Keystone, Colorado is one of the closest destination resorts to Denver – just over an hour’s drive. Keystone was founded in 1970, one of many resorts that got its beginning during the ski boom years. Keystone was designed from its inception to be a world class ski resort, but it has grown beyond that into a destination enjoyed by visitors year-round.
Keystone Resort spreads out along 7 miles of the Snake River, and consists of a harmonious blend of activities, two different resort villages (Keystone Village and River Run Village), private residential developments and plenty of pristine outdoor space.
Keystone has just about everything you could imagine for the perfect vacation – and surprisingly, it also has everything you could desire for the perfect business getaway too! In addition to all the great scenery and activities of Keystone Resort, and host to the award winning Keystone Lodge we are proud to include in our Colorado’s Finest Hotels collection - the area has the largest mountain conference center in Colorado; over 100,000 square feet of meeting space!
If you are a serious skier or snow boarder, Keystone is almost heaven – the resort has an unstoppable seven to eight month ski season, and with one of the very few night skiing destinations in Colorado, you can put in an astounding 11 1/2 hour day of carving up the slopes. If you do the math (OK, I’ll do it for you) – that’s well over 200 days, and an unbelievable 2500+ hours of mogul-bashing, powder-hounding, cruiser-running fun! Of the three Mountains immediately accessible from the Keystone Resort Villages, the Outback Mountain tempts the more daring with powder and pine tree laced glades, while Keystone Mountain is perfect for those wanting expertly groomed, wide-open runs, with helpful slow skiing areas that keep safety and control a top priority. For mogul chasers looking for steep bumpy runs, the North Peak delivers big – but also includes nice cruiser trails for those of us advanced skiers who enjoy the more relaxed approach to snow sports. A fourth choice, Arapahoe Basin, is a short 10 minute ride up the pass (by shuttle).
Keystone has an awesome Cross Country Center located at the River Course golf course, which maintains 16 kilometers of groomed and an amazing 57 kilometers of ungroomed trails that meander through the National Forest. Rental equipment and lessons for Nordic skiing are available for those who’ve always wanted to give it a try – and may we add that you should – but be prepared, because cross country skiing is addicting!
I know - for many of you there is lots more to life than skiing or snow boarding. And yes, Keystone has lots of choices for you, too. In winter, Keystone has the largest outdoor ice skating facility in America, Keystone Lake, and if you get a chance, you should try to take advantage of a sleigh ride at Keystone Ranch or a ½ day tour on a snowmobile. You can even take a sleigh ride up to an historic homestead cabin where you can get a scrumptious dinner cooked over an open fire and served by cowboys. The surrounding countryside is beautiful, and these other activities provide unique and memorable ways to experience the grandeur of the area.
In summer, there’s hiking, mountain biking, fishing, tennis, two 18-hole championship golf courses, and of course, in winter or summer, first class shopping, or hanging out with an adult beverage while sitting beside the Keystone Lake in the heart of Keystone Village isn’t too bad either!
There’s free shuttle service running throughout the resort, and with the wide variety of activities directly at the resort, as well as the close proximity to Lake Dillon, Frisco and the Silverthorne Factory Outlet shops, its hard to imagine anything other than simply running out of time before you can squeeze it all in!
