What Happened to Hidden Valley Ski Resort in Colorado?

What Happened to Hidden Valley Ski Resort in Colorado?

Colorado’s Hidden Valley Ski Resort closed its doors in 1991. Discover the history of Hidden Valley Ski Area in Colorado & how to ski its backcountry slopes!

The Hidden Valley Ski Area was in operation long before it was officially a resort.

According to several people who grew up in the area of Hidden Valley, they used to go up the mountain before chair lifts were constructed there, hiking or driving to whatever elevation they could and then skiing down.

A lot of people learned to ski at Hidden Valley Ski Area before its blueprints were even dreamed up.

Hidden Valley Ski Resort Colorado: A Closer Look

Hidden Valley Ski Resort is in Colorado, in the Estes Park region of the Rockies. It isn’t the biggest and grandest resort in the country, but it has plenty of adventures in store for those who care to carve down its slopes.

It was founded in 1955, after the Park service bought it from the Estes Park Recreation District for the express purpose of turning it into an official ski area.

The Hidden Valley Ski Area eventually succumbed to financial difficulties and shut down its operation in 1991, and is currently still in the midst of tearing down its structures.

In its heyday, the Hidden Valley Ski Area had five lifts (two T bars, two Pomas, and one double chair which was removed in 1977). After the ski resort shut down, the lifts were sold to Vail Ski Resort.

There was one lodge at the base of the resort, which housed a cafeteria for the skiers, a ski patrol headquarters, and restrooms for resort visitors.

Today, Hidden Valley Ski Resort is no longer in operation, but that surely isn’t stopping a new generation of skiers from learning the sport on its bare slopes as they did before it opened.

In the summertime, the resort also has fantastic hiking and mountain biking opportunities.

Hidden Valley Ski Resort: Attention Backcountry Skiers!

While the park is officially closed and the lifts have all been removed, that doesn’t mean Hidden Valley Ski Area is off limits.

In fact, it has become as sort hotspot for backcountry skiers.

Enthusiasts of backcountry skiing can take advantage of the empty runs in this Rocky Mountain area, and ski deep powder to their hearts content.

Trail Ridge Road bisects the mountain. If you are looking for beginner or intermediate runs, they can be found below Trail Ridge Road. If you’d rather spend your time on the more difficult slopes, those will be located above Trail Ridge Road.

Hidden Valley Ski Resort Colorado: The Facts

Here’s a look at some of the details and specifications of the Hidden Valley Ski Area, both for when it was in operation and for current conditions:

• Elevation: 9,500 feet (base), 11,500 feet (summit)
• Vertical Rise: 2,000 feet
• Size: 1,200 acres of skiable land
• Difficulty of Runs: Easy: 20%, Moderate: 40%, Hard: 40%, Expert: 0%
• Location: Northeast Colorado, west of Estes Park
• Years of Operation: 1955-1991
• Chair Lifts: None in use
• Ski Patrol: None in use

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