The most popular winter sport in Colorado is, of course, downhill skiing. Since the state's first resort (Howelsen Hill in Steamboat Springs) opened in 1914, Colorado has been virtually synonymous with skiing in the western United States: It attracts more skiers per day, and its major resorts continue to win accolades.

The snowboarding craze hit Colorado just as hard as other winter-sports destinations, and after some initial resistance, has been welcomed with open arms. Many resorts have opened snowboarding parks and offer lessons and rentals.

For current ski conditions and general information, call Colorado Ski Country USA, 1507 Blake St., Denver, CO 80202 (tel. 303/837-0793; www.skicolorado.org). Ski magazine's website (www.skinet.com) is another useful tool. Colorado's slopes are most crowded over Christmas and New Year's, and on the Martin Luther King Jr. and Presidents' Day holiday weekends, when lodging rates are at their highest. In good snow years, rates at Christmas can be outrageous. Those who can ski midweek will find more elbowroom on the slopes, and the beginning and end of the season are the best times to avoid crowds--assuming snow conditions are good.

Colorado's ski areas range from predominately day-use areas, with little beyond a mountain with trails and a few lifts, to full-fledged resorts, with a variety of accommodations, restaurants, and nightlife all within a half-hour of the slopes. The overview that follows describes the key mountains at these ski areas and resorts.

Arapahoe Basin (Summit County)--Arapahoe Basin, called "A-Basin" by its loyal fans, is the highest ski area in the state, and one of the oldest. Because of its elevation, it gets a bit more snow than elsewhere, so some prefer to ski it during spring's warmer temperatures.

Ajax (Aspen)--With more than 100 restaurants and bars, Aspen is one of Colorado's most sophisticated resorts. Ajax was designed for advanced skiers and is the second most challenging of Aspen's four slopes.

Beaver Creek (Vail)--Beaver Creek is probably the most refined ski community in Colorado. The mountain has a good mix of runs for everyone but the superexpert, and lift lines are usually shorter than at Vail Mountain, especially on weekends.

Breckenridge (Summit County)--Colorado's second most popular resort, Breckenridge is the crown jewel of Summit County's ski areas. There's something for all levels of skiers, and it makes a great base camp for those who want to ski a different Summit County mountain every day.

Buttermilk (Aspen)--The usually uncrowded Buttermilk is a great place for affluent novices to practice their moves. It's located just outside the main village and is known for its great ski school.

Copper Mountain (Summit County)--With its four superb bowls and variety of trails for all levels, Copper is a fun place to ski, and the village is less expensive than nearby Breckenridge.

Crested Butte (Crested Butte)--Dependable snow, good beginner and intermediate trails, and lots of extreme skiing, but very little expert terrain mark this area.

Durango Mountain (Durango)--This small, low-key ski area offers mostly intermediate, narrow, hilly trails meandering through the trees amid the breathtakingly beautiful San Juan Mountains.

Eldora (Nederland)--Just 21 miles from Boulder, Eldora is one of the state's smaller resorts, but has a good mix of terrain and is the closest ski area to the Denver-Boulder metropolitan area.

Highlands (Aspen)--An intense mountain for only the most skilled and athletic of skiers. The views from the top are stupendous.

Keystone (Summit County)--Of Summit County's ski areas, Keystone is the closest to Denver, about 90 miles west of the airport. Its three separate mountains make it a good place for cruising, and night skiing draws locals from miles around.

Loveland (North of Denver)--Less than an hour from Denver by car, Loveland is an old-fashioned day-ski area: no village, but enough beginner and advanced trails to satisfy the average skier. If you're staying in Denver in winter, give it a whirl.

Monarch (Salida)--This family-oriented resort in southern Colorado has among the lowest rates, with good terrain and fewer crowds.

Powderhorn (Grand Junction)--This is a good mountain for groups of varying abilities, with half its slopes intermediate, and another 30% advanced or expert.

Silverton Mountain (Silverton)--This new ski/snowboard area plans to be less expensive than most of Colorado's resorts, and is geared to expert/advanced skiers and snowboarders only.

Ski Cooper (Leadville)--A small, inexpensive resort at a high elevation, Ski Cooper is known for its all-natural snow and beautiful mountain scenery. There's a good balance of trails for beginners, intermediates, and experts.

Snowmass (Aspen)--The highlight of Aspen, with plenty of wide-open spaces and trails for absolutely every level of ability. This is, by far, the largest mountain at Aspen. The base village has plenty of beds, but not much nightlife--most night owls hop the free shuttle bus to Aspen, 20 minutes down the road.

Solvista Golf & Ski Ranch (near Winter Park)--Created by the merging of smaller ski areas, Solvista is an all season resort comprised of two separate but interconnected mountains, with mostly beginner and intermediate runs, just 20% expert.

Steamboat (Steamboat Springs)--One of Colorado's three largest mountains (the other two are Vail and Snowmass), Steamboat offers near-perfect skiing. It's well laid out and has gorgeous valley views, and the base village offers a wide choice of accommodations and restaurants. Another draw is the authentic old ranching town of Steamboat Springs, just a few miles away. Most of the mountain's trails are for intermediates, but there are beginner and expert trails as well.

Sunlight Mountain (Glenwood Springs)--Sunlight is family oriented, geared to intermediate skiers, and very affordable.

Telluride (Telluride)--Set at the top of a lovely box canyon, Telluride caters mainly to intermediate skiers, but also has novice trails some 2 1/2 miles long and a number of steep expert trails.

Vail (Vail Valley)--Colorado's most popular resort, Vail mountain has a top-notch ski school and trails for everyone. The completely self-contained village at its base was created for skiers and is serviced by free shuttle buses.

Winter Park (Winter Park)--Young and athletic in spirit, Winter Park is unique--the focus is on value, with a variety of trails for all levels, plus well-regarded programs for children and skiers with disabilities.

Wolf Creek (Near Pagosa Springs)--One of the state's oldest ski areas, Wolf Creek is famous for consistently having the most snow in the state--an annual average of 465 inches (almost 39 ft.). There is terrain for skiers of all ability levels, but especially intermediates.

A Word About Rates--In the write-ups for each ski area in the regional sections, we give the daily lift-ticket rates. Although handy for comparison, few people actually pay these prices. Most skiers buy packages that often include lift tickets for a given number of days, but might also include transportation, rental equipment, lessons, lodging, meals, and lift tickets for nearby ski areas. The possibilities are almost endless.

In recent years some resorts have taken to charging more for lift tickets at busy times, and offering discounts at slow times. Certainly, the most expensive time to ski is between December 20 and January 1, followed by the Martin Luther King Jr. and Presidents' Day holiday weekends. February through March is next; January is generally cheaper; and the least expensive is from Thanksgiving until mid-December and April until ski areas close. We prefer the last few weeks of the season; the snow's still great, the weather's nice, and the slopes are less crowded, because many skiers are turning their thoughts to golf and tennis.