Copper Mountain

     I grew up skiing here, and at Keystone resort. This is known around Summit County as the resort for locals, evidenced by its consistent first place rank among Summit County resorts according as voted by locals.
     It has great, varied, and divided terrain. Someone might think that too much is made of this "natural division" feature, and while it's not Copper's only bragging point, it makes skiing here so much better. When I visit other mountains, the mix of newbs and experts is unpleasantly surprising. At Copper, I'm used to enjoying the advanced areas without worrying about the dude in the jeans and hunting hat (nothing against him as a person, of course).
    The free cat skiing is great. It accesses some of Copper's steepest and gnarliest slopes. I've pretty much explored the whole in-bounds area, and Copper has lots to offer to riders at each skill level, with tons of hidden goodies!
     A number of fast lifts service all the main nexuses, and I find I tend to get more skiing done at Copper than at any other resort I've been to.
    Copper has worked to make the village a more lively place, but it is generally pretty quiet. That said, I have had some awesome nights there - New Year's Eve in particular. One advantage of the quite village are decent specials - especially at the local chinese restaurant and pizza place. Just walk a few blocks from the slopes and you're bound to run into some of the local flavor. 

One of my favorite CO resorts.  Copper has some great terrain, especially in the back bowls, and the cat skiing is definitely worth trying (especially if you get on the first cat in the morning).  The naturally divided mountain makes it easy to stay with similar level skiers, and also keeps certain lift-lines to a minimum.  The lack of town can be a pro or con - it means there may not be as much of a crowd on the mountain, but also means there might not be as much to do at night.  However I think the mountain itself more than makes up it's lack of apres ski options.  Several great runs for every skill level.  It used to be easy to find some great deals, but prices have gone up a bit in the last year or two.  Yet it's still a better value than many others in Summit County.  Definitely recommended.

 I love Copper.  It's naturally divided terrain keeps different levels of skiers from getting in each others way.  When there is fresh snow a lot of the groomers are left half ungroomed so you can ski them either way.  A great benefit when skiing with friends or family members who don't like skiing on ungroomed snow.

I skied Copper as a member of the Ski & Snowboard School for three years through the 07/08 season. It's a great mountain, especially once you get to know it well... or if you're with someone who can take you around.

 

I am not a fan of the east side (where much of the lower-mountain steep skiing is), since the snow tends to get lots of sun and therefore gets either sloppy or icy (or both!).

 

The upper mountain, though, is where it's at, from east to west. Spaulding Bowl, Hallelujah, and the hidden stashes all have their own attraction and are highly recommended.