Dec 23, 2024 - Sports
The 8 toughest ski runs in Colorado
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Breckenridge Ski Resort. Photo courtesy of JP Douvalakis
If you want to challenge yourself, Colorado offers some of the gnarliest runs in the U.S. that you can find on inbounds terrain.
Zoom in: Most ski resorts have a famous double-black diamond, experts-only ski run. But the Colorado resorts listed below boast the toughest runs in the state, according to experts.
- Telluride's Senior's: You'll have to hike a narrow ridge line to the summit of the resort's highest point, Palmyra Peak at 13,320 feet then ski a 52-degree gully down, one of North America's steepest in-bounds runs
- Arapahoe Basin's East Wall: When it's open — it needs plenty of snow — the hike to the ridge and ride down are only for the best skiers and riders.
- Crested Butte's Rambo: A 55-degree pitch that requires plenty of snow to cover the knee-high trees and sharp rocks.
- Breckenridge's Lake Chutes: You'll hike above the Imperial Superchair to Peak 8 and traverse skier's right to find this cornice-laden band and the unmarked Crazy Ivan 2 run with its 49-degree pitch.
- Breckenridge's Peak 6: 143 acres of hike-to terrain above the lift offers cliffs, tight glades and wide-open bowls.
- Aspen's Highlands Bowl: If you can make the 30-plus minute hike, you're rewarded with steeps in the G's section.
- Beaver Creek's Stone Creek Chutes: The warning sign at the entrance should deter you, but if it doesn't, prepare for tight lines and large cliffs.
- Loveland's Wild Child: Drop the cornice or find the entrance, either way, be prepared for a steep, short run that's hikeable above Super Bowl.