KEYSTONE , CO
Ski & Snowboard Resort Review
Keystone, Colorado, USA is deceptive from the highway as you pass by, for those who are wise enough to stop they will find a large and diverse resort with pretty villages, great terrain and plenty of deep dry powder.
Keystone Skiing and Snowboarding Terrain
Consisting of three mountain peaks; Dercum Mountain, North Peak and The Outback; the terrain at Keystone varies greatly from wide corduroy groomed trails to open powder bowls, steep mogul runs, fast chutes and heavily treed terrain.
Advanced Skiing and Snowboarding
Advanced skiers and snowboarders can hike or catch a snow cat to ungroomed open challenging bowls above the tree line at Keystone. Independence and Bergman Bowls are what powder lovers dream about; wide open, deep and steep! The North and South Bowls are slightly smaller but just as steep leading down into heavily treed terrain.
Not all the advanced terrain at Keystone has to be hiked to for access. The black diamond chutes serviced by The Outback Express Chairlift are narrow and fast with tight trees offering some of the best lines in the State. Mogul lovers should head to the Santiago Express Chairlift at North Peak for huge bump runs on the Powder Cap, Cat Dancer and Ambush trails.
Intermediate Skiing and Snowboarding
Intermediates can cruise the entire resort on groomed wide trails. Dercum Mountain has some fun long trails like Spring Dipper and Santa Fe great for morning warm ups however they can get crowded quite quickly. When the crowds come catch the River Run Gondola up and take North Peak’s wide Mozart Trail to the Santiago Express Chairlift. At the top chose either the Last Alamo or Star Fire trails for some fast runs.
The Outback Express Chairlift services the steepest intermediate trails at Keystone; Porcupine, Wildwood and Elk Run trails are tree lined and after a good snowfall the place to go to test your skill and confidence.
Beginner Skiing and Snowboarding
Dercum Mountain is where beginners learn to ski or snowboard. It has long, linking, gentle, groomed trails winding all over it; one of these is the 3.5 mile long Schoolmarm Trail; where confident beginners can cruise from top to bottom.
Keystone’s Ski and Ride School is located at Dercum Mountain; they offer lessons for first timers, taken at the mountain base on drag lifts, as well as group lessons for all ski and snowboard ability levels.
Keystone is owned by Vail Resorts Inc. which allows the lift pass to be used at other Vail Resorts.
Keystone Cat Skiing and Snowboarding
Cat skiing and snowboarding guided tours through 278 acres of steep, challenging, north facing inbounds back country style terrain are available in Independence Bowl to advanced skiers and snowboarders only. Once a 40 minute hike, now skiers and snowboarders ride a heated snowcat with experienced guides to ensure a unique back country experience. The snowcat departs from the Outpost Gondola Station.
Unguided skiing and snowboarding cats also depart from the top of the Outback Express Chairlift transporting snow riders to the South and North Bowls.
Night Skiing and Snowboarding at Keystone
The River Run Gondola and the Peru Express Chairlift stay open until 9pm for night skiing and snowboarding on 15 illuminated trails. The entire terrain park and superpipe also remain open until 9pm. Daytime lift tickets are valid for night skiing and snowboarding.
Keystone Terrain Park and Halfpipe
Keystone has two terrain parks one advanced and one beginner. The advanced A51 Terrain Park is the largest terrain park in Colorado with huge jumps, rails, boxes and even a mini 13 foot long halfpipe. Additional features and jumps were installed in the park last 2006/2007 winter season.
The recently expanded A51 Incubator beginner park has low set rails and small jumps. Both parks are meticulously maintained, hosting international events throughout the season.
The giant superpipe is located to the right of the Terrain Park and is the training ground to some of America’s best freeriders.
Other Activities at Keystone
Other activities available at Keystone include ice skating, snowmobiling tours, snow tubing, horse drawn sleigh rides, snow shoeing, yoga and cross country skiing.
Keystone Restaurants
The three Villages at Keystone boast fine dining restaurants, casual restaurants and delis with cuisine ranging from French to Italian, European, American and Mexican.
In Lakeside Village the lovely Restaurant Champeaux serves a la cart French inspired cuisine accompanied by an excellent wine list and Ski Tip Lodge, once an eighteen hundred stage coach stop, has delicious four course gourmet dinners and top service.
In River Run Village the Wolf Rock Brewery is a family dining favourite it serves huge grilled steaks and seafood. The Snake River Saloon, about a ¼ of a mile out of River Run Village, has been serving great tasty meals for 30 years. It has dancing and live music on the weekends.
Alpenglow Stube, located at the top of the Outpost Gondola on North Peak, was rated one of America’s best gourmet on mountain dining restaurants. It is open for three course gourmet lunches every day.
Also at the top of the Outpost Gondola on North Peak is the Bavarian Restaurant Der Findue Chessel. It is open for dinner and serves raclette and fondue. Raclette and fondue are traditional Swiss cheese dishes; to make raclette cheese is melted and poured over meat, bread and vegetables while to make fondue cheese is melted into a pot and you dunk meat, bread and vegetables in to coat them.
Keystone Nightlife
Greenlight Keystone’s only nightclub is open late every night for dancing with live bands and DJ performances.
The Goat is the local freerider’s hangout, it serves good bar food and has a healthy music scene.
The Kickapoo Tavern has large screen TVs showing the latest sporting events in the country and a large range of local and imported beers.
In the River Run Village ski straight off the slopes and into Parrot Eyes for nachos, tacos and icy cold margaritas on the sundeck.
New for 2008/2009 at Keystone
Keystone has replaced the old River Run Gondola with a new high speed eight passenger gondola doubling the passenger capacity per hour. The bottom terminal has been lowered making passenger access easier for day visitors as well as those staying in the village.
A mid station has been added giving beginner skiers and snowboarders very easy access to the lower gentle slopes.
More About Keystone
Your Keystone Ski & Snowboard Resort Reviews
Brad Fraser, USA. Feb 2006 What other resort in Colorado can better the night skiing and a terrain park like Area 51 - you tell me if you can top that - it has really diverse terrain spread over 3 mountains, with glades, bumps, groomed trails and bowls and chutes to die for. Take the Outback Express chair to get the Outback Cat up to the Puma Bowl then 'go for it flat chat' through the glades and powder of Wombat Chutes. After fresh falls go to Cat South Glades (the left hand side of Wayback chair) for fresh tracks and fun. Keystone - top snow, top trails, top cat skiing, top service, top nightlife basically TOP FUN.
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Statistics |
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Snowfall |
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230
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Lifts |
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20 |
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Trails
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Terrain
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Halfpipe |
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2 |
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Terrain
Park |
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2 |
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Resort
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