Lift ticket prices top $300 at 5 popular Colorado ski resorts this Christmas holiday

Prices for single-day lift tickets at most Colorado mountain ski resorts will increase for the Christmas holiday period, with five resorts charging more than $300 — and two of these topping out at more than $350.

For at least the third year running, Vail Mountain and Beaver Creek will have the highest-priced, single-day lift tickets of any ski area in the state during the holiday stretch, at $356. That’s higher than last year’s Christmas week, when lift ticket prices at these two resorts hit $329, and 2023, when lift tickets cost $299.

At Breckenridge Resort, same-day adult lift tickets will hit $321 during the holiday period from the Friday after Christmas through New Year’s Day. During the same Dec. 26 to Jan. 1 period, prices at Steamboat Resort will peak at $339. At Telluride Resort, prices will reach $328 during the holiday week.

While same-day lift ticket prices at other popular ski resorts will approach $300 during the holiday week, some will offer prices under $200. Most ski resorts offer discounts for those who buy ahead or purchase a lift ticket for more than one day. Prices also tend to be cheaper the weekend before the holiday and during the week of Christmas.

From Dec. 26 to Jan. 1, same-day adult lift tickets will cost $292 at Keystone Resort, $287 at Winter Park Resort, $279 at Aspen-Snowmass, $274 at Copper Mountain, and $239 at Crested Butte. During the holiday week, lift ticket prices peak at $149 at Loveland Ski Area, $199 at Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, and $199 at Eldora Mountain Resort.

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Ski resorts have been challenged to open terrain so far this year amid a poor start to the winter season, with snowpack levels near historic lows. The five ski resorts with the highest prices did not respond to questions about whether the poor start to winter has impacted lift ticket pricing.

But Vail Resorts Communications Manager Sarah McLear said in an email that “lift ticket pricing across our resorts is designed to give guests options and flexibility, and it reflects a mix of factors like anticipated demand, peak travel periods, and time of purchasing.”

Vail Resorts owns Breckenridge, Keystone, Vail, Beaver Creek, and Crested Butte, all of which can be accessed with the Epic Pass. While Epic Passes are no longer on sale for this season, McLear said they “continue to offer the best value for season-long access and remove any guesswork around day-of pricing.” The full Epic Pass offers unlimited access to the five Vail Resort mountains in Colorado.

Purchasing lift tickets in advance is one way to save money, as those who buy at least a month in advance can save up to $100, depending on the resort, she said. Having a buddy with an Epic Pass could also help skiers and riders save money since Epic Pass holders each receive six to 10 Epic Friend Tickets that offer 50% off lift tickets at Vail Resorts’ North America destinations, she said.

“​​As with most travel experiences, prices are typically higher during the most popular weeks and lower during less busy periods,” she said. “This season, Vail Resorts is taking a tailored, resort-by-resort and period-by-period approach to pricing, and at some resorts, including Breckenridge, that means lift ticket prices are actually lower than they were last year during certain times of the season.”