🏔️ Colorado’s Top Three Largest Ski Resorts — And Winter Park’s Rise to Number 3
1. Vail Ski Resort (~5,317 acres)
The undisputed largest ski area in Colorado—and among the largest in North America—is Vail. Spread across seven massive Back Bowls, Blue Sky Basin, and endless groomers, Vail sets the gold standard with its deep, diverse terrain and unmatched scale.(PeakRankings, Wikipedia)
2. Steamboat Resort (~3,741 acres)
Renowned for its legendary Champagne Powder, Steamboat offers vast terrain, wide-glade skiing, and a more rustic, family-focused vibe. It firmly holds the second spot in skiable acreage statewide.(Wikipedia, Wikipedia)
3. Snowmass (Aspen Snowmass) (~3,339 acres)
Currently ranked third in size, Snowmass features the longest vertical drop in the U.S., balanced terrain for all levels, and world-class amenities in the Aspen valley.(Wikipedia)
⚠️ What’s Coming: Winter Park’s Transformation
Winter Park currently sits at around 3,081 skiable acres, placing it just outside the top‑three bracket.(Winter Park Resort) But that’s poised to change—with the $2 billion “Winter Park Unlocked” master development plan, the mountain is planning a major expansion and transformation.
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A terrain expansion of approximately 358 acres in the Vasquez Ridge area would increase Winter Park’s skiable terrain to about 3,439 acres—a 40% boost from its current footprint.(SnowBrains)
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Once implemented, that acreage would elevate Winter Park to the third-largest ski resort in Colorado, trailing only Vail and Steamboat.(SnowBrains)
Alongside terrain expansion, the plan introduces:
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Modernized lifts (like six-pack chairs and gondolas replacing older lifts such as Gemini and Looking Glass),
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The early phases of the Connect Winter Park town-to-mountain gondola,
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Improved infrastructure, public transit integration, and enhanced visitor amenities.(Venture Out)
📝 Why It Matters
🎿 Landscape Turned Game-Changer
Once the Vasquez Ridge addition opens, Winter Park will effectively leap ahead of Snowmass in sheer size. It’ll sit behind Steamboat and Vail but leap into an elite top‑three position.
🌄 Enhanced Experience
More terrain means smarter terrain: intermediate runs, improved connectivity between peaks, better snowmaking, and new lift access points. This translates into a better experience for skiers of all levels.(Venture Out, Winter Park, CO | Official Website)
🌐 Community-Driven Growth
The “Unlocked” vision isn’t just about bigger slopes—it’s about stronger community links. A gondola that connects town to resort, expanded on‑mountain dining, lodging, public spaces, and sustainable infrastructure reflect a future-focused and people-centered approach.(Winter Park Resort)
🧭 Wrapping Up
Colorado’s ski resort landscape is about to evolve in a big way. While Vail and Steamboat currently hold the top two spots, Winter Park’s ambitious expansion will catapult it into third place in skiable terrain—offering more lift-served land, better access, and a connected resort-town experience.
Stay tuned: pending approvals, initial construction could begin as early as summer 2026, with terrain additions and infrastructure upgrades rolling out over the coming years.(SnowBrains, SnowBrains, Unofficial Networks)
If you’d like more detail on lift infrastructure, trail mix, or phased timelines—just say the word!