Keystone Resort is located in Keystone, Colorado and has been welcoming skiers and vacationer’s since 1997. It consists of three mountains – Dercum Mountain, North Peak, the Outback. The mountains are all connected by ski lifts and gondolas and numerous ski trails. KEystone is one of the best ski resorts in America and is very popular for its night skiing on Dercum Mountain.
Dercum Mountain:
Dercum Mountain has an elevation of 11,640 feet. It can be accessed as you enter the resort from the River Run or Mountain House base area. Skiers will find long groomed beginner runs which include Schoolmarm, the resort’s Family Ski Trail, as well as an assortment of wide, rolling intermediate runs which tend to be more popular. Dercum Mountain is also popular among skiers for Keystone’s award-winning A51 terrain park which has a 60-acre collection of progressive ski features including boxes, rails and jumps. It is no surprise that many skiers tend to go to Dercum Mountain first upon their arrival at Keystone.
North Peak:
North Peak has an elevation of 11,660 feet. North Peak is located directly behind Dercum Mountain and can easily be accessed by gondola ski lifts,. At North Peak there are a variety of intermediate and advanced terrains which also include long challenging bump runs. Hungry skiers can stop at Labonte’s Smokehouse BBQ which can be reached via the Santiago Express ski lift or the Ruby Express lift. Or you can try dinner at the Alpenglow Stube which can also be reached directly by the Outpost Gondola.
The Outback Peak:
The Outback Peak is the tallest peak at Keystone which has an elevation of 11,980 feet. There are rich powder turns and beautiful tree skiing which will can make this your best ski terrain. The Outback Peak is the the two peaks behind Dercum Mountain it is also directly behind and facing North Peak. To Reach The Outback you first take any lift up to the first summit, Dercum Mountain, then take the Outpost Gondola and ski down the other side of North Peak down to the base and use the Outback Express lift up to the top of The Outback Peak. There are fewer skiers at The Outback and that’s exactly how some skiers like it!
The Bowls:
Independence, Erickson, Bergman, North and South bowls have some of the best terrain, tree runs and powder laps throughout 1,000 plus acres. Reaching the North and South Bowls can be done via the Outback Express Lift. There are also shuttle rides available to skiers on The North Peak snowcat vehicle which usually picks up skiers at the Outpost building on North Peak. Using the snowcat as a taxi can quickly get you to terrain in Erickson and Bergman bowls or to Independence Bowl.
Night Skiing:
Night skiing at Keystone make the ski day the longest ski day in Colorado. Their are multiple brightly lit trails to to make nighttime skiing a one of a kind experience. Your daily lift ticket can also be used throughout night skiing operations. Also, on Saturday nights, there are also weekly Kidtopia fireworks which can be viewed from the slopes making it an awesome family experience.
Cat Vehicle Skiing:
You can also use the Keystone Adventure Tours full-day guided cat skiing. Which can bring you to some of theopen bowls and beautiful tree skiing which would take much longer to reach by hiking. The expert guides at Keystone will bring you to secret stashes and tree runs which can be found among the more than 800 acres of terrain in Independence, Bergman and Erickson Bowls. The cat vehicle skiing day also includes powder ski rentals and a hot catered lunch at a heated on-mountain yurt.
Lodging – Where to stay:
- River Run Town homes:
Brand new, beautifully designed and decorated townhomes offer large, modern spaces, secondary living areas and multiple bedding configurations. Each of these premier-rated townhomes features a huge central fireplace, open kitchen, in-unit washer and dryer, a garage and driveway parking, multiple patio and balcony spaces, and access to heated outdoor pool and hot tubs. Located across the street from River Run Village, these gorgeous new townhomes offer one of the most luxurious lodging experiences in all of Keystone Resort. A large living area, anchored by a huge fireplace, is perfect for reconnecting, while the smaller living room and multiple balconies offer quiet individual spaces. The on-site bus stop – combined with nearby shopping, dining and activities – makes this a great home base for any Keystone adventure.
- River Run Condominiums:
River Run Condominiums are the most popular units in Keystone Resort for their convenient location in the heart of River Run Village and easy year-round access to the mountain. All units are located just a short walk away the River Run Gondola and Summit Express Lift and Ski School and equipment rental facilities and offer easy access to a variety of dining, shopping and activities. In the summer, many of Keystone’s signature events take place in the village, including our famous Bluegrass & Beer Festival and the Blue Ribbon Bacon Tour. These deluxe, quality condos are professionally decorated with mountain-inspired furnishings and feature full kitchens, living rooms and separated bedrooms, perfect for traveling families.
- Slopeside Conominiums:
The Slopeside Condominiums underwent a complete exterior remodel, completed in January of 2017 that includes community barbeques and patio furniture with exceptional views of the slopes, two in-ground hot tubs, windows, doors, new roof lines, and siding. Situated at the center of all skier services, Slopeside is just a 50-yard walk to the Peru Express Chairlift and Mountain House base area, ski and ride school, equipment rental outlet, and resort dining. You’ll be just steps away from more than 3,100 skiable acres and nearly unlimited mountain adventure.
KEYSTONE LODGE AND SPA
The Keystone Lodge & Spa is surrounded by the majestic Rocky Mountains with breathtaking views perfect for all winter and summer sport enthusiasts with easy access to skiing & snowboarding, biking, golf, ice skating, paddle boarding, and more. Take a break from your adventures and relax in our state-of-the-art spa or realx in the steam room, heated pool and indoor/outdoor hot tubs. The lodge offers 152 guest rooms, including 14 loft suites. Each room affords a spectacular view of the Mountains and the Snake River. The hotel suite is a two-level room with one king bedroom upstairs in the loft with television. All suites also include a downstairs sitting area with television and sofa pull-out couch and one private bathroom downstairs. The Lodge also has a business center and over 10,000 square feet of meeting space. Find quick meals as well as exceptional dining experiences in the Lodge. Getting to the slopes is easy with the Lodge’s Gondola Express shuttle service. Plus, as a Lodge guest you receive free ski check at the base of the gondola.
HYATT PLACE KEYSTONE
The newly-remodeled Hyatt Place Keystone sits within walking distance of the Mountain House Base Area, where you’ll find ski lifts, ski school, rentals, casual dining and more. After a day in the snow, kick back in the lobby or retreat to your spacious room. Options include spacious standard rooms (300 square feet) and suites with a private bedroom. The hot breakfast, available daily, includes cage-free eggs, all-natural bacon, Greek yogurt parfaits and more. The resort’s free shuttle makes it easy to access River Run and Lakeside Village activities, as well as the Keystone Conference Center. Indoor/outdoor meeting spaces make this a great choice for families and wedding parties who want to host on-sitedinners, rehearsals and more.
SKI TIP TOWNHOMES
Found at the edge of the White River National Forest, the Ski Tip Townhomes offer the perfect mountain escape without sacrificing convenience. A short shuttle ride brings guests to the River Run Gondola, Summit Express lift and village amenities including restaurants, shopping and seasonal festivals. Bright, spacious living areas make the Ski Tip Townhomes a great choice for gathering with friends and family; bedrooms on upper levels prevent early risers from disturbing late sleepers. Take in the cool morning air on the patio and close out the ski day with nearby hot tub access.
Chateaux DuMont, Ski Tip Townhomes, Northstar Townhomes, The Seasons, Starfire Townhomes, Evergreen Condominiums, Lakeside Village COndominiums. Gateway Mountain Lodge.
Family Terrain Parks:
Keystone is very well known as a family friendly ski resort. No matter your ski level experience you will be amazed by the beautiful Rocky mountains. Families that go to Keystone can use the designated family ski trails which are not as hard as the tougher, more experienced trails usually used by experts. The terrain parks are an excellent place for kids, not to mention the adventure zones.
There are designated chairlift that exclusively services the terrain parks, which are perfect for families, and more than 100 features including boxes, rails and jumps in a variety of sizes, A51 caters to freestyle skiers and riders of all abilities, whether you’re just learning to ride park or you’re a seasoned pro. What you will find interesting is that each terrain park has been designed to get harder as you go along. You will find that terrain features naturally progressing in size and difficulty level as skiers, riders and snowboarders make their way down the run as well as from one terrain park to another.
Keystone’s next two interconnected peaks to the North – Outpost and Outback– the highest at 11,980’, offer more challenge. While there isn’t anything particularly double black diamond at Keystone, there is over 3,000 acres plus 500 acres in North and South Bowl reserved for cat-skiing for experts – just catch the cat at the top of North Peak in the Outback for $10 a ride when its operating. You can hike to this terrain too and some snowy glade trails dropping you back to the groomed terrain.
If your kids are in ski camp all day, treat yourself to a European chalet style sit down lunch on the mountain – with slippers – at Alpenglow Stube or the Bavarian Der Fondue Chessel. We love the Alpenglow Stube, a top on mountain restaurant, with its upscale a la carte menu, fireside tables, and slippers – so you can take a lovely lunch break, out of your ski boots, and feel well-served and satiated.
Keystone has four terrain parks, Camp Keystone ski and ride schools for the kids, and daily free Kidtopia events to keep your kids entertained each afternoon – yippee. So parents can go to après ski in Keystone village at 9280’ Taphouse or get a massage at Keystone Lodge Spa.
Evenings, keep skiing, Keystone has Colorado’s largest night skiing operation, or head to the villages – River Run, Mountain House and Keystone Village. Keystone has a plethora of family activities – tubing, bungee jumping, Adventure Point, and a Snow Fort. Families will appreciate that kids 12 and under ski and stay free on 2 or more night packages.
A village condo at Keystone is an ideal setting for your Colorado ski vacation, après ski you can walk to shops and dinner, and you can take a shuttle to sister resorts, Vail, Breckenridge, Arapahoe Basin, or Beaver Creek on the same ski ticket or the Epic Pass.
Keystone Facts:
Vertical: 3,128 ft / 953m
Base elevation: 9,280 ft / 2,829m
Summit elevation: 12,408 ft / 3,782m
Number of Lifts: 20
Average Annual Snowfall over past 34 years: 235 in / 597 cm
Number of Trails: 128
Longest Run: 3.5 Miles/Schoolmarm
Skiable Area: 3,148 acres / 1249 ha
Snowmaking: 662 acres / 268 ha
Lift-Serviced Terrain Degree of Difficulty:
Easiest: 12%
More Difficult: 39%
Most Difficult: 49%
3,087 acres
127 trails, 20 lifts including a Gondola
3,128′ vertical, 12,408′ summit elevation