Ski lift upgrades coming to some Colorado’s resorts

From new chairlifts to mountain expansions, the upcoming ski season promises improved or upgraded experiences at a few of Colorado’s top resorts. But sometimes, the most worthwhile changes are the least flashy, and that’s the case with lift expansions and improvements.

Related: What else is new at Colorado resorts for 2024-25

“Major investments like lifts mean that skiers and snowboarders can get on the snow and move around our mountains faster, with shorter lines,” said Colorado Ski Country USA president Melanie Mills. “Improved skier and snowboarder flow … materially enhance the overall guest experience.”

Here are some of the highlights for the 2024-25 season.

Snowmass Ski Area

Snowmass Ski Area is adding a new high-speed quad chairlift, Coney Express, across from the Snowmass Mall. This new chairlift replaces the Coney Glade Lift to get skiers to terrain faster on what is billed as the “most life-served” vertical drop of any resort in the country.

Snowmass Ski Area boasts over 3,300 acres of terrain, so ease of use is essential, and there’s more time spent on the snow.

With loading at a midway angle station, the goal is to move skiers and riders from the base area and, therefore, alleviate congestion here on the busiest days.

The Lynn Britt Cabin is undergoing a complete renovation, including an expanded deck, outdoor space, and a new DJ booth.

The 2022 Snowmass Master Development Plan includes more ideas on spreading out guests within the existing ski area boundary and using sustainable best practices so that forest health and impacts on water are primary considerations.

Copper Mountain

At Copper Mountain, there will be an upgrade to the Timberline Express Chairlift. The existing four-person lift is being replaced with a high-speed six-pack chairlift to increase uphill capacity.

The chairlift is a gateway to the Western Territory, serving beginners, kids, and families. Timberline Express offers access to some of the mountain’s best intermediate terrain.

Wolf Creek Ski Area

Wolf Creek, in southwestern Colorado, has announced the installation of RFID gates at the Tumbler Lift and a new lift cable at the Nova Lift.

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology is used to “read” a tag from a distance. The Tumbler Lift, which carries four riders at a time, was added in 2023-24 specifically for beginner skiers. Wolf Creek Ski Area has 1,600 skiable acres at its home on Wolf Creek Pass.

Purgatory Resort

Purgatory Resort in Durango is upgrading its Hermosa Park Express Lift #3 to improve access to the back of the mountain and increase uphill capacity. With 1,600 acres of skiable terrain, Purgatory plans to open in mid-November for the season.

The resort will also expand retail options so guests can bypass the ticket office, make online purchases, and then head to a new pickup station. Purgatory offers “Power Kids,” a pass that provides unlimited free skiing for kids 12 and under — no blackout dates.

Purgatory Ski Resort will also experiment with demand pricing that starts as low as $9 per lift ticket this year. This will be the second year the resort has experimented with ticket pricing, where increased demand means higher prices, so buying in advance can equal a much lower price.