You know when you have arrived in a truly unique resort when you enter through the security gates at the base of the mountain, to direct you to your accommodation and provide you with information. As you drive up past the golf course you marvel at the awesome properties on both sides of the road. Then you arrive at, one can only describe as, a stunning addition to your ski portfolio. Beaver Creek exudes quality, class and high end infrastructure most resorts envy and which is visually American/Bavarian.
Beaver Creek, 10 miles from its much bigger sister Vail and on the same ski pass, was developed from the 1980’s and is unashamedly exclusive, with a large choice of 4 and 5 star hotels, apartments and chalets, with most offering ski in ski out options. Walking is just an option as you ride the escalators up to the slopes, through the centre of the pedestrianised village.
With such elegance and quality, staying in Beaver Creek is not exactly a cheap option, though late and early season holidays throw up some veritable bargains, in normally great skiing conditions. Lack of snow has never been much of a worry. The village of Avon however, at the base of Beaver Creek golf course, has plenty of inexpensive alternatives, from the rather swish, excellent Westin Hotel through to the superb condominiums of Canyons,The Ascent, Beaver Creek Landing, Chapel Square and Beaver Creek West. The gondola takes you from Avon from the Westin over to Batchelor Gulch which also offers some stunning accommodations, including the 5 star Ritz Carlton, right by the lifts. Just by is the most amazing 5 bedroom penthouse with its own private lift which we sometimes offer as a high end catered chalet.
The skiing in Beaver Creek is a great choice for all abilities. It is hard to find a better area for beginners and timid intermediates, with there being so many wide, open, easy gradient green runs at the mountain top, which always has the best snow. Over at Batchelor Gulch and Arrowhead, the wide green and blue runs offer superb cruising on well cared for wide pistes, in relative peace and quiet, due to the relatively deserted slopes.Cabin Fever is just one of the many outstanding runs, which takes you down for tea and cakes, or wine and nachos, at the Ritz Carlton!
Experts and thrill seekers will revel at some of the steep terrain, including the mens downhill run “Birds of Prey” and Grouse Mountain, which is mainly steepish runs with many moguls. Check out Screech Owl which offers as steep as maybe you want but Grouse Mountain is not for the timid or faint hearted.Want to practice your turns on the bumps? No problem. Larkspur has the ideal solution of some short steep black runs. Snowboarders will love Elk Glade at Beaver Creek.After some bump fun, have a few cruisers down the Centennial Ladies downhill run, but maybe not try and go as fast!
The village has a number of bars and some excellent dining options from Tex Mex at Coyotes to the classic American options at Beaver Creek Chophouse. The two on mountain restaurants at Spruce Saddle and Red Tail offer good quality food at a reasonable price. The Dusty Boot is a great family choice as is the Golden Eagle which we highly recommend as well as the Rocks bar and restaurant at Beaver Creek Lodge.The nightlife however is rather subdued so do not expect a lot happening at midnight. That’s left for Vail.
Off the slopes there is a choice of high end shops and galleries, with a superb ice rink in the centre, as well as the Villars centre, offering some world class entertainment.A few celebs have homes here including Tom Hanks but we rarely see them when out and about, though we did bump into Dustin Hoffman once…literally. All in all Beaver Creek is a place to remember and return to. Many do.
