worth a visit . The food is good.. The liftings (IE The Lift Operators) are engage and are freindly . Hell the staff is freindly . Excellent ski school .
I would like to tell you this is all made up , so it stays a Local Gem ! But that would be a Lie ! If you never been it is worth going ! A Colorado Gem!!

My son (7 yrs old) is high functioning autistic. I snowboard, and my son had said he wanted to try snowboarding also. We decided to try a lesson first to help with some of the beginning fundamentals. I called ahead of time to get scheduled. While I was told they don’t have a snowboard instructor trained for special assistance for snowboarding, I was asked several questions on how to best approach my son and his specific needs. I was also told that I was welcome to stay for the lesson as needed for moral support. When the day came, we got our rentals sorted for him and awaited our lesson with Spencer. I can’t thank Spencer enough for his patience and kindness with my son. Spencer acutely noted when a break was needed and escorted us to get water and snacks in the lodge. While my son still is working on those basics, he is excited to come back and wants another lesson with Spencer. My son got tired but not discouraged, and has whet his palate to do more in the future. Thank you.

Ski Cooper is affordable, fun, and all about skiing. There is little that's fancy here, which is part of the Cooper experience. Give it a try. This is real Colorado skiing.

I enjoyed the setting of Cooper Mountain. I liked the simple set-up, the lack of commercial and residential development, and it's off-the-beaten-track location. I really enjoyed the big trees that dotted the trails. The mountain has a lot of nice beginner and intermediate cruising trails. Snow quality and grooming were very good.

We made use of the rental shop during our visit, which was extremely well organized and efficient, with computerized rental applications and clearly marked rental stations. While I didn't care for the performance of my rental skis (seemed a bit slow, like they hadn't been waxed in a while), my girlfriend liked hers.

We visited on 2/28, though, which was a day during which Cooper was beset by lift and trail closures. The day started-off fine with the two main lifts and the surface lift running. After only two runs, the double chair shut down, ostensibly due to electrical problems. We then decided to ski over to the surface lift in an attempt to make our way over to the triple chair, but while waiting in that line, management decided to shut the surface lift down too. With no reasonable way to ski (we weren't about to start skinning up the mountain), we left for about an hour-and-a-half and took a ride to Minturn. Upon returning, the surface lift was running again, so we took a run off of that lift. Shortly thereafter, power was restored to the double chair, but the triple chair never reopened that day. Consequently, half of the terrain was inaccessible to us during our visit. We came all the way from Vermont, and this was the only day we had to spend at Cooper.

It was disappointing that the triple chair was not put back on-line once the electrical issue was rectified. It was also disappointing not to have been offered compensation for the inconvenience (a simple extension of lift hours or a discount on lunch or rentals would have been nice gestures).

Were it not for the problems with the lifts and the limited terrain open, I would have given Cooper a higher rating, as I'm sure it's great when everything is functioning and accessible, but I have to base base my rating on the single day that I had to spend there.

Can not recommend this place enough! It’s roughly a 1 hr drive out from Breck, past Frisco and Cooper Mt- hardly any traffic, so just enjoy the views. Perfect place for beginners and less experienced- Ski Cooper has the longest magic carpet in North America, that leads to the top of a large and wide bunny slope. We took advantage of their “2 for Tuesday” deal, meaning we got 2 lift tickets for the price of one. It was not crowded at all, and at times felt like we had the place to ourselves. Which makes Ski Cooper the opposite vibe that you get at the popular ski lifts that have an expensive price tag.

We used our One World ski pass this past weekend and took the kids over to Ski Cooper. This is an adorable little resort that is perfect for a family on a budget. The snow was fantastic the day we skied and because we are a ski family we sought out the more advanced options such as steeps (very hard to find here) and trees (there are lots of them), so we had fresh turns every run. The terrain is very low angle which again is great for the novice skier. There are only two major lifts which access the front and backside of the hill. The lodge area is right at slope-side with cafeteria style options as well as a nice area that accommodates the sack lunch crowd. Because we are part of the One World pass program based at our home resort of Monarch we did not have to pay for our lift tickets but I did check out the prices and they were very inexpensive. This resort is just slightly off the beaten track, easily accessible from I-70 or Highway 285 or 80. Cat-skiing is available through Ski Cooper as well.

They need new snow! Spring breakers all over the place flailing with their poles.

We took our son at age 6 to Ski Cooper to learn to ski because the terrain is very friendly, the pricing is great, and the people running the place are all very nice and treat you like a family. Well, that was 35 years ago!! Today we took our grandchildren, along with their father who learned 35 years ago and the experience was even better. Here we are 4 days before Christmas and the slopes were not crowded at all and the ski schools were small enough that the kids were almost getting individual instruction. If you are tired of standing in long lift lines and want more personal attention, Ski Cooper is your place. Granted, the runs are shorter and the Black runs are like a Blue on the resort courses, but it is still really enjoyable, especially for families.

Ski Cooper is a small, off-the-beaten-path ski hill. It has only two true chair lifts, zero gondolas, and only 26 runs. So why visit this tiny, out-of the way place?

Ski Cooper is hands-down, no-doubt about it, the cheapest place to ski in Colorado. A child can get a full-day lesson, including lift ticket and equipment rental, and still get change for C-note. The same benjamin will get an adult a 4-day pass.

And it isn't just the lifts that are reasonable. The food at the lodge is affordable, too (and pretty tasty).

Another side effect of being so far off of I-70, is that it isn't crowded. No long waits at the bottom of the slope. When you put your kid in a ski class, there might only be one other child for the instructor to keep track of (or you might wind up with a private lesson). Or ski with the family on the friendly terrain without worrying about losing someone - all runs lead back to the lodge. At Ski Cooper, you aren't fighting off the masses.

An important consideration before heading up to Ski Cooper: MAKE SURE THE LIFTS ARE OPEN. We had an incident a few years back where we drove there only to find that they don't operate in high winds. Some resorts might shut down a chair lift or two, but that is all Ski Cooper has. A quick check to their website or a phone call on the way up can save you time and grief.

Another consideration...if you blew out your ACL a few months back and are planning on waiting for the family in the lodge, the WiFi and cell service are not especially reliable. The bartender, however is.

If you are looking for limitless terrain, virgin powder, terrain parks, and non-stop action to record on your GoPro, this is NOT your place. Go to Vail, or Copper, or anywhere else. If, on the other hand, you want a fun day with the family, surrounded by locals, I can't think of a better place.

Super friendly ski area, especially for families. Beautiful skiing weather first day. Second day too windy. Employees try to accommodate. Have skied there for the past 10 years.

We spent a few days here on our recent ski vacation. The place is relatively small with only a couple of real lifts, but it is incredibly inexpensive and uncrowded. We went on a Tuesday (two lift tickets for $48) during Spring Break and never waited more than two minutes in a lift line. Regular day lift tickets are only $48 for adults and less for children and seniors. This is a great place for beginners and especially families with kids since it is really hard to get lost. Lessons are very affordable and they have some separate areas for absolute beginners. aI am an intermediate skier and had a fairly good time as well. The people are very friendly, the lodge is uncrowded and not nearly as expensive as many of the other places.

While we enjoy skiing at Beaver Creek (our typical destination), we plan to add Ski Cooper to our plans in the following years as well.

It's not the biggest. The lifts are old. The parking is muddy and FREE! This place is what ski slopes used to be: a few small buildings at the base of the mtn, free parking, affordable food/drink, fantastic beginner area, and most importantly, affordable lift tickets. I love the atmosphere here. In my opinion, it's especially good for families who are breaking in new skiers, but is more than adequate for more advanced skiers to enjoy all day for a fraction of the cost of other resorts.

A few friends and myself decided to go here for New Year’s. It was very busy but the staff was still friendly, and the lines weren’t too long. I really enjoyed snowboarding here and would love to go back. The runs are long and there is something for everyone! I definitely would recommend.

Great vibe in a beautiful setting. Ski Cooper is a smaller area reminscent of ski areas of long ago. Sort of an A Basin experience, but more family oriented. For those who have never skied before, this is the place to go. Lots of gentle terrain. Great area for families. With large area lift ticket prices moving to astronomical levels, Ski Cooper is a real value.

Had heard about this place and wanted to try for several years. OMG!! Absolutely gorgeous views!! Awesome workout, too. Good groomed trails that offer variety of skill levels. Get there early. Gets packed as day goes on.

I have been coming to ski cooper for ten years. My family started coming with a group from church in 2008 and have made the trip back every year. It's a great family place to ski, small enough that you can't easily get lost. There are never lines for the lifts and the runs are not crowded at all. I went this year with my husband and friend on a Tuesday and we practically had the mountain to ourselves! This is also the cheapest deal you will find in Colorado. Their lift tickets are great prices and since we went on a Tuesday we got a two for one deal so my husband and I payed $52 for lift tickets for the both of us! I couldn't recommend this place more! If you're thinking of going to a bigger mountain like Breckenridge, don't waste your money save it and go to ski cooper!

Ski Cooper is a small family friendly, inexpensive place to ski. Mostly for beginners and intermediate skier.

I've visited Ski Cooper multiple times. It is by far the best value in Colorado. Low price lift tickets, no fancy facilities, never busy, and very friendly staff. It is never busy here, even on spring break. You never have to wait in a long line for the lift, 2 minutes tops.

Snowboarded here for two days, was absolutely happy with all the runs and staff was very helpful and friendly. Green and blue runs are wide and a good challenge and no flat trails between them, where your board would slow down and have to walk to get to runs. Lifts were good; snow was soft and deep especially along tree lines. Get there early and park right up to the runs. Good beginner slop with magic carpet.

This place is very fun to ski, short lines, and nice lifties. However, my friend and I went to the cafeteria and I bought a hot chocolate. I let it cool, and it tasted like water! I went back to the lady at the cafeteria desk and asked if I could get a refill. She agreed and told me to refill my cup. I tasted it and it was very good, but then the lady told me I had to pay! I understand that refills here are not free, but she seemed to know what was going on and demanded that I leave the cup with her and go get money. I then paid the refill price, which was unfair in my opinion and not great customer service. Overall, I had a nice experience here except for this mishap.

I have been to this ski "resort" on several occasions. I say resort but it really is a locals hangout with not all the frills of the big resorts. Cooper has a bar and dining area but you have to drive to it to ski. That doesn't bother me one bit. Both of my children learned to ski here and we love this place. Not as crowded but great employees who love their job and love to help others.

Went there for the first time in Jan 2015 and took the beginners class. The instructors where so helpful and nice, that it made us feel welcomed and wanting to come back. Went back 2 days later to enjoy an all day skiing since the first day didn't have that much time because of the class. Going again for our next visit there and have told family and friends to go there.

I love Ski Cooper! Fun, family mountain with affordable lift tickets and a great ambiance. You’ll be on the top of the mountain within 5 minutes of parking. Great place for spring skiing and you can always find a stash on a powder day (although, powder days are better on blacks and double blacks, and Ski Cooper is definitely blue).

Yes, it’s an intermediate mountain, but when you have kids, it’s a pain to go to the big resorts, find a place to park, ride a bus, then pay an arm and leg for a lift ticket, or a pass. I stared bringing my son here last year when he was a little under 2 and I plan to keep bringing him and enrolling him in ski school next season.

I almost hate sharing this review as to keep people away! Part of the attraction is it is "local" and has a small, friendly feel - not over crowded like the i-70 corridor ski areas. Great beginner area to learn, fantastic instructors - my kids love it. It has great skiing for experienced skiers as well. I feel very safe letting my kids tackle the mountain on their own. Can't beat the pricing for the amazing experience.

We visited the Avon area and a staff member at a local rental shop recommended Ski Cooper. No one in my family had ever skied before. We were trying to keep our costs down on this trip. We called Ski Cooper and they had really great rates. A third of the price of some other places. We were all able to take the ski lessons. My 14 year old had a great time. My younger son (7) took the Panda Ski School classes both days. The 2nd day, he was going up on the lift and coming down the mountain. They have special rates for multiple days of skiing. Also the staff in the rental shop was awesome. They were so helpful with fitting for boots, skis, etc. My husband even forgot his gloves one day and the nice lady in the gift shop gave him loaners. I would highly recommend.

This is a great area for families...cheap tickets...never lift lines....it happened to snow the first of march so we got great snow. There are only a few lifts....they are slow so you have to be okay with that. Black runs are really blues or blue blacks comparred to most mountains. Its not a hard ski mountain which is good for some. It has lots of trees and very scenic...just a fun place bc there is only a ski lodge and not tons of condos around...its about a 9 mile drive from most lodging which is nice. Totally recommend

This is a wonderful hidden gem that we cannot praise enough. While it may not have the difficulty or size of the mega resorts, for our family it was perfect. My husband and I have skied in Colorado for years and in our younger days enjoyed the more challenging slopes. However, this still has nice long runs, plenty of slope on blues and blacks, and was a lot of fun. We were here at the end of the season and not only had zero lines, but were the only people on the run almost every time we went down the hill. People with families on a budget should consider this a staple for any ski vacation. Because it was the last week, we paid $25 per person! We believe regular prices are around $50, but they often have discounts available. Check the website. We had just as much fun or more as we had at Copper and Breckenridge, so much so that we have decided to ski 2 of our 5 days at SkiCooper. Incidentally, that saved us $300 - $400 per day for lift tickets alone. We also took advantage of the ski school for our two girls. The classes are much smaller so they get more personal attention and are at least half the price. People claim that the chairs are slow. While they are not high speed lifts, the longest lift is 11 minutes. During the last runs of the day we could still find untouched corduroy and powder. Food at the cafeteria was not great, but they do offer a whole level for skiers who bring their own lunch. We were hoping to try the Yurt as it received great reviews, but it was closed due to small end of the season crowds. If you have a family, please try this place. We are certain you will not be disappointed. Oh yeah, you also park right near the base of the lift for free. We also forgot to mention how the entire staff is wonderful.

Visited Ski Cooper after a day of lessons at Vail and couldn’t have picked a better place to practice and regain some confidence in my skiing skills. Folks were really friendly and helpful and the slopes were very forgiving for novice and less skilled skiers. In fact, the whole place just had a fun, family vibe that reminded me of what skiing the Rockies was like 40 years ago. Much less crowded than Vail, Ski Cooper is a place I hope I can return to soon.

We were really surprised how much we liked this place. It’s not a big resort but it was perfect. A fair amount of green, blue and blacks for all levels. The parking is easy and it’s not crowded. A nice change from the big resorts. Plus if you buy your ticket in advance at city market it’s only $47. A steal!

My 11 year old son and I went to Ski Cooper to rest and relax from Christmas through New Year's. Being form the South, I wasn't sure he could acclimate to the altitude (10,200 in town) or the cold (-6 at the top of the slopes) .... not to mention learn to ski at the same time. Boy, was I wrong! The staff and crew at Ski Cooper made every part of the experience a joy. From Toni in Guest Relations who helped us with our multi-day passes, to Rowdy, Jessica & Jesse in Rentals, to Bob and Joe on the Lifts to Mark in the Panda Cub Ski School, everything was perfect! They even had great facilities for the grandparents to stay warm and watch the action on the slopes. If you don't need high $$ lifts and just want to ski and have fun in a CLEAN environment (for yourself or your kids), don't miss SKI COOPER. They ROCK!!

We enjoy a smaller, more basic and affordable ski area without the frills that we think get in the way. The snow is great, the runs are fun, the people are the best. We will be back.

I hate to tell my secret!Best little tucked away resort! Fun for families ,cheap, very accessible. Super place for beginners. Very friendly and helpful staff.

We had our wedding reception at Ski Cooper in their Lodge after having our ceremony in the field at the Tennessee Pass Nordic Center and we could not have asked for a more wonderful place to have our perfect day. The whole event and catering team at Ski Cooper: Dana, Monica, Scott and all of the Food & Beverage Staff worked tirelessly to make sure that our wedding day was everything we hoped it would be. Not only is the land and property at Ski Cooper beautiful, the food and the hospitality of the lodge was everything we desired. Scott helped us decide what food made the most sense for our budget, and was an incredible resource along the way as we planned out our wedding reception. Dana and Monica helped us stay organized and were extremely communicative with us about our details and preparation. The weekend of the wedding the team was available to help us and to walk us through all of the details of the day. They worked with our other outside vendors and our family and friends to make the day perfect. The food was incredible--we had steak and chicken fajitas, and they even allowed us to bring our own home brew and served it at the bar. They worked very hard to meet all of our needs and made the day perfect. We were even blessed with the leaves starting to change in early September and spectacular views of Mt. Massive and Mt. Elbert all day. Thank you Ski Cooper for helping make our wedding day everything we could have ever wanted.

Our children took lessons and learned to ski in 1 day. The staff was incredibly kind and took the time to help the beginners. We were so happy we stayed an extra day and will definitely be back soon!

The lift tickets at Ski Cooper were about SIX TIMES cheaper than the other popular mountains, and the experience was great. There were no waits for the chair lift and the kiddie slope had a magic carpet which made it easy for the kids to get up. Although the place isn't luxurious, the area inside had a great view of the mountain, where I sat and read while the rest of the family skiied. I could video right from my chair. Highly recommend it for families who aren't snobs about the property and just want to have a good time without spending a fortune.

Ski Cooper is a great old school mountain. The trails were in excellent condition, and the trails that were groomed were perfect. No bare patches on the main side to speak of, and absolutely outstanding scenery. The caretakers do/did an excellent job at making this mountain feel exceptional.

We enjoy coming to Ski Cooper occasionally as a great alternative to the bigger mountains. The price is better, everyone is friendly, no lift lines, and nice, scenic runs. Nothing fancy and definitely not the place if you want a big terrain park or difficult/challenging runs, but perfect for just a relaxing, enjoyable ski day. Make sure you have the Philly Cheese Steak sandwich for lunch if they are outside grilling it. It's superb!

Great small resort with all natural snow. Soft snow, no crowds. Laid back environment. Great skiing experience!

Nice, friendly, relaxing place to ski with your family. It was not very crowded, the lines moved quickly (when there was a line). The staff at the lifts, Magic Carpet, ski/boot rental and tickets were all pleasant and helpful. We had a great time! It is not a fancy resort, so the prices are reasonable and the runs are simple, but there are also challenges. My daughter and her friend took a 2 hour lesson and the teacher was very patient.

Skiee Breckingridge Jan 12 and Ski Cooper Jan 13.Breckingridge was amazing but lift passes were $140 and busy. I managed to ski down from mountain 6 -(12, 130 ft.) first time I ever skieed a bowl.
Ski Cooper was a differnt experience.It was where the 10 th army division was trained for WW2. Remarkable mountain. Not all the glitz of the bigger named mountains. A senior lift pass cost me $30 (Wed- senior day). Tuesday is 2 for 1 day. Great mountain; great little bar and NO LIFT LINES !

People are nice, and welcoming. The staffs are happy and ready to help, and this makes everyone happy as well; after all, we all there to have fun.
We really don't have anything bad to say about this place. It's really really an awesome place.

Great hills and great place for kids to learn to ski. Not crowded and everyone is super helpful. We even liked the cafeteria food. Nice and hot and well prepared.

Amazing place for family, shortest lift lines in Colorado, amazing snow.
However in my experience the lift operators have been some of the rudest I've come across. Really turned me off of Cooper.

I live near Vail and BC is my terrain. For the children I prefer to drive up to Cooper. Enough said!

I had not been in skis for 12 years. I fell down at least once for every year I had been out of skis during our time here. Came on a 2 for Tuesday and lift tickets were great value at half price. We actually visited in Jan 2018 but it won't let me backdate that far. The staff is great. Also, I love the history of the area, training grounds for 10th mountain division during WWII. Will return!

If you're on a budget, this place is ok. Staff isn't very professional and the hills are pretty lame but a decent price to ski. Class prices are crazy high though and very limited.

Looking for a place for beginner skiiers to learn and more advanced skiiers to ski for days? Then this is the place. For the price of one day at the big resorts you can ski here two days and have enough left over for a few drinks.

Pros:
-Uncrowded, even on weekends
-Folks (both staff and customers) are generally friendlier in small resorts
-Good value on lift tickets compared to larger resorts
-A number of long interesting blue/intermediate ski runs, several challenging black/expert runs (esp. Pando under the 10th Mt. Chair) and even the green/beginner trails were somewhat challenging
-Family friendly, with little chance of getting lost from each other
-Fun little bar & grille with live music upstairs in main lodge

Cons:
-Ski lifts are old-school and slow (there's even a poma!) but lack of lift lines makes up for the slow chairs
-Too many ungroomed runs, which can be a problem after enough skiers have gone over them and turned the snow to crud
-If you're a pretty good skier you'll want to move on after several days

We had a fantastic time at Ski Cooper on New Years Eve! This was my first time skiing in Colorado (I'm from Georgia) so this was a great place to start.

Ski Cooper is easy to get to from Denver and the drive is just beautiful. There is free parking and the walk from the parking lot to everything is just a short, quick walk (no shuttle buses for this cute little place). Everything was fairly quick and efficient. It is a very small place, so it did get a bit crowded in the rental area at first, but every employee was racing around, trying to help everyone. The employees' attitudes were great, considering some people were getting frustrated with the line. We got our rental skis and lift tickets with ease and were on the slopes in less than an hour. The price for rental and lift tickets was about half to a third of the price than any other resort we looked at (about $90 for both, I think).

I hadn't skied in 25 years, so I started on the bunny slope first. Nice, easy slope with a moving sidewalk to get you to the top of the slope. I only went down once to refresh my memory and then headed to the ski lift!

Quick, easy line for the ski lift. Such a beautiful, spectacular view! Majestic! I had to stop sometimes and just take in the beauty of God's creation! And, since it is not crowded, we felt like we skied down the slopes all by ourselves. The powder was so easy for a beginner skier.

The little cafe was a great place to sit and drink hot chocolate. I had a great black bean burger (I was famished after just a couple hours of skiing). Everyone was very nice at the cafe.

If you want a fancy ski resort with a quaint town attached, this may not be the right choice for you. But, if you want a beautiful, easy day of skiing, go to Ski Cooper!

We will definitely go back!!

We can't say enough about Ski Cooper! We just skied for 2 days and it was perfect. Our grandchildren (ages 4, 6 and 8) have all taken lessons at Panda Patrol over the years and they are amazing. Our 4 year old took a two hour Panda Cub lesson last Saturday and came out skiing!! The staff on the lifts, in the rental hut, in the restaurant, etc are all superb. It is our favorite ski place by far.....and the prices....you can't beat them anywhere. Everyone is begging to come back!! THANK YOU!!! We will see you soon! Rosemary

The only cost-efficient ski resort in the Vail area! Nice lodge with good and reasonable priced food plus a bar inside. Employees were friendly, instructor was knowledgeable. My family of 3 took the beginner magic lesson for $79 each ($71 booked online) and this included the 2 hour lesson, equipment and lift! You can't get there anywhere in the area! I like the fact it wasn't overly crowded like some of the other popular ski resorts and I definitely like the fact it didn't break my wallet! I did hope it had other curriculum for small kids to be entertained and to play but my grand daughter stayed entertained while her parents took the class.

Great place! Staff was helpful and went above and beyond when I had a car issue and helped arrange tow service. Lift operators were friendly and helpful with my 2 little kids.

This is an awesome place with easier trails, family friendly, definitely great place for beginners or practice.

This is a great value and the right-sized mountain for our group of beginner and intermediate skiers! The greens are definitely more difficult bit still a lot of fun! The line for the magic carpet is always very long, slow, and disorganized. Most workers were very friendly, other than the guy at the top of the lift who yelled at my daughter for falling! The food was not great.

I don’t know we’re to start, snowboarding here is great. It’s wide and open but at the same time some tree snowboarding. I’d recommend this to anyone that wants NO LINES!!

I have been coming here for almost 20 years. I love this little hidden gem and will continue to bring my family back here for years to come! Great small mountain experience that is very family/beginner friendly.

The most people I could count on the slope while riding the lift was 25 people. Great place for a family looking for time on the slopes. We skied from the slope right to the lift. The longest we had to wait to get on the lift was only for about 4 minutes. We brought our own food, so we did not sample the kitchen fare at the slope, but it smelled great.

Great place to ski with the family. It is almost impossible to get lost and all runs lead down to the lodge. A throwback to when skiing in Colorado was low key and fun!

We had a blast a Cooper. Off the beaten path - YES! Worth the drive - YES!
Kids are newbie skiers. Their second day was at Cooper, and it was the perfect setting. Lots of large trails and few people. The views are spectacular and the cost of lift tickets for a family of 4 (2 aduts and 2 kids) was the price of 1 adult ticket to Breckenridge.
Not a resort type setting, but a perfect ski setting.

I have been skiing at Ski Cooper since the early 1990’s. Not much has changed over the past 25 years. Still the same friendly staff. No lift lines. Always great memories!

We love Ski Cooper, have been coming here for about 15 years now. They have done a great job remodeling the lodge and keeping the pricing low. Is a great place to bring the family and they have great instructors for the ski school.

Colorado's best ski resort; Reasonable price without the pretense. Park 100 meters from the lift and get skiing

We took adult ski class here and then did skiing by ourselves. Our overall experience was good here plus it was economical. The instructor was very helpful. I definitely recommend this place.

Great place to ski. Staff is super helpful. Rent your gear at the slopes! I think the secret is getting out about Ski Cooper. Lift lines don't exist! Wonderful runs for beginners, Mollie Mayfield is the best run a beginning skier (or seasoned veteran) can ski. The backside of the ski area has some fun and challenging runs. Great place to visit for a day or for the week.

A group of 4 of us, 3 who had very little skiing experience more than 20 years ago, and 1 brand new to skiing took a ski lesson with Ski Cooper this past weekend. The price of the lesson was very reasonable and included all of our equipment.
The entire process for choosing and being fitted for equipment was very clear and organized. Our instructor, Helmet, was very nice and patient. Ski Cooper was not overly crowded and wait times weren't long at all. I'd definitely recommend Ski Cooper to family and friends.

What a great value! Thoroughly enjoy skiing here. Have brought the family numerous times over the years. No crowds. Friendly staff. Easy / free parking. Inexpensive lift tickets. Obviously this mountain does not have the number of runs of larger resorts. Be sure to check out the monument to the 10th mountain division.

This is a great resort for beginners, as it is very flat. It is a good resort to go to days after a storm and still find powder since mostly beginners ski there and they aboid the powder. The bartender is extremely rude and does not know how to treat customers. Lift tickets are a great value, but the lifts are slow.

Went skiing mid-week - practically had the place to ourselves. Staff was friendly and professional. Would recommend. Burgers were great.

It was lovely. The snow awesome & the sunny day made it all sparkle.
There were uphill/downhill forest and marshland cross country skiing paths.
Turns out if you hold your ski poles just so, then fall, you can dislocate your thumb.
The St. Vincent hospital was fast and friendly.

Very affordable smaller scale ski resort for families. Full service equipment rentals. Ski school available. Great skiing for kids and beginners.

My 5 year old went from being afraid to ski to skiing on his own down the bunny hill. Coco is a wonderful instructor. I had fun going cross country skiing. Awesome place for adults and kids to learn how to ski, snowboard! Thanks ski Cooper!!

I love it. It is so much fun to ski there. I love and miss it a lot. Can't wait to visit again. Love you ski cooper. Wish I was there today the snow is very amazing. We are in Vietnam we are so far away but hope to see you before summer.

Ski Cooper is an awesome experience, especially for the novice skier & for families. It is affordable, & easy to get to. Everything you need is conveniently located on the mountain. Ski rental, ski lessons, lift tickets, gear, food & drink. Ski Cooper has just a few lifts & is small but they can boast of all natural snow! Definitely worth a visit!

We loved the whole atmosphere of "SLOW Down and Enjoy Right Now." No panic rushing about to get in 30 runs. Fun little slopes, good lifts, short lines and plenty of time to just enjoy lunch and a cold brew at day's end.

Still our favorite mountain. Great views, great skiing, friendly staff. The kind of ski resort I grew up with in the 80's. Always a great day! Everyone is so helpful and makes for great family memeories.

We flew to colorado from connecticut for a week of big mountain skiing in January of 2013. We flew in wednesday and traveled up to frisco area on thursday. We wanted to warm up a bit for some of the big mountains and found that this place had $30 thursdays. It was about 45-60 minutes from frisco out to leadville where ski cooper is located. The resort is very small and quaint but is laid out nicely and has easy parking and lift access. The conditions were perfect and we were 4 of maybe 50 skiers on the whole mountain. The runs were very wide and given the mid week attendance, they were mostly ours. I made my own tracks most of the day and found awesome trails through the woods to explore. That being said, the trails here offer limited challenges to advanced skiers and boarders. This is a great place for an off day from a big mountain as it is cheap and wont destroy your spirit with long lift lines or over crowded trails.

This is a low key resort with excellent skiing. The peak is 11,000+ feet. The runs are long and interesting. The chairs are a ten minute ride to the top, but with excellent weather and views this is not a problem. Everyone is friendly, and the place is family oriented. Very reasonable rates for the area. Check it out!!

This is, by far, my FAVORITE ski place in Colorado! No lift lines, friendly staff, very few people, excellent snow conditions, very affordable...we could not have asked for a better day!

We love Ski Cooper. It's less than half the price of the big resorts on I-70 and plenty of great skiing. Never crowded. Wide open trails. Great place to learn, or hone skills too. 2 day adult lift pass is only $88

Decided to check out this tucked-away ski area north of Leadville. Affordable lift ticket rates. Plenty of trails, all different skill levels. 2 main chairlifts with comfort (safety) bars on the chairs. Grabbed a beer from the quaint Irish Pub there. Although it was a "busy" holiday weekend, lift lines were minimal. If you want to take your kids to a place where they can learn to ski/snowboard without expensive lift tickets, heavy crowds, and easily accessible trails and terrains, this is the place in Colorado. They also offer a military discount for active duty & veterans.

Great for kids to learn quickly! I was a beginner and by the second day I was on level 2 and 3 slopes! If you fall... it's okay! people are judge free and don't care!

Fantastic all-natural snow, uncrowded slopes, superb instructors for kids and adults, and a wonderful, family-friemdly atmosphere. When it's family time, I am sick of Vail and Alterra mega-resorts with massive crowds of rude, stoned idiots and unsafe skiers and riders, 40-minute lift lines, and Michelin-star food prices for fast-food quality. At Cooper, how long you want to wait for a chairlift is up to you because there are never lines. The runs are family-friendly and young skiers can feel like heroes after a few lessons, a sense of accomplishment that is essential to Foster a love of snowsports. Plenty of room to hone your skills without worrying some stoned bro is going to spear you in the back at 70mph. I'll go to bigger resorts with harder terrain when it's just me (not sure I'm funded for an expensive cat skiing day on Chicago Ridge - but I'd consider a nominal per-ride charge of $20 or so if it was offered), or I'll go earn my turns elsewhere in Colorado as an experienced backcountry rider.

If you're new to snowsports or want a nice family day of cruising with the kiddos, make Cooper your destination, and support your local ski hill / small business at this historic Colorado landmark!

What a great place for the novice skier to the advanced! All natural snow and friendly staff makes Ski Coooper the incredible place it is. Come to Cooper for the experience, affordability, and good vibes. No pretentious attitudes anywhere in the area!

Very friendly people here. Kind of like a small mom and pop ski hill. If you are a beginner or intermediate skier this place is perfect. The grooming was great and it was very quiet. Located just outside Leadville and very beautiful place. The instructors where very good and the lessons very affordable. We had a small lunch for $10 for the 2 of us. They have a huge magic carpet and 2 slow chairlifts We really enjoyed our day there

WOW! Small, quaint, economical....what else would you want, or need? If you are looking for a resort that caters to the less experienced skiers and is pocket-book friendly - look no more! We went to Copper Mountain the first day and it was just too much! Too many people, $22 for parking and the lifts were outrageous. Got a tip to try Ski Cooper from a friend and we are lucky we did! Amazing views, friendly staff and we ended up going there the 2nd and 3rd days for skiing. They have a local deal on Thursdays which made me so happy! The food was reasonably priced and we hung out at Katie O'Rourke's - $4 beers! YAY!!

Almost your own private mountain. Great snow, fantastic pricing for lift tickets, ski rentals, lessons, etc. No lift lines. No crowds. Family friendly on all levels. Never ski vail or any of the other tourist traps again!!! Also, rent a house in Leadville, which is way less expensive than the big resorts.

We taught our kids to ski here. It is the most economical, family-friendly experience for skiers in CO. Leadville is charming, too.

I haven't skied in years so wanted to take it easier on my first trip back to the slopes. Packed powder was perfect, almost no wind, great staff to help with ski/boot/pole rentals. A relaxing fun day on the mountain. Ended it with the best hot chocolate known at any ski resort.

I really do not want a bunch of people coming to this skiing gem because it has absolutely no lift lines, does have decent prices, smooth and plentiful terrain, friendly folks and is great for kids so it will have me bringing my six year old back for years to come and I do not want it to get crowded or expensive like everywhere else! There is no slope side or close lodging. Leadville is the closest town with a Safeway, a Subway, a Pizza Hut and a few local eateries, a few iffy motels (no swimming pool for many miles), but that is probably why not many families and none of those rich, whiney folks come here --- that is why I have loved it since I learned to ski here circa 1992 in my 90s era snowsuit the guy operating the ski lift pointed out by asking if I was 'having funsey in my onesy." Cute kid .

Ski Cooper really is fantastic, particularly for those folks who don't like big, glossy ski resorts. It's small and friendly. Great for beginners. It's not too challenging and the black runs would be blues elsewhere, but you can't beat the wide, uncrowded runs. At one time, not sure if it's still true, you could buy a cup of coffee in the morning and have free refills for the rest of the day. It's that kind of place.

Born and raised in Colorado and have skied all over the state since I was 2. This was definitely the worst ski days. We had Monarch passes which gives you three days at Cooper. My son and I thought we would drive up from Buena Vista to give it a try. Overall skiing was average. Not much vertical, however Powder Keg on the back side was somewhat fun. Most black runs seemed like blues. Seems like a great spot for kids learning. Lots of big and open wide greens. I've heard about skiing in the Midwest, this must be what's it like. Tried to have lunch at the lodge, however every table was full. After 30 minutes of wandering around finally found a spot in Katie O'Rourke's. Wait staff was extremely rude (Courtney ,etc) ignored us for 30 minutes and finally said they were the only wait staff on (I saw 3 other wait staff). Finally found a space in the restaurant (not at the bar). A wait staff (after walking by us 5 times), says that you must be 21 to be in the space. I guess my 12 year old son (with his fake ID) was eyeing Fireball shots. Piss off Cooper. You lost local customers for the next few generations. Monarch will get my $ from now on.

Instructors were awesome for adults and children. Great powder. I'll recommend this place to anyone who doesn't want a place that's packed with people, laid back, and cheap! Great experience for my whole family!

As someone who grew up skiing Breck, Keystone and Copper, I was pretty hesitant when friends insisted we try Ski Cooper for our kids first outings on skis. The price was truly incredible, the crowds were non-existent and our kiddos got really great instruction without all the stress of being on a really busy mountain. My three-year-old did an $80 private lesson (rentals included) and their older kids enjoyed two full days of ski school while the parents bummed around the mountain. It felt like we had the slopes to ourselves. It's small, and if you're looking for really aggressive runs, you should probably look elsewhere. But for the value and a positive learning experience for the little ones, it's worth the drive to Leadville. We'll be back next year for ski school for our little one!

Good shape trails! Really good I mean it ! Clear and visible info about trails !
A lot for kids ! Enjoyed 2 days and will come back again .

Skied Ski Cooper yesterday. Not the biggest area, but everybody, from the sales clerk in the retail store to the cashier at the on-slope Yurt, had big hearts and big smiles. The skiing was pretty darned good, too!

Ski Cooper is a sweet little secret in Colorado.It's only 28 miles from I-70. The resort is small, there are no condos on site so it isn't crowded. We have been there many times and there is never a wait in the lift line of more than 2 minutes - more time skiing, less time standing in line. It is high in the mountains and the snow is great. We went over Christmas vacation 2015 and it was the best snow we've ever skied on. EXCELLENT. Everyone at the resort is friendly and helpful. . . No grumpiness if you have trouble. There is a place to buy food and drinks and also a place to eat if you bring your cooler. The runs have a nice range in difficulty. It's a great place to take the family as the resort is smaller and it's not too hard to find one another. The price is very low for skiing in Colorado! On the mountain prices are $50 for 1 day adult lift ticket. If you buy your ticket in Leadville at Leadville Ski Country, you can get them for $44. Leadville Ski Country in Leadville is the best place to get your equipment. You can stay in Leadville or in Buena Vista. We love to ski and Ski Cooper is certainly the best deal for your dollar. Always a great experience!

I loved this place for a lot of reasons! Super friendly staff, very reasonably priced, no lift lines on a nice Sunday afternoon! Lots of different runs for different abilities. No frills- just great skiing. Nice little lodge with day use lockers. Glad we gave it a try!

Terrific snow--no manmade so minimal ice! The history of the place is amazing. The Tenth Mountain Division of WWII trained and prepared for war here. February and May are times when the veterans come back to ski (in February) and for memorials.

Holy cow I should have come here first! Great snow, absolutely NO lines, and great green trails! We went on a TUESDAYS and it was sheer joy. $44 for two person ski rental and $47 for two person lift ticket, you can't beat the price! If you are tired of the crowds and over priced lift tickets come to Ski Cooper

Wow, what a place to spend the day. We had reservations for 5 days at Vail, and spent 1 weekend day at Ski Cooper. Cooper was our best day. Great groomed runs, amazing powder (5 days after the last snow) and great tree skiing. I would recommend this area to any family with skiers of multiple levels. If you are looking for Double Diamonds you WILL NOT find them here, but if you are looking for a place to ski advanced blues and spend less than $60 dollars for a lift ticket with no lines... this is it. Great value and great experience. Oh, and bring a lunch and tailgate in the parking lot!!

My niece and I had an amazing time at Ski Cooper this season. I took Ski Lessons and learned to ski here in 2013 but didn’t make it back until 2015 and now 2019. I have skied at some of the other resorts in CO but Ski Copper is definitely a favorite because of the location, absolute gorgeous scenery, short lift lines, uncrowded wide and long runs, and the friendliness and helpfulness of the employees (and locals). I was VERY impressed with all the employees we interacted with from the rental shop, lift ticket window, lift operators to the employees working at the lunch yurt. Even other (way more advanced than me) skiers went over and beyond to help me as I’ve never skied in so much snow before. One day I accidentally skied down an ungroomed trail and fell and 2 angels skied down to me and helped me out. Another day I fell (again) in a deep snow bank and a local skier was a lifesaver for me and helped me out. I was so thankful and appreciated their concern and kindness and the fact that they interrupted their skiing to help me. The whole experience was amazing and I can’t wait to come back.

This was our families first trip to Ski Cooper. We were hesitant on the smaller size of the skiing area; however, it was more than perfect. The runs were remarkably beautiful, with long natural trails, vibrant evergreens, and remarkable mountain views, It was breathtaking. We loved how there were taking extra precautions with COVID as well. Counting individuals as they enter the lodge, spacing of tables, and markings throughout lift lines. This family owned ski resort had great management and exceptional friendly workers. I would highly recommend taking your family here for a nice getaway. Perfect for beginners, intermediate, and advanced skiers!

Ski Cooper is everything for everyone. Sure the skiing isn't exactly world class double black diamond kind of stuff, but it has some really fun runs. The best part of about Ski Cooper is the lack of people, and the people that are there aren't your typical 'resort types'. They are nice, caring, and willing to answer questions and even OPEN DOORS for someone else. I will definately be going back next year to get my season pass. Yeah it's a bit out of the way, but it's so worth it. And the food at the Nordic Centre is great, reasonably priced and has a great beer selection.

With a large gathering of friends, we got all the skiing we needed. Great snow and friendly staff. No lift lines, and good variety of runs. The top of some of the Green runs are quite a challenge for first-timers (especially if not groomed). The equipment rental process was very inefficient - taking almost an hour to get through it. The equipment was decent. Get discount lift tickets at Leadville's Safeway (beats any price at the hill). Overall good experience.

It was a bummer trying to teach the kids to ski here because the green line had a rope tow lift.

I say don't read this review because we should look to keep this place secret. This is the perfect ski area if you are looking for reasonable prices, quick lift lines, well maintained and groomed runs, and generally a great ski experience. No Summit County Ski Cooper is not, but they don't claim to be either. Go enjoy a great day of skiing and help keep our little secret.

Great staff! Very friendly and patient especially Jessica with helping my daughter find the right boots. Highly recommend this place for families even with young kids. We never left the bunny slope and rode until closing.

We skied here last weekend with our 4 year old, it was his first time on skis. The ski school seemed very organized and kid friendly. All of the staff & instructors were friendly and helpful and made my child feel welcome. The mountain is small and the facilities aren't fancy, but it's totally sufficient. It was very reasonably priced, the conditions were awesome, and there were NO crowds- we were there on a holiday weekend and never waited in a line. To top it off, the drive there from I-70 is beautiful. We found Ski Cooper to be charming and refreshing compared to large resorts in the area. Great place for a relaxing family ski day.

Why pay $150/day or more for fake snow when you can ski on the best for about $50/day here with no lines? Created for the famed 10th Mountain Army Division during WWII, Cooper Mountain (Ski Cooper - not Copper Mountain) offers fabulous snow, a family-friendly atmosphere, great intermediate slopes, almost no lines, and skiing at a fraction of the cost of other places in Colorado.

While you may not get the leg burning long runs like other resorts in Colorado, you do get plenty of time on the mountain. No lift lines ever! Friendliest staff! Free Parking close in to lodge! Great prices on tickets! We bought 2 of their 4packs for 2012-2013 season. 8 days of skiing for under $200.00!

No waiting in lift lines. Not too big that you worry about losing the kids. Low cost for skiing with the family.

One of the very few affordable places in the region around Leadville. Nice blue slopes with two main chair lifts, well exposed slopes and gorgeous forest.

Here is my short story. For my 53rd birthday, I traveled with my wife and my 15 year old son to Breckenridge, Colorado. Our friend has a vacation condo a few miles from the town. Breckenridge is a great little town. However, from our short experience there, we learned that you need a fair amount of money to properly enjoy the area. We were there for four days, from Feb 9th through Feb 12th. The goal was to arrive on the 9th, go skiing on the 10th and 11th, and fly home late Friday afternoon. We have never been skiing, so we planned to take lessons before trying the slopes. The prices at Breckenridge for lift tickets appear to start at $164.00 per person, per day. We needed to rent skiis, boots, and helmets. Couple that with lessons, and we were in for about $225 per person for day one. I figured that after two days of skiing, I would be separated from about $1000. So my economical vacation was turning into a very expensive one. Before we left home, my wife looked online, and found Ski Cooper in Leadville. The cost for a 2 hour lesson, all the ski equipment, and lift ticket for the beginner area was $79. We could upgrade to the full slopes for $10 more. When she told me that, I almost exploded. Suddenly, our vacation became affordable. I called Ski Cooper and spoke to Karen. She was extremely friendly. She explained that they were a full service ski area, but they were geared more for locals and families. We took a chance with them. They are about 50 minutes from Breckenridge. We were not disappointed. Terri, our instructor was just awesome. Super friendly and totally knowledgeable. She helped us get our basics down and we had a great time with her. After the lesson, we played on the slope for a couple of hours. Everyone at the rental store was very friendly and super helpful. I needed to change my boots a couple of times, and they were extremely accommodating. I didn't have goggles, and the nice lady in the store loaned me a pair for the day. I believe her name was Theresa. I learned that they have '$30 Thursday' for lift tickets and 'Two for Tuesday'. If your goal is to ski and have fun without paying for the bling and Disney like atmosphere and prices of Breckenridge (which is awesome in its own right), you should definitely head for Ski Cooper.

This little ski area is family friendly and offers nice skiing. It is not a tall mountain, but there are both groomers and mogul runs that are quite long. The lifts are not fast, but the back "bowl" lift moves right along.

I came here with my friends for winter break and it was an amazing experience. They were well staffed and the staff was very welcoming and helpful. This was my first time skiing or even seeing snow and it was worth every penny

This is a great local ski slope with tremendous history starting in 1942 with the 10th mountain division training here for they’re very difficult assignment in Italy during World War II. No cutting across the mountain trying to find a Lift Line that’s doable all lift lines are very short and the backside of the mountain is absolutely wonderful , Who can argue with $48 for an adult and $44 for people like me that are over 60 years old .

we skied at ski cooper for the first time over xmas break. skiing in the winter was much more enjoyable than at spring break.( more fresh snow and less crowded) we really enjoyed cooper, the trails were fun and challenging for us. the people that work there are very friendly and helpful. we will definately go back! also a great place to stay is the apple blossom inn in leadville, only 10 miles from the lift. Never had better breakfast in my life.

My husband, stepson and I took our very first ever ski trip to Ski Cooper. We had heard that it was a good beginner-friendly resort and that it was less busy and more laid back than some of the other larger, more popular resorts. We heard right! It was a great experience. We took a group lesson with a very knowledgeable instructor, who taught us what we needed to know to master "Easy Street", the bunny hill. The hills we did were nice (we stayed on the greens) and the staff was helpful and friendly. The rental shop is a little chaotic, especially for a first timer, but we found the guy who helped us with our boots and skis to be very helpful and friendly. I heard one of the guys asking the kids if they were having fun and to make sure they kept smiling! I thought it was cool that they seemed to really enjoy their job and wanted everyone to have a good time.

The grill restaurant was kind of blah, with expensive prices on their sandwiches and burgers but we were starving so we bought lunch at the grill one day. I now know why I've heard of friends who go skiing and bring their own lunches. You're a captive audience, after all!

The gear we rented seemed to be in really good repair, fit well and none of us had any issues with our equipment.

I overheard several conversations of other skiers there who said they really enjoyed that the resort was laid back and not crowded. You never felt like you were going to be run over or in someone's way. I was always able to find an open space to ski and to fall. Ha ha.

Stumbled upon Ski Cooper and Tennessee Pass. What a find. Easy to get to, good prices, and easy to get back to Avon.

This is the ski resort I lived at as a child. The snow is all natural, the slopes are good and the wait is not bad compared to more popular resorts. Also, the resort holds some history as the 10th Mountain Division trained here.

We were in the area for the US Snowshoe Nationals. I had indicated to our seven college students that we would take advantage of the $30/pass day on Thursday during our stay.

It had been eleven years since I skied alpine but was quite sure my skills would be just fine. Fortunately, this turned out to be correct.

The snow conditions, the grooming, and weather conditions were all perfect for the entire day of skiing at Cooper. The three among our group who wanted to be challenged were able to enjoy the double black diamonds on the backside of the mountain while the others in the group stayed on the front side.

This seemed like a great place to learn how to ski, or to enjoy skiing in your golden years, without forking over the inheritance.

This place is awesome! No lines... affordable...and great for beginners/intermediate and families. My bf is a beginner and he really enjoyed learning how to ski at Cooper. He was able to practice on the green slopes without worrying of being run over by other skiers. The lifts are a little slow, but you don't have to wait in line for 30 or 40 minutes to get on the lift. You can literally ski right up :o)....Kudos to the staff; friendly and know what they're doing. We also liked Tennesse Pass restaurant...yummy paninis and excellent mulled wine!

Ski Cooper is a great family friendly resort. With great ticket prices and no crowds this is my favorite place to ski in Colorado. The resort relies on natural snow only and is fairly small by Colorado standards, but totally rocks with amazing powder days. It may take a little longer to get to and there is no fancy resort condos nearby, but it's worth it. The town of Leadville has many old west roots and the quaint downtown is fun to explore. There are very affordable places to stay i Leadville nearby.

This is a fun place to go skiing. Especially if someone in your party is learning to ski, or needs some refreshment. The slopes are not crowded, and the area is beautiful. Ask for Liz for lessons. She is great, with a lot of experience.

First Cooper ski trip and the first time my fiancee has ever tried to ski. We spent the day on the magic carpet beginner area and had so much fun. Great resort at a great place with tons of beginner friendly options and reduced rates for noobs.

First, the trails were extensive and well-maintained. The trail fee was reasonable, and the nordic center was comfortable, casual, and the food there is great. Two big problems: the rentals were not very good quality and didn't seem to be as well maintained as those from other places in the area. The biggest problem was that there were snowmobiles (not the maintenance vehicles for the center, but recreational snowmobiles) as well as unleashed dogs, snow bikes, and even a snowboarder on the trails. There were lots of inexperienced cross country skiiers as well as hikers and people using snow shoes. It was simply not safe to allow unleashed dogs, snow bikes, snowmobiles, and snowboarders on the trails.

This was a perfect first time skiing experience for our teenager and challenging enough for experienced skiers also. The staff was helpful and friendly which made the whole experience all the better.

This place has history. The 10th Mountain Division trained here for WWII.

No man made snow here, it is high up in Colorado Rockies, I think the parking lot is at 10,400 feet.

There are a few chair lifts, but you need to get off the main runs and explore the mountain. It has many runs that few skiers ever see.

I first went here with a friend who had 3 children. She felt safe letting the kids roam the mountain without her. She put the cooler under a table on the deck, and the kids could come and go, grab drinks or sandwiches as they pleased. It is that safe and family friendly.

Ski Cooper has become one of my favorite places to play in the snow. You can't get separated from family and friends and you never have to stand in line.

This place is a hidden gem. I come here every President weekend to interact with the men and women of the 10th mountain division, whom come back for their yearly reunion. Since this is a smaller resort and mainly locals that come, there are shorter lines for the lifts.

This place has always been a well kept gem & accessible to everyone, toddlers to mature at any ability. Ski schools appear as if they are semi-private due to smaller crowds. I hated it years ago that some put down ski mountains over humongous overcrowded resorts, but if you just ski certain areas of a 'big resort'; then why are you paying for everything else (and stand in line with a lot if people). Everyone's on a first name basis, plenty of space and One can carve large, GS turns at speed, Advanced intermediate & experts slopes with plenty of untracked tree skiing (the storms that close Vail Pass put plenty of snow for the whole season) Smaller crowds - we were skiing POW for two days before closing weekend and More Snow tonight! Staff, Lift folks, & locals are great/friendly. Leadville is so laid back (yet get it done) - Folks still ride horse back in town. Great place to escape and ski away from our toxic society!

I learned how to ski here. I took about ten lessons over a season. I was really impressed with the quality of the instructors and the affordability of the programs.

The challenge is that the mountain is small and really only has easy terrain. I now mostly ski at Vail and Beaver Creek. I take lessons there too (for moguls, primarily). I can tell you the instructors at Vail are no better than at Cooper, only 5x more expensive.

This is a nice, intimate, "authentic" resort that is really affordable. For newbies getting into the sport, I still think this is the best place in Colorado. Leadville, the nearest city, is affordable and charming ... and authentic ... too.

Please hit "helpfui" if appropriate

This is just a great place for ski lessons, especially for young children. The snow was wonderful even on closing day with "spring' ski conditions.

We travel from St. Louis the same weekend every year to ski at Ski Cooper. My kids all learned to ski here, as did I. There are never lines to get on the lift. They have excellent ski instructors at Panda Patrol. My kids are all on snowboards now and they often have one on one instruction with the instructors.

As someone who ski's more than 20 days a year (which is quite a bit for someone living in Illinois), mostly at Vail/Beaver Creek, I found Ski Cooper to be a very welcome surprise. Wow, park 40 yards from the lift, no crowd, plenty of great terrain, all for a fraction of the price of the big boys.
Hats off to the ownership, management and staff Ski Cooper. What a great place for a family to take the kids as they learn to ski. Awesome

nice views from the resort and is very popular among locals. we definitely recommend this place. the views from the resort are amazing and you will really enjoy your day there with friends or family. maybe both!

Years ago, we traded in crowded lift lines, early Sat morning I-70 traffic, $100+/day ticket prices for a little place in Leadville and seasons passes at Cooper. We have absolutely no regrets and feel that Cooper/Leadville is one of the best kept secrets in Colorado. Absolutely recommended for families.

Ski Cooper has great green and blue runs on all natural snow. There mid week specials make skiing affordable and their staff works hard to make the experience enjoyable. We have skied all over the state and keep returning to Ski Cooper. Their historic association with the U. S. Army's 10th Mountain Division is an added benefit for anyone that visits the resort. Great history lessons there.

Nice little ski area. We had a blast. They have some fun tree runs (corkscrew, powder keg). Reasonable prices for lift tickets and food. $50 for an all day adult lift ticket. Good places for families as well. It is small, so it will be hard to get lost and it is great for beginners. Many wide easy runs. Gave it a 4 because I wish it had more runs.

Panda Patrol ski school for the kids was excellent! Our kids learned how to ski in three days and were confident on the slopes with us starting at the end of day two.
I took a little refresher class myself with Bob, who was very good! Very informative, yet light hearted and occasionally humorous instructions set me on the right course for the rest of time at the mountain.
Slopes were great, snow was perfect, prices just right.

We had a couple of friends recommend Ski Cooper for our spring break ski destination. Wow, are we glad we acted on their suggestion! It was the perfect location to teach our 9-year-old daughter to ski and to reorient our 40+ year-old bodies to slopes they hadn't experienced in over 20 years. The staff at Ski Cooper was nothing but accommodating and friendly. We never waited in a lift line longer than 1-2 minutes. And there were no egos on the slopes - just kind folks! We had options for all of us - I stayed on the greens and blues, my husband lived on the blues, and our daughter brand new to skiing ended her couple of days on blacks!

Very friendly and convenient small ski resort. Lift tickets are reasonable especially if pre booked. Food as also great. Mountain is very easy to use - you won't get lost! Snow was great when I went there, not too much grooming and the views are amazing.

Great place to ski with or without kids. Not a big mountain resort which I think is better for a real mountain experience. There are enough runs of various types to have fun all day. It was not crowded and you had most runs to yourself. I will be coming back and would recommend to anyone. Also the staff was super friendly and helpful.

If you're not used to the altitude, this isn't for you. If you're from Colorado, it's the perfect place. No lines, great runs, inexpensive lift tickets and season passes.

It's a small mountain, really two chairlifts and a long platter, but the value is second to none. It would be an ideal place to learn to ski or hone your skills after a trip or two. Blacks were not as scary as most CO mountains, and the kids can't get lost. Snow was plentiful in March. It's about 5-6 miles out of town, but the road was well-maintained. We actually bought a seaon pass so we could take advantge of the reciprocal agreements at other mountains. The season pass was dirt cheap and allowed us to ski Red River, Angel Fire, and Ski Apache three days each as they are all closer to Texas. It's a true best value!!! That said, we skied six days, which is overkill for this mountain as it's not huge. Four days would have been plenty, but we loved Leadville so it was not a big deal.

We only go to Cooper when we want to have a good time and great skiing or riding. It's a much better experience than waiting in line at the mega resorts and skiing in crowds. The snow is all natural, no snow making so no no ice surprises underneath the surface. The folks there are real and always make a guest feel like they are most welcome. Prices are about the best in the state and you can find runs to ski at just about any level. Great Irish Pub and food along with an atmosphere that sends you home wanting to come back. So, we do!

Happy Staff, We went early in the season this time and had been spoiled by heavy early snows in previous years, Keep in mind no snow making machines here, only true snaow, the good stuff

Great value, memorable vistas, cat skiing. Harks back to the days before the mega 'ski resorts'. No particularly challenging runs but it doesn't really matter, it's all about the atmosphere here. Check out the live music too, very cool.

Small but wonderful, great for all family members. Great all natural snow, awesome views and wonderful staff. A must see ski area. 😁Bring your sunscreen and your smile.

The mountain is a great place to go at an affordable price. We love Ski Cooper for the various runs and because it's not over-crowded and over priced like the other ski resorts.

Love this place! The history of Ski Cooper is worth the price of a ticket. 10th Mountain Division were trained here during WW2 times. Great veterans/military discount. Beginner lessons were outstanding! I am a veteran skier, this is the last really family oriented slopes. I can do runs back to back, my beginner friends/family can take a reasonable priced lesson, and great instructor’s! I almost hate to say anymore, it’s nice to have slopes to yourself on fresh powder. No condo’s. Closes at 4. Road going in can get messy. Storms can blow in quickly! Going from blue sky to blizzard in an hour. Stay away, now that you know it’s cheap, rural, historic and honestly, all natural groomed snow. Ski’s and boarders carving it up, laughing, talking, new school goes old school, old school becomes new school. I, a vintage person of smaller size, can run with the snowboard’s and everybody is nice. Polite. Even friendly. I learned some new way!! Not one of those generation differences matter. Love it.

Of all the ski areas that I visit Ski Cooper is the friendliness. I recently took a group of 31 participants and from the rental office, group sales person Jackie, the instructors and the lift operators they were all very helpful and made you feel that they were excited that you were there.
The terrain is an excellent place for beginner to intermediate skiers with just enough difficult slopes to keep the advance snowrider happy. Excellent way to spend a day to a week. I will be returning next with my group again. For the cost there is no better place to ski in the state of Colorado than Ski Cooper.

Tennessee Pass Nordic Center is not owned by Ski Cooper but shares a parking lot. For some reason they dont have a Trip advisor for the cross country skiing at the Nordic center, only the Yurts and the Cafe??
We took a private lesson from Roxanne at the Tennesse Pass Nordic center. Me and three teen girls. I have Alpine skied for years but never Nordic skiing. My kids have never skied. Roxanne was able to accomodate us with only 1 day notice on spring break. Awesome. She was soooo patient with my kids- especially with my 15 year old who is learning disabled and physically challenged. We had a wonderful time together. The trails were beautiful and groomed. The snow wasnt great due to early warm temperatures but we still had a great day. And, I realized I love nordic skiing! I started getting fearful of Alpine skiing as I got older and I'm so glad I gave cross country a try. It was so much fun and OMG what a workout.

We went to Ski Cooper (not to be confused with Copper) in Feb. (over Presidents' Day weekend) with 8 people total (4 adults and 4 kids). While they only have 2 lifts it was an awesome day. They runs while shorter than the bigger resorts were great for intermediate skiers and boarders. My only complaint is the lifts were tough for the little ones.

If you are returning to skiing or a just getting started Cooper has no equal. The entire staff makes you feel like family. The mountain and skiing conditions are all beginning to intermediate skiers can ask for and the is enough challenging slops to satisfy those more experienced skiers. I am recommending Cooper to everyone and am plan on returning often.

Not as fancy and certainly not as expensive as Vail or Breckenridge but you will enjoy the mountains and skiing more than in those places. Literally, no line, no waiting. Straight down the hill to the ski lift.

This is my teen age daughter's favorite place to ski. We took advantage of some lift ticket discounts from a local TV station in Denver. There was no lift lines and a few number of people on the slopes the first day we were there. The second day a few more but still no lift lines. On several of our runs we were the only ones on that run. Great place for beginners and intermediate skiers at a great price. Will be back next year.

I'm not a skier but wanted to see what it was all about since its now in my back yard. Its very pretty and small. I like small and its not over populated either like most all the other Ski places in Colorado. Worth the visit whether you Ski or not.

This is a wonderful place to ski. It is great for beginners and for intermediate. We loved skiing here 2 days in a row. No lines at all, very reasonably priced.

Great time and great price. The facility at Ski Cooper is awesome and the people are friendly, very affordable.

We had a wonderful time at Ski Cooper! This was our first visit and we were so impressed with the wide open runs. Even after skiing the first day for over 4 hours, we found more trails on the second day. The staff was friendly, no lift lines whatsoever, no frowning on you bringing in your own lunch, great prices on adult beverages (even happy hour), and great lift ticket prices! We are so glad we ventured out to Ski Cooper. Can't wait to go back.

We just returned from a New Year's holiday to Ski Cooper. We had forgotten how magical it is. The snow was silky and perfect with very short lines and a relaxed atmosphere. The resort has always been a hidden treasure, but has improved in many small but important ways and is better than it has ever been. It is the perfect place to go if you want to relax with some great, fairly mellow skiing, super friendly people and a laid-back atmosphere. (And a reasonable price, which is very hard to find these days!)

You can ski at Ski Cooper for less that half the cost of most other Colorado Ski areas. Short lift lines and a family friendly atmosphere are its strong points. It sits right at the top of Tennessee Pass and the vistas from the top of the mountain (euphemistically known as Cooper Hill, some hill) are endless. You won't see the "beautiful people" here. They're all over at Aspen and Vail but if you want good old fashioned good skiing, try Ski Cooper. You won't be disappointed. But shhhh, don't tell anyone.

We are a family of snowboarders who enjoy Ski Cooper because it's a non-crowded, fluffy snow filled paradise! Great mountain for all skill levels and we visit often. Excellent helpful staff! We broke a binding once, the staff replaced it no problem, and we were able to enjoy the rest of our day at Ski Cooper. Thank you!

Took our kids (8 and 12) on their first ski trip and so glad we chose Cooper. Can’t say enough about this place. The kids did ski school and it was great. Small class(5 in their group) and for a fraction of the price of what the big resorts charge. My kids loved it and were skiing so much better by the end of the day. They have a good variety of terrain, great snow, unbelievable views and all the staff were very friendly and helpful. According to the staff we were there at their busiest time and lift lines were still 5 minutes at the most. Not to mention how cheap this place is. We are done with the I-70 resorts and the big prices. We have found our skiing home at Cooper/Leadville (cool little town just down the road).If you’re looking for fancy villages, expensive restaurants, high prices, etc, don’t go here. But if you want great skiing and a friendly, family atmosphere without breaking the bank, this is your place.

Grew up skiing here when I was a child. I've brought my own children back several times. Its a smaller resort, but we love it. Never seems crowded, employees are great. No artificial snow here.. love that its only what mother nature has provided. Accommodates skiers and snowboarders easily.

We always take our young relatives to Ski Cooper when it's time for them to learn to ski. They have excellent instructors, small classes and the private instruction is amazing. The price is amazing too: for an under-5 child, it is only $69 for a 2 hour lesson, lift ticket, and equipment. For $10 more, you can get a private lesson instead. And the results are amazing. Our 4.5 year old granddaughter was skiing with controlled parallel turns after only 4 days. We were blown away!

Skiing like it used to be. Park close walk right up drop your skis and your off. No buses, no long walks, just an old fashioned ski resort. Only 2 primary old style lifts but you almost always have the runs to yourself. Lots of discounts available on the internet, and discount tickets available in Leadville at the shops or the safeway. Basic mountain grill, good chili, reasonable prices for a ski resort.

This is our favorite mountain. The whole family can ski the entire mountain. It has been our favorite for many, many years. As a CO native it is one of those "secret places" we bring our families to without the crowds and prices of all of the bigger mountains. The natural snow is great and they have a fun ski school for all levels. The rental shop is friendly and quick. The town of Leadville has many places to stay and eat as well.

We have been skiing in Summit county, Colorado for years. we went to Cooper to ski for the first time today. It is close to Leadville and was terrific! Inexpensive, $30.00 for seniors or children, wide open terrain and glade skiing and NO CROWDS! Check it out. Especially good for beginner to intermediate skiers.

Looking for a casual, affordable skiing escape from FL to see if I could still ski after an 11-year absence. Internet search yielded Ski Cooper/Leadville and both delivered more than what I wanted. Great service (family operated!) and equipment. Reasonably complex runs for beginner-intermediate skiers (back country ski-tours available which I did not try). Very pleased.

We just returned from our first trip to Ski Cooper.

We had 2 advanced skiers, 1 that had not skied for 10 years and 1 newbie. The people were very helpful, lines were extremely short and the lessons were effective with just 7 in the beginner class.

We will go again!

Loved the lift operators- very friendly and helpful. Loved the snow, labeling of trails, views, and grooming. Was less happy with the employee at desk by lockers who was not real friendly or helpful, and was hoping to see more info in the lodge about the 10th mountain division who trained in the area for WWll, and hoped to buy hats, pins, etc with 10th mtn division on them. Cheryl in the gift shop as super nice too!

Can’t beat Ski Cooper for best value family ski trip! Snow conditions were great with NO lift lines! Excellent ski equipment rentals and good food in the lodge makes for a happy family! Absolutely love skiing here during the holidays! Hope this gem stays hidden so we can continue to enjoy it!

I hadn't visited Ski Cooper in over 20 years. I was drawn back because of low cost of lift tickets, friendly staff, and uncrowded conditions. Senior 60-69 lift tickets $42, 70+ $32. Compare at other area ski resorts at $150. This is more of a Mom and Pop type area with well maintained runs and very short lift lines. An employee said this day was the busiest day he had seen all year. The longest lift line was about 5 minutes. At lunch time, there were no lines and you could ski right up to the lift and be back up the mountain. This is a very affordable area and can save a family hundreds of dollars per day in ski costs. The children's ski school is wide open with a moving walk to a very gentle slope that is easy for family to observe. The runs are not terribly steep but offer nice runs. I can't say enough about the friendly attitude of the staff and employees. Enjoyable to be around and visit with.

This place was great. We are a family of new skiers and they were more than helpful. I would recommend this place to anyone looking for a friendly ski experience. No long lines or ski snobs.

We spent 2 days at Ski Cooper for winter break. Our family of 6 attended ski school and then hit the slopes the next day. Eric, our instructor, was very patient with our group who had several first time skiers. Copper Mountain is a great family oriented place to learn that is not crowded. Would definitely recommend!

Ski cooper is a hidden gem among so many ski resorts in Colorado. The staff was great and so accommodating. Best bunny slope around.

Our family choose to have a family vacation skiing. We choose to do lessons on Cooper Mountain. We were lucky to have Kim do our lessons she was an experienced professional skier and I could tell she was able to give each one of my teenagers advice to make them more comfortable and better skiers. The atmosphere on this mountain is family friendly and pleasent.

Best dining experience of my life - so far! One makes advance reservations - absolutely necessary. Upon arrival, walk 1 mile up thru the woods up to the Cookhouse Yurt. We sat on the deck, drank wine and enjoyed the phenomenal view. Since it was so warm, the 1st 2 courses were served out on the deck, then when it got cool we moved inside the yurt. It was beautiful, linens, china and candle lit. We enjoyed our main course then dessert. Can stay as long as one wants afterwards. Then you're given a headlamp and saunter back down in the dark. Everything was perfection! It you love the outdoors and good food, this is the perfect combination. Can't wait to go back!

My husband and I have lived in Colorado for 4yrs, but didn't have a chance to go snowboarding until last week. We choose Ski Cooper based on the price of the lift tickets ($30 Thursdays), looking less crowded then some of the other resorts, and the variety of ski runs. As it turns out, we had the most amazing time! All of the staff, from the ticket booth, rentals, lift operations, and food/bar servers were wonderful and went out of there way for us to have a wonderful time. I only wish we went sooner! I wouldn't hesitate to come back in a heartbeat!

I hate to let this secret out, but Ski Cooper really deserves the recognition. The relaxed atmosphere, and ease to get around is perfect for families and groups. You get soooo much value for your money and I highly recommend the "never ever" ski package or any other lesson, when you see the prices you may not think its much, but its more than you expect. It really makes a ski trip affordable. While its nothing fancy, everything is well maintained and has all the services you need ( all workers are always willing to help, make you feel like they know you) and you can't forget the amazing scenery. I've visited a couple of other busy resorts and i have to say "I love Ski Cooper". The only drawback is there isnt much around. I hope to find a place to stay for next time, although the drive from Dillon wasnt bad.

We wanted to try a new mountain and Ski Cooper met every expectation.....no lift lines, fresh powder, friendly people and wide open slopes!

A small quaint mountain to ski! If you miss a chair you just catch the next one. No hurries,no worries! Very friendly,helpful and hard working staff that keep it very low key for everyone. I cannot wait to go back! I miss it already! I could say more... but Shush..I would be given the gem away!

We skied at Cooper on Two for Tuesday where 2 ski for the price of one. We enjoyed an entire day of perfect fresh snow, long wide runs, NO lift lines, and a handful of skiers on the same run. U really get a full day of slopes at an amazing price.