Take your adventure to Sunlight Mountain

If you’re adventuring in Glenwood Springs this winter, make sure to spend a day (or more) at Glenwood’s Sunlight Mountain Resort. Nestled up a winding road about 30 minutes southwest of downtown Glenwood, this Colorado Gem offers much more than you might expect.

Sunlight Mountain is an “old school” resort. It doesn’t have any detachable quads. It doesn’t have any mid-mountain restaurants. Instead it has low lift ticket prices, a family feel, and a surprisingly varied terrain. It has one of the longest green runs around and also one of the steepest lift-accessed runs too.

If you’re a beginning skier or if you don’t ski often, take a warm-up lap or two on the friendly Tercero lift. This lift is the easiest of all of Sunlight’s to use. Off of this lift are a few very mellow green runs and a slightly steeper blue run. These are almost always groomed too. After this, you’ll want to ride the Segundo lift and check out Ute. It’s a 2.5 mile green run and is considered one of the most scenic runs in the state! This run is fun for more advanced skiers too as there are lots of pow shots to get on snow days and some steep runs to access at the bottom of this run.

From the Tercero lift you can access the mid-moutain Primo lift. Look towards the middle as you board the lift; this double chair has a separator pole in the middle. While it can be confusing for some new skiers, after a run or two you’ll get the hang of it! From the top of this lift you’ll have gorgeous views of Mt. Sopris and the Roaring Fork Valley. Take a few pictures before skiing down some steeper blues like Sun King and Beujolais. (add sun king photo here)

If you’re an advanced skier looking for some thrills while others in your group hang out on the groomers, you can’t go wrong at Sunlight Mountain. From the Primo lift trail map sign, head right to the East Headwall area. Alamo is a great run to start with. It’s steep and gladed, but the trees are spaced nicely and if it seems too steep you can ski further right into Inspiration and Defiance. (see alamo and defiance photos). In the coming year Sunlight is massively expanding this East Ridge area as well to include more runs and more gladed terrain. One other great option for advanced skiers is the Zephyr Glade area. This steep gladed run is often more like a luge run; fast, curving, and fun! Once you’ve exhausted yourselves skiing, take a break at Sunlight’s Lodge. They’ve got a huge menu with all your ski resort favorites plus some more upscale salads and pastas too. Grab a beer at the bar and, if it’s sunny, enjoy sitting on the deck and watching your fellow skiers.

Sunlight offers “soak and slope” packages with your choice of hot springs. Daily adult ticket rates are $55 (weekdays) and $68 for weekends. Sunlight is open daily from 9 am – 5 pm and is located at 10901 County Road 117 in Glenwood Springs,  Colorado. Check out our trail map here.