Strap on your boots and brightly colored clothing and get out on the mountain, ski season is finally upon us! The state of Colorado is known for its wondrous mountains and amazing ski resorts, but which ones are truly the best? Compiled below is a list of Colorado’s top ski resorts that will ensure boundless fun and plenty of après-ski (look it up):

5.Steamboat Ski Resort

Located in Steamboat Springs,Colorado, Steamboat Ski Resort is a secluded area outside of the town. The town has a strong western heritage that gives the resort a very casual feel. It’s family-oriented, kids 6-12 ski free with a parent and adult tickets are $90 for a day pass. The resort is centered around Mount Werner, which receives ample snow and consists of 2,965 acres of skiable land. Steamboat has a wide range of terrain but is best known for its fabulous tree skiing. You also have the choice between on-mountain accommodation at the resort or condominiums in downtown Steamboat Springs;  another large plus is the number of activities available aside from skiing and snowboarding. The town offers winter fly fishing, snow tubing, ice climbing, or a visit to the strawberry hot springs.

4.Crested Butte Mountain

Crested Butte, or “Crusty Butt” as locals call it, is located in Southwest Colorado within the Gunnison National Forest. The mountain is known for its remote beauty, advanced terrain, friendliness, and laid-back culture. An adult pass is $105 per day and a young adult pass is $95 per day. The size of the skiable area is 1,167 acres, which may seem small at first, but the additional bowls, chutes, glades, and mandatory cliff jumps increase the size of the mountain. Crested Butte isn’t for the beginner skier, it’s known for the intense double black diamonds that invoke extreme adrenaline. The mountain has some of the gnarliest terrain in North America, which is why it’s home to several extreme freeskiing championships. Accommodations for Crested Butte consist largely of condominiums and hotels, some of which are quite ritzy. Off the slopes, the mountain offers tubing, horseback riding, snowshoeing, and ice skating, which are available to the entire town.

3.Breckenridge Ski Resort

Breckenridge is the total package, from groomed runs through the trees to extraordinary high alpine bowls, all of which are accessible by lift services; this resort has it all. The bowls offer unparalleled skiing opportunities for advanced skiers. But there is also plenty of terrain for everyone with a wide variety of beginner, intermediate, and advanced runs spread out through the front side of a series of peaks. The Imperial Chairlift on Peak 8 is the highest lift in North America and almost always has excellent snow conditions. Day passes for an adult is $138 and a child is $90. One of the best parts of Breckenridge is its vast range of lodging from on-mountain condominiums to ski-town apartments. The town is very family friendly on and off the mountain, which attracts large crowds and slopestyle skiing. Breckenridge also offers impressive dining and a variety of shops that will entice anyone who wants to leave with a snazzy souvenir.

2.Telluride Ski Resort

“It is a well-known fact that that Telluride Ski Resort boasts some of the steepest, deepest, and most diverse terrain of any ski resort in North America,” according to Olympian Gus Kenworthy, a Telluride local. Telluride is located in southwest Colorado and has a colorful mining history that has progressed the town from pick to powder. The tickets can get pricey, an adult day pass is $120 and kids don’t ski free either, but this resort is surely worth it. It has over 2,000 skiable acres and an extensive lift service that provides access to 3,845 feet of vertical drop that will bring on thigh-burning pleasure. From beginner to advanced, Telluride includes gentle bunny slopes, great long groomers, and a terrain park with enough jumps to keep any shredder permanently bruised. The mountain also recently opened several above tree-line bowls and chutes for the expert skiers who are looking for some intense speed. Off the mountain, the small ski town condominiums offer winter fly fishing, sleigh ride dinners, dog sledding, day spas, and ice climbing.

1.Vail Resort

Vail is the number one place to ski in Colorado because it is known for being one of the largest resorts in the world and is home to some of the best ski terrain in Colorado. The seven back bowls are enough to make you want to change the rest of your ski plans for the season. There is too much to ski in one day! The front of the mountain overlooks the beautiful town of Vail and consists of long, smooth groomers to please a wide range of skiers. Tickets cost as much as $150, a fairly large amount, but totally worth it. Vail is BIG, if you want to ski cruisers all day, you can do it. If you want to do some backcountry skiing and then cook a steak on a BBQ at 3,527 ft. elevation, you can do it. The resort also has endless lodging opportunities, and the town is spread out across four main neighborhoods packed with large hotels and a friendly environment. At Vail, skiing or snowboarding is just part of the vacation. The town offers numerous activities including sleigh rides, day spas, galleries, and, of course, the amazing Vail shopping.

Breckenridge Ski Resort via https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/eb/Breckenridge_Ski_Area_from_Dercum_Mountain,_Keystone_Ski_Area.jpg