2019: Colorado's best ski season in 20 years

This winter is one for the books, and here are the numbers to prove it.

3 Reasons to Experience Colorado Spring Skiing in 2019

Memorial Day skiing in Colorado, anyone?

At our central office here in Boulder, Colorado, we're well aware of what kind of winter it's been in the Centennial State. We watch the snow come down over the iconic Flatirons and the rest of the Front Range, and our teams in Breckenridge, Vail, Beaver Creek, and Telluride regularly share photos of the insane amounts of snow their respective resorts have seen this spring season. However, we realized our guests outside Colorado -- and there are a lot of you -- may not understand the scope of how much snow has fallen, and how good the skiing really is. 

So, here are 3 reasons to book a late season ski trip to Colorado in April or even May.

1. Snow Totals

As of March 12, 2019, snow totals are as follows:
Wolf Creek: Upper base depth of 170 inches (That's more than 14 feet).
Breckenridge: 100-inch base depth. With 274 total inches fallen as of March 12, Breck has already surpassed last year's total seasonal snowfall. 
Telluride: 90-inch base. Last season, the resort received a total of 159 inches. This season, it's already hit 253 -- 60% higher only halfway through March.
Vail: 91-inch base and 240 inches total snowfall so far—40% higher than last year's full-season totals.
Beaver Creek:
82-inch base. There have already been 59 days of snowfall, compared to 43 days of snowfall for the entire season last year.

The upper base depths of the 23 major resorts in Colorado combined would be enough to bury a 17-story building. Let that sink in. (Or rather, sink your skis into that.) We can thank El Nino for this epic snow season.

All this, and we're still a month—or more—away from most Colorado resorts' closing dates. Which brings us to our next reason to head to Colorado this spring.

2. The Extended Seasons

For the first time in more than 20 years, Breckenridge will be open through Memorial Day (May 27) 2019, extending what was already a long season with the resort's historic early opening of November 7. This brings the total number of days open in the 2018-2019 ski season to 202. Or in other words, Breckenridge will be open more days than it is closed in a one-year period. That's quite the season. 

You can also think of it like this: If you bought last year's Epic Pass for $949 and have skied 10 days this season, you averaged around $94/day for skiing. If you get just four more days out of your pass, your per-day cost drops to about $67. Eight more days, and you're down to about $50 per day. Theoretically, if you bought an Epic pass and skied every day Breck is open this year, your per-day cost would drop to $4.70 How low can you go?

Winterpark, located about 1 hour 20 minutes north of Breckenridge, also announced it will extend its season to May 12 after seeing the best snow in more than 15 years. And While Vail/Beaver Creek haven't announced an extended season, we can rest assured that the final 1.5 months of their season will be filled with packed snow with the occasional coveted powder day—likely not the slush we're used to in late-season skiing. The same goes for Telluride, which closes early on April 7 to accommodate elk spring patterns and behavior.

3. The Weather

Great snow on the ground and bluebird skies above: It's what makes Colorado spring skiing so iconic. In the central mountains of Colorado, there's an average of 9 hours of sunshine per day, compared to 7 in January or 8 in February and March. The longer days make it easier to pack more into your vacation, energize you to ski longer with the sun still high in the sky, and create the perfect setting for a relaxing apres-ski scene. 

More broadly, the climate in April is much more accommodating than the months in the depths of winter. Here are a few highs and lows you can expect when skiing in April:

Breckenridge: 54°/26°
Vail: 50°/23°
Telluride: 51°/22°
Steamboat: 54°/25°

When you combine these perfect weather conditions with a snow base as high as the resorts have seen this year, you're in for a rare spring skiing treat.

Say You Were a Part of History

Say you skied Colorado in 2019

There's plenty of time left to experience this amazing ski year, and with April discounts at our luxury rentals, there's no reason to miss out. Gather your friends, get together with your families, and head to the mountains with InvitedHome.

Want to Keep Reading?

The Best Spring Skiing in Colorado

Find out which mountains have the best late-season skiing, where to stay near each of them, and what activities will be going on up until Closing Day. This is your complete guide to skiing in Colorado in March and April (and now even May!).

The 13 Best Ski-in, Ski-out Homes in Telluride

We collected our top ski-in, ski-out Telluride rentals and put them all in one place, so now it' easier than ever to find an idyllic Telluride retreat right on the slopes.

15 Extraordinary Vacation Rentals for Family Getaways

Planning a large family getaway, a reunion of multiple generations, or just a fun retreat with a big group of friends? Check out these 15 homes that are perfectly designed to accommodate large groups, and offer luxury amenities that will make your trip absolutely unforgettable.
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