Just how good is the skiing in Colorado? Within a short drive of Denver you’ll find half a dozen alpine resorts that rank among the best in the world. It’s not just the awe-inspiring terrain, packed with rewarding runs for everyone from novice to the most expert of experts. It’s also the snow itself. Colorado's high peaks and dry climate make for some of the best ski conditions on the continent. So if you’ve been grinding your edges on ice in Vermont or trudging through the occasional slush in California, it’s high time you head to the Rocky Mountain State.

You can't really go wrong with any of Colorado's ski resorts, but one that's been garnering a whole lot of accolades over the past few years is Copper Mountain.

Long considered one of the premier mountains in the Rockies, Copper is now better than ever, thanks to a multi-million-dollar facelift of the resort by its new owner, Intrawest Corporation. While the mountain hasn't changed, just about everything around it has. Visitors who once came for the skiing alone can now take advantage of a modern resort with everything you could possibly want and need in a ski destination. Today, you can show up at Copper, park your car, and do nothing but eat, shop, and kick back for days on end without ever leaving The Village at Copper.

Of course, the new-and-improved après ski scene is just the icing on the cake. Ultimately, it's still the mountain that will make your visit to Copper so memorable. And what a mountain it is.

Elevated Pursuits
One of Copper’s claims to fame is its naturally divided terrain, which makes it easy for skiers and snowboarders of every skill level to find a spot on the slopes that’s right for them.

From east to west, the terrain gradually shifts from beginner to advanced. Novices tend to stick to the green runs on the west side of the mountain known as Union Creek, while intermediate skiers get their kicks in the center section of the mountain, where two high-speed quad lifts--American Flyer and American Eagle--carry them to dozens of mid-level runs.

Further east, the mountain gets much more challenging. This is where you’ll find the Super Bee, a searingly fast six-person lift that takes you so high up the mountain so quickly (2,400 feet in eight minutes) you know you’re in for a treat on the way down. And the way down is sweet. You can actually make it all the way back to Copper’s East Village--a vertical descent of almost half a mile--in one run. Some people would call a ride like this heaven. At Copper, they call it Andy’s Encore, and it's among the most highly praised blue runs in North America.

For really, really advanced snow riders, Copper’s four back bowls are where it’s at. The resort even offers a free (yes, free) snowcat ride up to the 12,337-foot summit of Tucker Mountain. The snowcat operates on a first-come, first-served basis Wednesday through Sunday, weather permitting.

A word of advice: Copper is big, so you’ll want to keep an eye out for the signs and have a trail map handy, at least for your first few times out.

Après Ski
If you've heard that Copper's après ski leaves something to be desired, then you haven't heard the latest. Thanks to the huge investment by Intrawest, The Village at Copper is now a thoroughly entertaining place to be when you’re not on the slopes. Consider the statistics: 17 restaurants (many of them moonlighting as bars and nightclubs) and 19 shops selling everything from mountaineering crampons to gourmet chocolate. Throw in an ice-skating rink, a four-lane swimming pool, a pottery-making shop, and a video arcade and you get the picture: The fun doesn't stop when the sun sets at Copper.

Once you've retired your ski gear for the evening, you can park your kids at the Belly Button Bakery for a few hours (see "Inside Scoop" below). Then you can take your mind off of your sore quads over a $2 Coors Light during happy hour at JJ’s. Or if you're tired of those old snowboard boots you've been wearing you can stop into Surefoot Boot Fitting Company for a new, custom-fitted pair. And if you're just flat-out knackered you can grab a video at McCoy’s and make it a quiet evening by the fire.