For a winter vacation that includes idyllic snow-capped Colorado mountains and ski slopes without the crowds, drive just 15 minutes past Vail to stay at Beaver Creek Resort. The atmosphere of this quaint, European-style resort village is cheerful and relaxed, and there’s no waiting in long lift lines or intense moments trying to navigate crowded runs.
Chloe Rogers, a local and realtor working in the Vail Valley, offers one explanation for the resort’s quieter atmosphere, pointing out that travelers typically stop at Vail. “Beaver Creek is like the little sister who gets lost in the shadow of her siblings—the larger, more well-known Colorado ski resorts—but it’s one of the best-kept secrets in the Vail Valley,” she says.
Beaver Creek’sEuropean-inspired village and atmosphere
Open since 1980, Beaver Creek Resort in Eagle County, Colorado, consists of three distinct areas: Beaver Creek Village, Bachelor Gulch, and Arrowhead Village. The vision was to create a European ski experience where people could travel from village to village via chairlift.
The pedestrian-only layout of Beaver Creek Village is part of the winter escape’s charm—visitors can walk wherever they need to go. It’s also not sprawling or spread out like Vail, which adds to its homey feel and central location. “It’s a joy to walk around this incredibly quaint village,” Rogers says. “There are heated sidewalks, beautiful shops, good food, and friendly faces.”
Guests staying at Arrowhead Village or Bachelor Gulch—named for the bachelor pioneer homesteaders that settled in the area around 1900—can walk to Beaver Creek Village, but can forgo driving and arrange on-demand shuttle service to the resort by downloading the Village Connect app.
Sking for all ages and levels at Beaver Creek
Sixty-six percent of the more than 2,000 acres at Beaver Creek are designated for beginner and intermediate skiers, which creates a welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere. However, in Vail, it can be an intimidating experience for first-time skiers.
Guests have a choice of three different parks, including Haymeadow Park, a dedicated area for guests who want to learn how to ski, located at the base of the resort. Skiers will find chairlift access here to less-challenging slopes and conveyor-belt paths (magic carpets) to get skiers back up the hill.
The easy runs continue at Red Buffalo Park, a two-mile-high, 200-acre designated area for families, and the final tier, McCoy Park, a 250-acre ski bowl setting where kids and adults can continue building their confidence and practice gliding through green trails and forested areas.
The learning process is made easier by the mountain’s excellent conditions, thanks to the resort staff’s meticulous grooming. “It provides a great launching pad for kids and adults still learning,” says Rogers.
Despite its family-friendly reputation, Beaver Creek quietly has some of the best hidden ungroomed ski areas in Colorado. Experienced skiers or snowboarders craving challenging terrain can head to Grouse Mountain, Stone Creek Chutes, or the Birds of Prey area to ski on a World Cup downhill race course. “There’s some really steep sleeper terrain that, on a powder day, is less busy than if you were to go to Vail, Keystone, or Breckenridge,” says Rogers.
Beaver Creek’s kid-friendly activities and amenities
Beaver Creek caters to a younger crowd with a variety of amenities, including an on-site Children’s Ski School and mountain cabins that offer sweet treats. Christine Gomes, a Florida resident, has made the resort an annual family vacation spot since 2005. She prefers Beaver Creek to Vail because of its family-friendly atmosphere, compact layout that’s easy to navigate with kids, and top-notch ski instruction that makes learning fun for newbies.
“When it comes to the staff at the kids ski school, they have all been wonderful and really seem to enjoy what they’re doing,” she says. “Even my youngest doesn’t like skiing as much as the others, and she still loves going there.”
As kids sharpen their skills on the mountain, there are ample opportunities to stop by the three on-mountain treat shops. The Candy Cabin offers a variety of sweet goodies, including M & M’s, jelly beans, and sour gummies, all available by the barrel. The Ice Cream Parlour at the top of Haymeadow Park is great for a sundae or grilled cheese sandwich when kids need a break. And the Cookie Cabin sells warm chocolate chip cookies and hot cocoa all day, so kids (and students) don’t have to wait for the regularly scheduled Cookie Time at 3 p.m. to get their fix.
For teens and tweens, the Hawk’s Nest Cabin in Beaver Creek Village is an après club for older kids that features arcade and table games, a ski simulator, craft non-alcoholic drinks, and lounge areas to relax after a day of outdoor fun.
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Activities for non-skiers at Beaver Creek
Ripping around runs isn’t the only way to enjoy Beaver Creek—snowshoers and Nordic skiers can head to McCoy Park for 11 miles of groomed and rustic trails in addition to trails on the Beaver Creek Golf Course.
Guests can take a break from skiing on the slopes and skate at the ice rink in the center of Beaver Creek Village. Alternatively, they can visit the Vilar Performing Arts Center, located just below the rink, to catch a concert, movie, musical, or show. Need a little retail therapy? Visitors can pick up unique gifts, upscale clothing, and Beaver Creek-branded trinkets from a variety of boutique shops—like local favorites Avalon Clothing Company, Alpine Kind, and Gorsuch.
And if self-care is in order, unwind at the Park Hyatt’s Exhale Spa in Beaver Creek Village or book the Aqua Sanitas Roman Baths five-step water ritual. This therapeutic circuit uses temperature changes to stimulate and relax the body after a long day of outdoor activity. If you’re in Bachelor Gulch, consider booking a wellness treatment at the Ritz-Carlton Spa, which features a cozy cave-like “grotto” pool area.
Dine in cozy cabins on Beaver Creek Mountain
Beaver Creek’s culinary scene stands out from many other resorts with its rustic, on-mountain dining cabins. Visitors shouldn’t miss having a meal at one of these three eateries, all only accessible by open-air sleigh and named after original homesteaders in the area: Beano’s Cabin, which uses local ingredients for menu items like the elk sliders and lamb in its five-course traditional fine mountain dining meals (take a peek at the original cabin of Frank “Beano” Bienkowski next to the restaurant); Allie’s Cabin, which specializes in Northern Italian cuisine (guests love the short rib ragu) and serves special brunches at first tracks; and Zach’s Cabin, which offers Alsatian cuisine (like pork chop schnitzel) and alpine cheese fondue, ideal for groups.
Where to stay in Beaver Creek
Stay at the Park Hyatt (the largest hotel in Beaver Creek Village) for the luxury of being right in the middle of everything. The Ritz-Carlton in Bachelor Gulch is not as centrally located, but it is an excellent option with immediate access to the slopes.
For the ultimate ski-in/ski-out lodging experience, book a room at boutique lodge The Osprey—just 26 feet from the resort’s Strawberry Park Express ski lift.