by Celeste Lipford and Terry Lipford - last updated on 9/18/2025
Our trip to Keystone, Colorado was more than just a family getaway — it blended skiing, snowboarding, and the mountain-town atmosphere that makes Keystone such a favorite destination in Summit County. We invited Celeste’s nephew Steven to join us, which added a fun twist since he and Jeremy were both snowboarders by then. While they chased powder on their boards, the rest of us enjoyed the wide variety of ski runs and family-friendly terrain Keystone is known for.
Later in the week, my oldest son William flew in, and as always, he brought extra energy and laughter to the group. Having everyone together turned what could have been a simple ski trip into a memorable family adventure — and gave us a chance to experience Keystone not just as a resort, but as a gathering place that works well for multi-generational travel.
Yes, according to USA Today, Keystone ranks No. 1 among the top U.S. ski resorts for families.
Yes, Keystone offers one of the closest ski destination resorts to Denver International Airport.
You can find Terrain for all Skier Skill Levels. Keystone Resort has 19% beginner terrain, 32% intermediate terrain, and 49% advanced terrain for its roughly 3,148 acres of skiable terrain.
Yes, Skate the Largest Zamboni-maintained Outdoor Skating Rink.
Yes, They have the largest Night-skiing Operation in Colorado.
Yes, Keystone is the largest ski resort in Summit County, Colorado, covering 3,148 acres with over 130 trails across three mountain peaks: Dercum Mountain, North Peak, and The Outback.
Keystone’s Elevation Makes for Excellent Snow Conditions - With a base elevation of 9,280 feet and a summit of 12,408 feet, Keystone enjoys over 235 inches of snowfall annually, providing excellent conditions for skiing and snowboarding.
Yes. Keystone offers a wide mix of terrain for all levels, excellent ski schools, and family-friendly lodging. The resort is known for being one of the most family-oriented in Summit County.
Keystone is one of the few Colorado resorts offering night skiing on select runs, typically available on weekends and holidays during peak season.
Keystone spans three interconnected mountains—Dercum, North Peak, and The Outback—providing terrain from beginner-friendly slopes to advanced tree runs and bowls.
The ski season typically runs from November through early April. Peak conditions are usually mid-December to March, with spring skiing offering longer days and warmer temps.
Free and paid parking lots are available near River Run and Mountain House base areas. Shuttles help connect parking with the lifts.
Yes, Keystone Resort has a large number of mobile fan guns and other modern snowmaking equipment that it uses to create snow for its slopes, allowing it to open early in the ski season. In 2019, Keystone invested in 53 modern fan guns to improve its snowmaking operations, and the resort now has 672 fixed and mobile snowmaking guns in total.
Keystone is owned by Vail Resorts, so it participates in the Epic Pass program—not Ikon. You can ski Keystone with single-day tickets, Epic Day Pass (multi-day), and season products like Epic Pass, Epic Local or Keystone Plus Pass. Epic Pass also offers military/veteran discounts on eligible Epic products (including family and children under 21). See the links below for more current information and pricing:
Yes, some Epic Day Pass options include blackout dates around peak holidays. Be sure to check the pass details before you purchase. You should visit their website for details, dates, etc. Epic Pass official site
Image # 1 is the top of Dercum Mountain, the first lift exit coming up from the Mountain House side. The picture was taken by one of the EpicMix crews that are always wandering around taking pictures of everyone. It turned out so well, that we kept it! Right behind us is the start of the Mozart Trail, one of the better slopes on Dercum Mountain.
Mozart is an intermediate (blue) trail and is a crowd favorite. Skiers have the option to take the Santiago Express chairlift towards the North Peak summit for some blue marked pistes or follow the same trail and it takes skiers to the Spillway and the Coyote Caper in the Outback.
With a group of five, we needed a large condo, so we splurged and got a really nice one in the Silverthorne area. The area is just north of I-70, up above town, so getting back & forth from there to the ski area was simple.
This was part of a side-trip we made to Breckenridge to have some fun and enjoy ourselves in a slightly different way. This is a fun way to enjoy the snow without strapping on your boots! Click here to go to their website.
The Gold Runner Alpine Coaster at Breckenridge Resort is a self-controlled mountain coaster on Peak 8 that offers a thrilling ride through the forest and over the ski slopes on its 2,500 feet of track. Riders control their own speed using a brake, allowing for a customized experience with twists, turns, and loops. The coaster operates during summer and winter seasons and features two-seater cars for solo riders or tandem rides.
One of the main reasons we chose to visit Breckenridge was because the Dew Tour was taking place during our trip. As avid fans of snowboarding, we were especially excited about the chance to watch Shaun White perform his legendary half-pipe routine. The buzz around the event was palpable, and it was no surprise when he ultimately clinched the victory in that event — an unforgettable moment for all of us.
What we didn’t anticipate, however, was just how wildly popular the Dew Tour would be. It felt like the entirety of Summit County had converged on Breckenridge that day! The energy was electric, but the crowds were intense. Every corner of the resort seemed packed with people eager to catch a glimpse of the action. Lines for lifts, concessions, and even just walking through the village were longer than usual, and finding a good viewing spot was a challenge.
Despite the chaos, the experience was worth it. Being part of such an iconic event, surrounded by a sea of fellow snow sports enthusiasts, created an unforgettable atmosphere. Watching Shaun White defy gravity and deliver his incredible performance was the highlight of the trip, and something we’ll all remember for years to come.
Keystone Resort is comprised of 3 mountains, Dercum is the first, North Peak is the second, and the Outback is the third. Posted information is everywhere, and is always kept up to date.
The Keystone Trail Map shows you how the trails are laid out across three different mountains, with varied terrain and various trail types for all levels of skills. The resort has placed signs with large trail maps on them next to most of the lift "exit points".
With 3,148 acres of skiable terrain and 140 trails served by 21 lifts, the resort is known for its expansive layout across the three distinct peaks. It is a good idea to keep your trail map handy, to allow you to traverse the 3 mountains and get to where you want to go.
In image # 1. this is obviously Chelsea & Jeremy doubting my map-reading experience! I am trying to convince them to take the trail to the left. In image # 2 is the trail that will bring us back to the River Run area.
Just to clarify, on the front mountain some trails lead you back to the Mountain House area & lifts and other trails will take you to the River Run area.
Warning: The River Run trail may be too steep depending upon your level of expertise on the snow. If you are NOT experienced with steep trails, we would suggest that you do not attempt to learn on this trail.
Riding the chairlift back to the top of Keystone was a serene moment, offering us a chance to soak in the beauty of the day. The weather was absolutely stunning — clear blue skies stretched endlessly above, and the sun cast a warm glow over the snow-covered landscape. The snow itself was perfect, a pristine blanket of soft powder that made every run a joy to carve through.
Keystone’s front mountain lifts are predominantly quads, which is ideal for families like ours. It meant we could all ride together, sharing the experience as we chatted about our last run and made plans for the next. It’s those little moments on the lift — suspended between the thrill of the slopes and the anticipation of another adventure — that create some of the best memories.
It was such a beautiful day, that we wound up taking a lot of pictures. As you can see in the background, visibility was perfect!
There are 20 lifts from the base area of Keystone, including several gondolas. This is a much warmer way to get to the top!
Image # 1 is one of the runs leading down from Dercum Mountain/Summit House, to Keystone Village. This is the River Run trail, which is fed by various higher trails such as Santa Fe and Spring Dipper. Good downhill slope and then you are back at the Gondola.
It probably does not look as steep to you as it actually is, and when you combine that steepness with icy conditions, you can experience a lot of sliding coming down this trail!
River Run Lifts include a quad and a gondola, and as you can see, it gets crowded at various times during the day, ie; mornings and afternoons as people get ready to go up, or they are coming down at the end of the day. The Keystone staff do a good job of moving people onto the lifts, so the crowds disperse at a steady clip.
Our Silverthorne rental had plenty of room, including a nice fireplace. We always found ways to entertain ourselves when we weren't on the slopes. Looks like William was using the fireplace warmth to thaw out !
In this second image, Jeremy is trying to decide whether to have one snack or another. Needless to say, when you are on the slopes all day, and it is cold, you are burning a lot of calories!
We took one day off and drove up to Leadville, the highest in elevation incorporated city in the USA. It is only a 42 mile drive from Keystone to Leadville, but you are ascending continously and the road is constantly curving to pass around mountains.
Quick Facts: Leadville is the statutory city that is the county seat and only incorporated municipality in Lake County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 2,602 at the 2010 census and an estimated 2,762 in 2018. Leadville is situated at an elevation of 10,152 feet.
Leadville, Colorado, stands out as a truly unique destination for several reasons. At an elevation of over 10,000 feet, it holds the distinction of being one of the highest incorporated cities in the United States, nestled amidst the breathtaking peaks of the Rocky Mountains. Leadville's rich history as a former silver mining boomtown is evident in its well-preserved Victorian architecture and historic buildings, offering visitors a glimpse into the town's colorful past.
IMAGE CREDIT: The second Leadville image above is the property of Dennis Adams, Federal Highway Administration via Wikimedia Commons using the Public Domain image license. All other images are the property of Just Traveling Thru, LLC unless otherwise noted.
Exploring Breckenridge, CONestled in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, Breckenridge, CO, stands as a beacon of uniqueness among mountain towns. What sets Breckenridge apart is its perfect blend of old-world charm and modern amenities, creating an atmosphere that appeals to adventurers and leisure seekers alike.
The town's rich history as a mining hub is palpable in its well-preserved Victorian architecture and vibrant cultural scene. Yet, Breckenridge seamlessly integrates this heritage with a progressive spirit evident in its thriving art galleries, innovative cuisine, and lively festivals year-round.
Breckenridge isn't just a ski destination; it's a haven for outdoor enthusiasts of all stripes. From world-class skiing and snowboarding in the winter to hiking, mountain biking, and fly-fishing in the summer, there's no shortage of ways to connect with nature and indulge in adrenaline-pumping adventures.
Headed up the hill on the Breckenridge Cable Car. You can see Breckenridge in the background, that is the eastern side of the city.
Nothing like a morning of snowboarding to make everyone hungry! This is very serious folks, snowboarding burns calories at a furious clip.
Skiing/Snowboarding Quick Facts: According to various magazines, a 160-pound person burns about 381 calories in 60 minutes of light snowboarding. When snowboarding at a moderate or vigorous level for 60 minutes, the same person burns about 457 or 610 calories, respectively.
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Denver International AirportBack to the real world! We drove east on I-70 back to the Denver Airport, shuffled through the TSA lines, got on plane, and flew back to Florida. On the plus side was the fact that the Denver Airport has some reasonable restaurants & shops, that can make the wait for the plane's departure a little easier !
Plan Your Visit to Keystone Resort Travel Resources — Maps, Parking & Passes
| Vertical Descent: | 3,128 ft |
| Base elevation: | 9,280 ft |
| Summit elevation: | 12,408 ft |
| # of Lifts: | 12 chairlifts, 8 surface lifts and 8 carpet lifts |
| 6 Person Lifts: | 1 |
| Quad Chairlifts: | 6 |
| Triple Chairlifts: | 1 |
| Double Chairlifts: | 3 |
| AVG Annual Snowfall: | 235 in |
| # of Trails: | 130 |
| Longest Run: | 3.5 Miles/Schoolmarm |
| Skiable Area: | 3,149 acres |
| Snowmaking: | 662 acres |
| Easiest Ski Trails: | 12% |
| More Difficult Trails: | 39% |
| Most Difficult Trails: | 49% |
| Vertical Descent: | 3,398 ft |
| Base elevation: | 9,600 ft |
| Summit Elevation: | 12,998 ft |
| # of Lifts: | 35 total (1 gondola, 5 high-speed six-packs, 7 high-speed quads, 1 fixed-grip quad, 1 triple chairlift, 6 double chairlifts, 3 surface lifts, 11 carpet lifts |
| 6 Person Lifts: | 2 |
| Quad Chairlifts: | 7 |
| Triple Chairlifts: | 1 |
| Double Chairlifts: | 6 |
| AVG Annual Snowfall: | 300 in |
| # of Trails: | 155 |
| Longest Run: | 3.5 Miles / Four O'Clock |
| Skiable Area: | 2,378 acres |
| Snowmaking: | 600 acres |
| Easiest Ski Trails: | 15% |
| More Difficult Trails: | 33% |
| Most Difficult Trails: | 52% |
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