Winter in Winter Park, Colorado settles in fast once the first real storm rolls over the Continental Divide, turning this small Colorado mountain town into one of the snowiest, quietest ski destinations in the state.
Our Winter Park ski vacation rentals put you close to the slopes with a full kitchen, room to dry out wet gear, and enough space that nobody's tripping over ski boots in a cramped hotel room. Browse the current lineup of homes and condos to find one sized right for your group before peak weeks book up.
Here's everything you need to know to plan the perfect trip to Winter Park, Colorado.
While summertime in Winter Park is packed with community events, art, fishing, golf, and some great hiking or mountain biking trails for outdoor enthusiasts, the city is a year-round destination.
While the obvious draw in winter is skiing, December, January, and February offer plenty of other outdoor and indoor activities, not to mention the festive holiday atmosphere the small mountain town is so proud of. Visit the museums, hit the slopes, and enjoy the scenic dining options in town.
Winter Park, positioned at the southern end of the Fraser Valley, sits at 9,120 feet, making it one of the highest incorporated towns in the country. This means the season here tends to run colder and snowier than lower-elevation Colorado ski towns.
The ski resort climbs from a 9,000-foot base to a 12,060-foot summit and averages more than 344 inches of snow a year, spread across the main Winter Park Resort and the steeper terrain on Mary Jane Mountain, which is also owned by the resort.
The small town is at its peak season in wintertime, with the population of 1,000 residents swelling to much higher numbers as skiers flock to the slopes.
Daytime temperatures on the mountain often sit in the 20°Fs and 30°Fs, and a sunny bluebird day on top can feel noticeably colder than the base village below.
Storms typically roll in from the west over the Continental Divide. Mary Jane's north-to-northeast-facing terrain holds onto that fresh snow far longer than sunnier, south-facing slopes, which is why locals tend to head there first after a big overnight dump.
Even if you have no intention of skiing, you should pack warmly if you plan to visit during these cold months. Nighttime temperatures frequently fall to zero.
Daylight hours run much shorter than in the summer, with the sun typically setting by late afternoon in the heart of winter. Plan your last run and any après-ski drinks around the earlier dusk.
Most visitors fly into Denver International Airport, which sits about 90 miles from Winter Park, then either rent a car or book a mountain shuttle for the final leg. Renting a car gives you the most flexibility for side trips, while a shuttle service takes the pressure off if you'd rather not drive over a mountain pass in winter weather.
If you're a local from the greater Denver area, Winter Park sits about 67 miles away, roughly an hour and a half by car on a clear day via I-70 and US 40 over Berthoud Pass. The pass tops out at 11,307 feet, and Colorado's traction laws require snow tires or chains during inclement weather, so check road conditions before you leave.
Local or not, if you'd rather skip the drive, the seasonal Winter Park Express train runs straight from Denver's Union Station to the Winter Park ski resort, no mountain pass required. The ride takes about 2.5 hours each way and typically runs several days a week during the season, making it an easy day trip or a low-stress way to start a longer stay.
Once you're in town, you likely won't need a car at all. The Lift is a free public transit system that runs year-round between the resort, downtown Winter Park, Fraser, and Granby, which makes it easy to stay a few miles from the mountain without giving up easy access to the lifts.
Resort parking also fills up quickly on weekends and holidays, so riding the shuttle in from your rental often beats circling the lot for a spot.
If you’re looking for Winter Park lodging near the slopes, our vacation rentals are a great choice. Our range includes everything from cozy condos to family-friendly cabins and spacious homes for large groups, all within easy reach of the lifts.
Winter Park lodging near the slopes is the priority for most skiers, but staying in downtown Winter Park or nearby Fraser, about 3 miles away, puts you closer to restaurants and shops if you'd rather not drive after dinner.
Since The Lift shuttle connects all of these areas to the resort for free, staying a few miles out doesn't mean losing easy access to the mountain.
Whichever part of town you land in when deciding where to stay in Winter Park, look for a rental with a hot tub or a mudroom for wet gear. Both make the daily routine noticeably easier once the snow starts piling up.
Lodging fills up fastest around Christmas through New Year's, Presidents Day week, and spring break, so book your Winter Park ski vacation rental at least two to three months ahead for the best selection.
This is the main draw for most visitors to Winter Park, Colorado, in the frigid winter months.
Winter Park Resort is a world-class skiing destination that features 3,081 acres of skiable terrain divided across seven distinct territories, offering a mix of gentle groomers, steep moguls, tree glades, and high-alpine bowls.
About 8% of the mountain is beginner, 18% is intermediate, 19% is advanced, and a whopping 52% is most difficult, with an additional 3% that is suitable for experts only. This makes it a great resort for experienced skiers and snowboarders looking to challenge themselves on some killer Colorado terrain.
But Winter Park is also great for families. The resort has plenty of slow, wide runs near the base and its Ski + Ride school, which offers lessons for total beginners as well as advanced skiers who want to up their game. It also offers ski and snowboard rentals so you don’t have to buy your own gear.
Skiiing out west is very different than the American East Coast lake town slopes. If you go down the more advanced runs, you should have experience.
A Winter Park trip doesn't have to mean lift-to-lift skiing every day. Between tubing hills, Nordic trails, and a walkable downtown, there's enough here to fill a rest day or entertain those in the group who aren't interested in the slopes.
Tubing is a scenic, family-friendly activity that gives you a taste of adrenaline without donning skis. Multiple lanes and a conveyor lift keep the lines moving, so it's an easy way to fill an afternoon.
The tube hill has fun background music, and there’s a nearby bar inside the warming lodge for when you're finished. Try it at night for a real adventure.
The tubing hill at Colorado Adventure Park in Fraser is large, fast, and safe for the kids, and it’s only a short drive away from Winter Park. Spend a couple of hours on the hill before warming up with s’mores by the fire.
But it's not the only other tubing option in town. Fraser's tubing hill is a firm favorite course with locals. It doesn’t require advance booking and is very central to the main things to do in Fraser, so it’s a great spur-of-the-moment activity.
Pop over to nearby Granby for some Nordic-style skiing. Trail passes here are inexpensive compared to a lift ticket, which makes it an easy add-on for a group that only wants to ski part of the trip.
The ranch also rents snowshoes and skis on-site, so non-skiers in the group don't need to haul their own gear along. You'll traverse lovely terrain, meander alongside Pole Creek, and enjoy the great outdoors at a slower pace than downhill.
Hideaway Park is right in the town center of Winter Park, so it's an easy way to fill an hour between lunch and dinner without much planning. Also, kids love any opportunity to sled.
This downtown main strip is where the Lift shuttle stops, which makes shopping or dining a breeze. Pop in for a drink, browse the boutiques, or perhaps spend a slow day off the slopes enjoying the town and the community it's cultivated.
You can learn about local history in one of the museums, visit an art gallery, catch a performance at the theatre, or even see a movie, all not too far from the town square.
There is no shortage of dining and entertainment in Winter Park. These are our favorite après-ski destinations.
While there is certainly plenty to do without ever leaving the boundaries of Winter Park, Colorado, you can also embark on any of these nearby excursions.
Rocky Mountain National Park in wintertime transforms into a serene wonderland of snow-blanketed peaks and quiet pine forests. It offers a peaceful escape where visitors can enjoy crisp mountain air, snowshoeing adventures, and beautiful frozen lake vistas.
Beyond the ski slopes lies the wider region of Grand County and Fraser Valley, where authentic mountain town charm meets endless backcountry adventure.
Visitors can race across frozen meadows on snowmobile, unwind in natural hot springs, or enjoy local breweries in a valley that perfectly captures the untamed spirit of Colorado.
Venture a little further, and you'll find Indian Hot Springs and Sulphur Springs ready to soothe your tired muscles. The 35–45-minute drive to either spring is scenic and wintry, and you'll pass through small historic towns like Granby and Tabernash.
Winter is one of the best times of year for festivals. Most are located at the Winter Park Resort.
Packing for altitude and cold is a little different than packing for an average winter trip, so a few extras are worth the suitcase space.
With incredible snow, impeccable slopes, and plenty of other activities on offer to fill a rest day, Winter Park is one of the ultimate ski destinations. No matter if you’re chasing powder or simply looking for a cozy setting for a winter getaway, this is it.
The last step is locking in the right home base for your group. Browse our Winter Park vacation rentals to find a place that fits, and start planning your trip.
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