Copper Mountain Resort on race day
I have a friend who was a ski bum at the Copper Mountain Resort in Copper Mountain, CO in another lifetime, and she talked it up and made me wish I could ski. I never did learn, but when the opportunity to run the Under Armour Mountain Series at Copper Mountain came up, I was all in. Sure, the elevation (9,712 feet above sea level, yikes!) was intimidating and the thought of climbing up that mountain was a bit terrifying, but it was also an experience I had to take. It was the most challenging but awesome run I’ve ever done, and you can read all about that here.
I arrived at Copper Mountain in the off-season. This resort is obviously primarily a winter destination, and there are lots of things going on in the summer as well. This race was right after most of the summer tourists had left town to get kids settled back into school. I admittedly didn’t get to experience the full flavor of what occurs at Copper when it’s busy but I still got a sense of the magic of what happens there and it was absolutely beautiful. I would love to get back in the winter to see everything covered in snow.
Copper Mountain sits high at the base of the legendary Rocky Mountains among the Summit County ski resorts, but it’s a nice low-key option for those looking for an adventure that’s also a bit on the chill side. Everything at Copper Mountain is conveniently located about 100 yards away from the chairlifts. Center Village is home to most of the shops, restaurants, and coffee houses. There’s a lot of variety in dining choices, such as an Irish pub, a sushi place, a pizza joint, and a killer macaroni and cheese place. Union Peak is where the ski school is offered just west of Center Village. Finally, the East Village offers skier services like ski rental and the lift to the snow tubing hill. Copper Mountain also boasts a convenience market, an ice rink, an athletic center/spa, and a golf course. You will not be bored!!
There are a range of options at Copper Mountain when it comes to their comfortable accommodations. You could stay at a hotel rooms with basic amenities or you could choose a fully equipped luxury condo with up to 3 bedrooms, depending on what you are looking for. Custom homes and townhomes are also an option at the nearby East Village. The versatility of options is a great perk to staying here, and there are resort specials also, so there is literally something for everyone. Check it out and get the scoop on lodging and accomodations here.
If you are a skier or snowboarder, you’ve likely heard of Copper Mountain. Obviously, there is some EPIC skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing to be had here, as well as snowmobiling tours, sleigh rides, and dog sledding excursions. You can’t go wrong with coming here during the winter and you will never sit down long enough to have a chance to wonder what to do next. Since I visited in September, there were a bunch of other things this mountain resort had to offer that beg mentioning. First off, there’s this magical place called Woodward Copper. This is a year-round snowboard and ski training facility where you will find a skate and bike bowl, foam landing pits, ramps, and trampolines as well as a street skate area. This is the ONLY training facility of its kind in the mountains, so it’s a must see! Also, the ski mountain gives way to some truly awesome mountain biking trails once the snow is gone in the summer, as well as options for whitewater rafting, zip lining, boating on Lake Dillion, and some scenic tours. While I was visiting, they had a WitchCraft event and a haunted house open. Everyone was getting into the full spirit of Halloween, and even the people working at the Starbucks in Copper (yes, they even have one of those!) were decked out in costumes.
Honestly, there are so many options at Copper Mountain that I probably couldn’t cover all of it. Take a peek at the “Top 10 Things to Do” list. The bottom line is that whether you are planning a summer vacation or a winter one, one with family or one without, there will be something at Copper that will make you more than happy. Check it all out and get the scoop on lodging and accomodations here. And if you are interested in doing the Mountain Series in Copper Mountain in the future (there are several distances to choose from,) I would highly recommend that as well. Check out the race preview from this year’s inaugural race here so you can choose your own adventure. It was the journey of a lifetime for me!
