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Keystone King of the Kids First to Open

snow action team 08.11.2020

Keystone was the first major Colorado Resort to open this week, cutting the ribbon on Season 50.

Given the crazy COVID-19 situation in America that is a huge achievement in itself.

Opening day at Keystone
Opening day © Keystone Resort

For Epic Australia Pass holders, especially families, Keystone is one of the best all round options.

Firstly, because you get virtually all season access apart from a handful of holiday blackout dates.

Secondly, few resorts make life so easy for families, with a relaxed self contained village environment in a forest park setting and lots of free activities for the kids.

Powder skiing backside of Keystone
Keystone has some great glades and backside runs © Andrew Maguire Keystone Resort

Keystone’s Kids Ski Free deal applies all-season, including Xmas and New Year. Kids 12 and younger ski free when the family book two or more nights lodging through Keystone Resort. There is plenty of choice, from affordable hotel rooms to spacious family size condos. The free resort transport system makes getting around simple between the village areas and the slopes.

Free carts help you get the little crew and their gear around © Andrew Maguire Keystone Resort

Free family fun is the goal at Keystone’s Kidtopia*

The Kidtopia lineup includes activities such as the village parade and fireworks, family game nights, hands-on learning activities, ice cream parties and meeting Ski Patrol rescue dogs. From late November 24 to Xmas Eve the Kidtopia Mountain Spectacular offers a mountaintop celebration and lighting ceremony of the World’s largest snow fort.

Plenty of wide open family cruising © Daniel Milchev Keystone Resort

Get your little kids and their gear around using the complimentary red wagon carts, a great idea as any parent (or grandparent) of little skiers will attest.

Not surprisingly with all the focus on family the ski terrain is ideal for learning and progression, including a fun Family Ski Trail.

Kidtopia activities are subject to COVID-19 restrictions for 20-21 – check more on the link here for that.

Glade riding at Keystone
Get to The Outback for great glade riding © Andrew Maguire Keystone Resort

But Keystone also provides plenty of advanced glade and bowl skiing. In fact 49% of the trails are rated most difficulty.

The best zone for better skiers and riders at Keystone is The Outback

Great tree skiing off the lift, while the North and South Bowl here are easily accessible via a short hike from the top of the Outback Express Lift. Or even easier, spend $10 (cash only) for the shuttle ride on The Outback’s snowcat. This gets addictive and provides plenty of bang for your ten bucks!
For a more extensive cat ski time, Keystone Adventure Tours offer full day cat skiing trips.

Keystone has one of the best night skiing operations in the West.

Extensive terrain is open at no extra charge. This includes top-to-bottom on the front side of the mountain above the village. Saturday nights are the most popular, and watching the weekly fireworks display from high on the mountain is a must do experience.

The Top to Bottom night skiing is great if you got the legs left © Andrew Maguire Keystone Resort

Keystone’s award-winning A51 terrain park has you covered with one of the best set ups anywhere. This 60-acre collection of creative and progressive terrain park features is pread across six separate areas – Easy Street, Park Lane, The Alley, I-70 and Upper and Lower Main Street. A designated chairlift accesses more than 100 features including boxes, rails and jumps in a variety of sizes. These cater to all abilities. Each terrain park is designed with progression in mind, so that features flow naturally and progress in size and difficulty level as riders make their way down the run, and from one park to another.

Put all the above together with a relaxed village centred round a big ice rink and you have a recipe for easy and affordable family snow holidays.

Ice skating lake at Keystone
Keystone at night © Jack Affleck Keystone Resort

Getting to Keystone

Keystone is located 90 miles west of Denver International Airport (DEN) and 72 miles from downtown Denver. Travel west on I-70 from either location. Take exit 205 toward Silverthorne/Dillon. At the end of the exit ramp, turn left (east) onto Highway 6. Travel 6.2 miles to Keystone Resort.
Eagle County Airport (EGE) is 65 miles west of Keystone, close to Vail. Non-stop flights are available from: Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Newark, New York/JFK, Phoenix, Toronto and Washington D.C.
Shuttles are available from both airports, and there is no need for a car in Keystone with free in resort transport. The Summit County free transport system lets you ski other areas and visit shopping outlets at Silverthorne/Dillon.

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Ski Colorado more info

Check the official Colorado ski websites for more & frequent updates
www.colorado.com/28resorts
Colorado.ski.com