Craving a ski trip in the Rockies? The top spots are all spruced up
Luxurious new hotels, major renovations, heated chairlifts, elevating dining – the best ski areas in the Rocky Mountains are even better this year.
While many of us were in deep hibernation mode last northern winter, the US ski crowd wasn’t so easily deterred. According to the National Ski Area Association, operators in the Rocky Mountains reported their second busiest season in four decades. Since then, the most popular mountain resorts, intent on keeping those snow bums content, have been rolling out a raft of improvements and innovations – new hotels, spiffily remade ones, heated chairlifts, roving raclette carts and whiskey tastings are all on tap. Here are a few of the latest offerings.
A bigger deal in Big Sky, Montana
Long overshadowed by flashier ski areas in the neighbouring states, Montana’s Big Sky has finally joined the luxury ski scene with the December opening of the Montage resort. About a 10-minute drive from the base of the village, the Montage offers 100 ample rooms (the smallest are almost 50sq m) and 39 multiroom residences, as well as seven restaurants. Not up for dining out? Apres ski in sweats and order from the raclette cart roaming around the Alpenglow Lounge (from $US1395/$1920 a night). In the village, two ski-in/out favourites are newly renovated: Summit Hotel (from about $US435 a night) and Huntley Lodge (from about $US180 a night). Other upgrades are in the works all over the mountain. Among them, the new Swift Current 6 chairlift. With heated ergonomic seats and bubble-like covers, it zips skiers to 2370ha of slopes.
Vail speeds up
Colorado’s Vail Marriott Mountain Resort, a fixture in Lionshead Village, reopened in November after a four-year renovation. Renamed the Hythe, it’s now part of Marriott’s Luxury Collection and sports new furnishings, a “contemporary alpine-American” restaurant and a whiskey bar (from about $US700 a night). Beyond the Hythe, Vail Resorts launched high-speed lifts this season at Beaver Creek’s McCoy Park, Breckenridge, Keystone and Okemo.
New peaks in Wyoming
The 100-room Cloudveil, a member of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, opened in downtown Jackson in May, upping the luxury game in an already competitive market. Interiors feature non-kitschy western motifs, and a rooftop deck encourages stargazing or people-watching, whichever appeals (from about $US360 a night).
Luxe lodging in Utah
Now managed by Auberge Resorts, the Austrian-influenced Goldener Hirsch in Deer Valley underwent a substantial makeover this summer. The 18 guestrooms – most with fireplaces (from about $US900 a night) – now share the property with 40 residences, from studios to three bedrooms, many of which are available for short-term rentals (from about $US1100 a night). At the Lodge at Blue Sky in Park City, another luxury Auberge Resort that opened in 2019, guests can take a guided heli-ski excursion for $US20,500 for up to eight people (rooms from about $US1350 a night). Design hounds may migrate to Park City Pendry, a 150-room, ski-in, ski-out lodge at the base of Canyons Village, with a stylish rooftop deck (from $US895 a night).
Aspen and Snowmass Refreshed
Aspen celebrates its 75th birthday with $US75 lift tickets as long as you book a hotel through Stay Aspen Snowmass. One of those lodging options, the Limelight Hotel Aspen, just reopened with a smart but cozy renovation of its 126 rooms (rates from about $US625 a night). In Snowmass Village, a former Westin has re-emerged this month as the upscale ski-in, ski-out Viewline Resort Snowmass, a Marriott Autograph Collection hotel, with 254 rooms and 20 suites, an Ayurvedic spa and a kids club (from about $US700 a night). If a schnitzel craving hits while you’re schussing around Snowmass, you’re in luck – the new on-mountain eatery, the Alpin Room, specialises in Swiss, French and Austrian fare.
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