Skiing Near Boulder

Eldora Ski Area

Eldora is the closest ski area to Boulder. It’s just 21 miles away (a 35-minute drive) and offers 10 lifts and 8 terrain parks on 680 acres. Eldora welcomes skiers, snowboarders, cross-country skiers, snowshoers and uphill skiers.

Eldora is known for its laid-back, local vibe. (Read about it in the LA Times.) You’ll see local moms and dads teaching their kids to ski — and lift attendants welcome you instead of herding you into a lift line. Yet a high-speed, six-person chairlift makes getting to the top a breeze.

Mountain Stats

Family Skiing

Unlike at the mega-resorts, at Eldora, you can park and walk to the ticket office (or hop on a shuttle if you have a distant parking spot). If your kids are learning to ski, the ski school offers all-day group lessons for beginners in specialized learning terrain. And there are lots of green (beginner) runs at Eldora. 

Rentals

A great rental shop is available on the mountain at Eldora. You will find options for alpine and nordic daily gear rentals, as well as a tune-up shop. Various rental packages are available depending on style and skill level.

Lessons

Nordic Center

Uphill Skiing

On-Mountain Dining and Entertainment

There are six dining options on the mountain: Upstairs Indian Peaks, Timbers Grill, Timbers Taphouse, The Lookout, West Wing Grill and Caribou Lodge Cafe. You can also kick back and relax to a live DJ at Eldora's regular music events during ski hours.

Where to Stay

There is no lodging available at Eldora, so Boulder is your best bet for hotel options, plus it makes a great basecamp, with tons of dining and sightseeing opportunities when you're not skiing.

Boulder for Apres, Dining and Lodging

Head back to Boulder for aprés ski patio drinks, fabulous dinners and comfortable lodging. A few years ago, National Geographic Traveler named Boulder one of the Top 10 Winter Towns in the U.S., with fans writing, “Ski the nearby mountains in the morning; bike ride in Boulder in the afternoon!” Winter weather tends to be fairly mild in Boulder, and there’s plenty to do before or après ski: shopping on the historic Pearl Street Mall, beer tasting at local breweries, sipping tea at the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse, taking a food tour of groundbreaking restaurants or indulging at Boulder's multiple MICHELIN-recommended dining spots.

Directions

It’s a beautifully scenic drive from Boulder that will take you about 35 minutes. Take Canyon Blvd. west (Canyon Blvd. is Hwy. 119). Follow Hwy. 119 to Nederland. Turn left at the roundabout. Continue south on Hwy. 119 for one mile. Turn right on 130 and follow the signs to Eldora. 

Bus Service

Take public transportation to the slopes for just $5.50 round trip. Sit back, relax and you'll be there in about an hour. Regional Transportation District (RTD) buses depart from the 14th and Walnut RTD Station in Boulder, stop in downtown Nederland, then drop you off right in front of the Main Lodge at Eldora where it leaves to go back at the end of the day. The bus runs hourly with first drop-off at Eldora at 6:58am and last pick-up at 5:13pm. Look for the Ski-n-Ride Route NB from the 14th and Walnut station in Boulder. You will want to purchase a regional/airport day pass for $5.50. More information and Route NB schedule here. 

Single-Occupancy Vehicle Fee Days

As required by Boulder County, Eldora has implemented a $10 parking fee for single-occupancy vehicles (SOVs) on Saturdays, Sundays, holidays and holiday periods, and weekdays with 10 or more inches of new snow. On SOV fee days, parking is free for vehicles with two or more occupants. Learn more about parking options on Eldora's website.