I stepped out the door of Hotel Frisco and turned left, and walked west down Main Street. A snow dusting lingered from the prior weekend and covered chairs and lined sidewalks. The air was calm, quiet. Multi-colored Christmas lights wrapped around lampposts, like the swirls in a candycane. Mount Royal loomed over the horizon as the sun receded.
As I walked off a day of snowboarding, Frisco, Colorado, felt like sitting by the fire, wrapped in a wool blanket. People walked and talked at a gentle pace, and local shops and restaurants lined the street. As I discovered, the town was a pleasant base camp in a world of touristy destinations. Here’s the story.
Where Summit County Slows Down
Frisco, Colorado, sits just off I-70, about a one-hour, forty-minute drive from Denver International Airport. Walking down Main Street, the facades resemble a modern version of towns in old Western movies, with restaurants, saloons, clothing stores, and more. It’s like a High Rockies outpost.
But more important is how Frisco feels. Life is slow. Walks are easy. Tourism hasn’t overcome the population of around 3,000. Sure, there are shopping centers and gas stations, but once you’re on Main Street, the world slows down. The best part? The town’s proximity to six world-class ski resorts.
Vanessa Agee, Communications Director for the Town of Frisco, said: “If I wanted to ski everything from Copper to Breckenridge to Vail to Arapahoe Basin, I’d make Frisco my basecamp. It’s centrally located within seven to 30 minutes of six ski resorts, and yet, it’s largely escaped the crush of tourism. Main Street is studded with locally owned restaurants, watering holes, and shops, and I’ve never gone out in Frisco without being able to at least snag a prime spot at the bar for a great meal. This is a town that lives for the outdoors.”
A Cozy Base on Main Street
After a weekend snowstorm forced a late flight, I arrived at the Hotel Frisco around midnight. Check-in was seamless, as I entered a code on the front door, then my room, and unpacked my gear. Upon entering, the central lobby resembled a mountain cabin, with a fire under a stone hearth, a towering ceiling with wooden beams, couches, and pine scents.
My room balanced rustic with luxurious, with hardwood floors, dark blue walls, tasteful lighting, and a refrigerator and microwave. Some 1800s mining town ambience seemed present, as I, the wayward traveler stopped in for a few days of adventure.
Each day featured a free happy hour from 4-6, where guests could tell stories by the fire, grab some free drinks and snacks, and take in the calm.
Big Terrain, Easy Mornings
I couldn’t wait to branch out from Frisco and explore the Rocky Mountains. On the itinerary were Arapahoe Basin (25 min), Copper Mountain (14 min), and Vail (27 min). Each offered a unique flavor of Colorado snowboarding, from terrain to culture.
Arapahoe Basin: Steep, straightforward, and refreshingly honest
Over the years, A-Basin has become a personal favorite in Summit County, CO. Why? The focus is on skiing and snowboarding. On arrival, a roughly football field-sized parking lot awaits, with chalet-style buildings and a modest yet accommodating lodge. But the real treat is the mountain.
Featuring an open layout of 1,428 acres, a 2,530 vertical drop, and 73% advanced/expert terrain, the mountain let me challenge myself or cruise down. I began the day taking the Black Mountain Express chair, then the Lenawee Express, where the treeless expanses let me pick my line. From there, my favorite run was Humbug, a natural gully that opened into the wide, mellow Dercum’s Gulch. Late in the day, ski patrol opened Pallavicini, where I tested myself on the roughly 40% grade. Lunch was a barbecue sandwich with Jack Daniels sauce and waffle fries at Black Mountain Lodge, located mid-mountain.
Shayna Silverman, Communications Manager at Arapahoe Basin, said, “People love A-Basin. We have a cult following, and I think it speaks for itself. We have the terrain, we have the vibe, we have the people. And that’s what brings everyone back, is that community they find here.”
Copper Mountain: Sun, space, and options for days
A blazing sun greeted me on the quick drive to Copper Mountain, where I parked almost slopeside and encountered a fun, ski-focused vibe. After grabbing an iced coffee, I joined eager skiers and riders on the American Eagle chair and began exploring perfect corduroy on Bittersweet. From there, I ventured to Sierra Chair (via American Flyer), where Endeavor’s steeps tested my focus, before opening up into Coppertone’s gentle pitch.
With 2,538 acres and a 2,738 vertical drop, I had plenty to choose from. That included dropping into the backside of the mountain, on Atlantic Cornice, with a 25% pitch and 10,000-foot-plus mountains along the horizon. I had to concentrate on maintaining control, as the incline demanded skill and the heavy snow pounded underneath.
Commenting on Copper’s fun mood, Copper Mountain Communications Coordinator Molly Glandt said, “This is a skier and snowboarder mountain. We get a lot of people who come up from the Front Range, and they’re people who are really excited and really want to get out there and do something new. These are people who want to be outside, want to do an adventure.”
Vail: Floating across an open canvas
Clouds covered the mountains as I grabbed my morning coffee. After two days of clear skies, I felt a little disappointed on a low-visibility day. But I was in for a treat.
Driving west on I-70 felt apocalyptic, with driving snow and traffic slowed to a crawl. My Jeep’s tires clawed and slipped; I just hoped to get to the mountain.
There, an unexpected powder day awaited. I began on Gondola One, before transferring to Wildwood Express Lift, making feathery turns down Showboat, before laps on Baccarat via the Game Creek Express Lift (Chair 7). What a feeling.
Snow depth was just right, around 5 inches, with that down-feather snow sensation, while still allowing ample speed and wide open turns. Other favorites off Chair 7 were The Woods and Dealer’s Choice. It was a day of surfing the snow.
Michelle Dallal, Senior Communications Specialist at Vail, said, “There’s a lot of great terrain open at Vail right now. We have almost our entire front side open, and if you head into the trees, you can find a lot of nice stashes, especially Game Creek Bowl. Even though it’s been a dry season, we’ve got plenty to offer.”
Comfort Food, Mountain-Style
All-day, big mountain snowboarding required refueling and recharging. From morning Americanos to evening comfort food, Frisco brought true mountain fare.
Fuel before first chair
I began each day with a visit to Mountain Dweller Coffee, nestled inside Outer Range Brewing. Inside, concrete floors, an island-style bar and taps, and neon lights set an authentic, local mood. My standard order was an Americano and a bagel with cream cheese, which I savored as music played and I anticipated the day.
Silver Crown: Warmth on a cold night
After a frigid walk down Main Street, I stepped into a warm oasis at Silver Crown Whiskey Bar. The small space (about 100×100 feet) immediately took me in with cozy ambience. Along the walls, low-lit cubbies held artifacts like pottery and a silver antler, and a central stone hearth glowed orange from an electric water vapor fire.
I began with a seasonal salad, with greens and pears contrasting between earthy and sweet. Then, a Shepherd’s Pie in an iron skillet contained Wagyu beef, scallions, carrots, peas, veal gloss, and pommes puree. Perfect sustenance on a winter night.
Pure Kitchen: From-scratch comfort
Stepping into Pure Kitchen, a modern design set the mood, with an L-shaped layout, wood tones, and illuminated globes above, their white lights like stars. I took a seat at the bar, made of Amazonian wood, as the bartender shared that everything — down to the bread — was made in-house.
I started with the Alpine Lavender Cooler, a mocktail that refreshed like a mountain stream, with sliced cucumbers floating about. I wanted something simple and satisfying for dinner, picking the Bacon Blue Cheeseburger, which comprised organic grass-fed beef, bacon, blue cheese, organic spinach, red onion, and mayo. A fresh side salad provided a nourishing complement.
A Basecamp Without the Noise
My first visit to Frisco was in December 2005. The town’s quiet, almost still, ambience made an impression. Thankfully, that feeling continues to this day. Early in the morning, before sunrise, I loved venturing out for coffee, fueling up, then snowboarding all day. In the evening, Main Street offered the perfect place to wind down, with ample dining choices, people strolling, and the sun setting over Mount Royal. Hotel Frisco was like a private cabin along the sidewalk.
Frisco is unique because it holds onto the small, mountain town spirit in an era of resort growth and burgeoning tourism. It’s a place to truly escape to the Rocky Mountains and let your spirit rest (in between long ski days, of course). If you’re searching for a well-balanced mountain adventure, Frisco, Colorado should be on your list.
