Did you know that you can see another ski resort from every ski area in Summit County, Colorado? I like to think of it as skiing’s version of Inception. While it doesn’t seem noteworthy in many locations where different resorts share the same peak or mountain range, Summit County offers pretty clear visibility of other mountains that are rather far apart (in terms of skiing or hiking between them, not driving).
Summit County is home to 4 resorts: Arapahoe Basin (A-Basin), Breckenridge (Breck), Copper, and Keystone. All 4 of these resorts are on either the Epic or Ikon pass. Neighboring non-mega pass resort Loveland will be included in this list, as Loveland regularly has representation at the annual Summit County Ski Areas COO meeting. Here’s how you can view the different resorts from each of these destinations (as personally experienced by this author/ski bum):
Loveland
I’m going to work my way through these resorts from East to West, starting with Clear Creek County’s Loveland. The best views are off of Chair 9, which used to be the highest chairlift in the state before another on this list took the prize. There is a flat spot immediately off of the left of the lift, which offers a perfect out-of-the-way viewing location. As you look left, you can just barely make out the top of A-Basin’s Beavers terrain. To the right is a very clear view of Keystone’s Dercum Mountain. Looking above Keystone and into the distance, you can see Breck’s high-alpine terrain. If you continue on the catwalk, all of Breck becomes visible. If you look all the way to the right on a very clear day, you can see the top of Copper (at least I think you can, it is very hard to confirm from this distance).
Arapahoe Basin
A-Basin offers panoramic views from the top of the Zuma lift. When looking back at the base area, you can catch a glimpse of Loveland’s cat skiing and hiking terrain. When looking down the Montezuma terrain, Keystone’s frontside is clearly in the foreground with all of Breck looming behind it. To the right, you can once again just barely make out the top of Copper. You can also head down Loafer from the Beavers chair to get another angle.
Keystone
Keystone has very minimal views of A-Basin from Spring Dipper, though these views are really nothing noteworthy. It is unclear if a better view of A-Basin will become apparent with the completion of the Bergman Bowl expansion. The best view of Breck can be easily seen off of the top of the Outback chairlift, and this view remains as you descend from here. I haven’t been able to catch any views of Loveland or Copper from the lift-accessible terrain, and it’s unknown (to me, at least) if these resorts are visible from the hike-to terrain.
Breckenridge
From the moment you get off of a chairlift at Breck, Keystone’s three peaks are very distinguishable. Breck’s best views can be found off the Imperial chair, which is famously the highest chairlift in North America. From here, you can see A-Basin’s Montezuma terrain to the right of Keystone. Terrain from Loveland isn’t visible, but you can see the backside of the mountain it sits on. If you stay high on the ridge heading towards Whale’s Tail, you will have a surprisingly clear view of Copper’s Spaulding Bowl and Resolution terrain.
Copper
Copper’s resort views from lift-accessible terrain is disappointing in comparison to the other 4 resorts. The best opportunity to see other resorts is from the Storm King t-bar. If you exit to the left, this range immediately off the Spaulding Ridge is the back side of Breck’s high-alpine terrain (where I previously mentioned you can see Copper from). Looking down I-70, you can see the frontside of Keystone if you squint really hard.
Photos Courtesy of skiingsolo