Winter Sports enthusiasts can enjoy a variety of new travel options to Colorado’s ski areas this winter by bus, train, plane and automobiles.

New bus services and added train service make it easier than ever to Colorado ski resorts and our mountain towns. Residents may also consider air service into Colorado’s eight regional airports for their ski and ride travel too. This lengthy list provides options to both the expert and first-time skiers and riders. Here are a ton of ways to enjoy a a stress-free journey to the slopes.

Bus

Snowstang Bus Service – New this winter, the Snowstang bus service will provide direct access to ski areas from Denver’s Union Station and RTD’s Federal Station in Lakewood to Loveland, Arapahoe Basin and Steamboat Resort. Roundtrip fares for Loveland and Arapahoe Basin will be $25 for adults and Steamboat will be $40, with 50 percent discounts for children 2-11 and 25 percent for seniors and those with disabilities. There will be 40 days of service to each resort, running weekends from Dec.14 through April 19, plus the Martin Luther King holiday, Jan. 20, and President’s Day, Feb. 17. For more information, click here.

Bustang Bus Service– The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has expanded its statewide Bustang bus service to include Salida as well as daily service to Monarch Ski Area from Dec. 14, 2019 to April 5, 2019. With this expansion, Bustang now serves mountain towns near several Colorado ski areas including Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, Copper Mountain, Echo Mountain, Monarch Mountain, Purgatory Resort, Sunlight Mountain Resort and Telluride Ski Resort. For more information, click here.

Local Free Rides & Shuttles

Arapahoe Basin – The free Summit Stage bus service runs from the park-and-ride lot in Keystone to and from A-Basin. Front Range skiers and riders can also enjoy direct access with the new Snowstang bus service. For more information, click here.

Aspen Snowmass – RFTA, the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority’s bus system, provides transportation to all four Aspen Snowmass mountains. For more information, click here.

Copper – Summit County visitors can take advantage of the free Summit Stage bus service. For more information, click here.

Eldora – The Ski-N-Ride provides bus service from multiple locations along the Front Range straight to Eldora every day of the week during ski season. For more information, click here.

Loveland – Running on weekends from December to April, the Snowstang bus service offers riders pick up locations at Union Station in Denver or the Denver Federal Center RTD station. For more information, click here.

Monarch – The Salida Ski Bus provides access from Salida to Monarch. Visitors can also access Monarch with daily Bustang service from Dec. 14, 2019- April 5, 2020. For more information, click here.

Purgatory – The skier shuttle runs from Durango to Purgatory on weekends and select holidays for $10. For more information, click here. 

Steamboat– Guests can enjoy the free town bus system running from town to the resort and other locations. For more information, click here.

Telluride – The Galloping Goose bus service provides free transportation in and around the town of Telluride, Mountain Village and Lawson Hill. For more information, click here.

Wolf Creek – Shuttle service is available from Pagosa Springs via the Wilderness Journey Shuttle for $20 one way or $30 roundtrip. For more information, click here.

For more information about specific bus routes please visit www.coloradoski.com/traveling.

Train

For a fourth consecutive season, the Amtrak Winter Park Express will transport passengers from downtown Denver’s Union Station to the slopes of Winter Park Resort. New this year, the Amtrak train will run every Friday through Sunday every weekend from Jan. 10 through March 29. Fares start at $29 each way for adults and are available at Amtrak.com/WinterParkExpress.

The daily Amtrak California Zephyr has 6 stops in Colorado including stops in Glenwood Springs, where visitors can catch a shuttle to Sunlight Mountain, Granby where guests can access Granby Ranch or passengers can unload at the Fraser station to access Winter Park Resort.

Flights

Aspen Pitkin County Airport (ASE) – United Airlines offers daily nonstop flights from Denver year-round. ASE can serve as the airport of choice for all Aspen Mountains and Sunlight Mountain Resort.

Durango – La Plata County Airport (DRO) – United Airlines and American Airlines offer daily flights from Denver year-round. DRO can serve as the airport of choice for Purgatory Resort, Wolf Creek Ski Area and Telluride Resort.

Grand Junction Regional Airport (GJT) – United Airlines offers daily direct flights from Denver. Denver Air Connection offers direct flights to the Centennial Airport Monday-Friday. GJT can serve as the airport of choice for Powderhorn Resort.

Montrose Regional Airport (MTJ) – United Airlines offers daily nonstop flights from Denver year-round. MTJ can serve as the airport of choice for Powderhorn Mountain Resort, Telluride, Kendall Mountain and Silverton Mountain.

Steamboat/Hayden Regional Airport (HDN) – Nonstop flights are offered on United Express year-round. HDN can serve as the airport of choice for Steamboat Resort and Howelson Hill.

Telluride Regional Airport (TEX) – Flight capacity to TEX is increasing by 60 percent this winter season. The United Airlines Denver Air Connection will provide non-stop service from Denver daily. TEX can serve as the airport of choice for Telluride Resort, Silverton Mountain and Kendall Mountain.

Colorado’s eight regional airports offer visitors access from 18 different major hubs from around the country.

Parking

Arapahoe Basin – Parking is free in all available lots except for the Admin Lot. To encourage carpooling, there are 200 parking spaces reserved in the Early Riser lot for vehicles with four or more people. Otherwise, that up-front parking is $20. Vehicles with three or more people are offered discounted lift tickets at the window.

Aspen Snowmass – Park for free at Aspen’s Buttermilk and use the free bus service to get to Aspen Highlands or Aspen Mountain. Vehicles with four or more enjoy free parking at Aspen Highlands.

Cooper – Park for free at any of the available parking lots.

Copper – Park for free at the Alpine and Far East lots with bus transportation to all three villages at the resort.

Eldora – Parking is free and new busses will help guests get from the parking lot to the slopes more quickly.

Granby Ranch – Drop off service is the best way to get the family on the slopes quickly. Parking attendants will provide supervisory services to family members while the car is being parked.

Hesperus – Parking is free at the base area.

Howelson Hill – Parking is provided close to the hill with options to walk or take the public bus.

Kendall Mountain – Parking is free at the base area.

Loveland – Parking is free at Loveland Basin and Loveland Valley.

Monarch – Free parking is available at all lots.

Powderhorn – Parking is free in the base area.

Purgatory – Free parking is available from various parking areas.

Silverton – Parking is free at the base area.

Steamboat – Free parking is available at the Meadows Parking lot with a free shuttle to the resort. Paid parking is available for visitors wanting to park closer to the resort.

Sunlight – Sunlight provides a scheduled park and ride service, based at the Sunlight Ski & Bike Shop in downtown Glenwood Springs.

Telluride – Free day parking is available at the Gondola Parking Garage. Many of the parking options are within walking distance of the free gondola that provides access to both the town of Telluride and Mountain Village or are also serviced by Telluride’s free Galloping Goose bus service. 

Winter Park – There are approximately 3,200 free parking spaces at the base of Winter Park and Mary Jane including the North Beach lot, F&G lots, Old Town lots and the Mary Jane Lots.

Wolf Creek – Free parking is available in all parking lots.

For a full list of flights into and out of Colorado’s eight regional airports, bus and train service and parking information, please visit www.coloradoski.com/traveling.

Great information provided by Colorado Ski Country USA!

www.Coloradoski.com

Read More About Colorado Mountain Town Winter Adventures: www.mtntownmagazine.com/category/skiing-and-snowboarding/

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