Ski Keystone Colorado

Keystone comprises of three large mountains, Dercum mountain, North Peak and the Outback, which between them offer a super variety of skiing terrain. Originally, back in the 1870s, the town was the location of a railroad station on the line used to transport lead and silver to Denver from the Montezuma mines. In the late 1960s the town was developed into a ski resort in by Max and Edna Dercum.

Beginners will head for Dercum mountain, where lots of green runs overlook the village. A favorite is the Schoolmam trail, an easy, long, gentle sloped run giving you 3.5miles to practice your first snowplough turns. When you've mastered the basics, take the Outpost Gondola up to North Peak. Here you'll taste the real mountain ambience, as you carefully make your way down the easy blue trails like Spilway or Fox Trot.

Intermediates have a huge choice, from wide open blue cruises such as Wild Irishman and Frenchman on Dercum, to the pretty (but harder) gladed runs like Wolverine and Pika on Outback.

Experts will head up to North Peak, for challenging moguls or steep runs in deep snow. Then try the Outback area with the North and South Bowls, plus the Wombat chutes, often covered in wonderful light powder. The more adventurous will also head up to the hike-in hike-out Independence Bowl, for some absolutely brilliant wild skiing.

Snowboarders hang out at the A51 Terrain park, which has doubled in size recently. There's a super pipe, half pipe, and lots of rails, and ramps.

The accommodation areas are spread out around the base of Decrum mountain. River Run Village - at the bottom of the Summit Express gondola, and Mountain House - at the bottom of the Peru Express lift, are perhaps the most convenient places to locate. There's a good selection of evening activities, inlcuding skating and tubing. Many bars and restaurants make excellent evening venues. (Though sunset doesn't stop the skiing action, since there are 17 floodlit trails, with the lifts running till 8pm.)