Sunlight Mountain Resort and Ski Area is a ski area in Colorado, located in Garfield County in the White River National Forest, south of nearby Glenwood Springs.

Sunlight Mountain Resort
Sunlight Mountain Resort is located in Colorado
Sunlight Mountain Resort
Sunlight Mountain Resort
Location in Colorado
Sunlight Mountain Resort is located in the United States
Sunlight Mountain Resort
Sunlight Mountain Resort
Sunlight Mountain Resort (the United States)
LocationWhite River National Forest, Garfield Co., Colorado, U.S.
Nearest major cityGlenwood Springs:
12 miles (20 km)
Coordinates39°23′59.3″N 107°20′21.4″W / 39.399806°N 107.339278°W / 39.399806; -107.339278
Vertical2,010 feet (613 m)
Top elevation9,895 feet (3,016 m)
Base elevation7,885 feet (2,403 m)
Skiable area680 acres (2.8 km2)[1]
Trails67 total
- 20% beginner
- 55% intermediate
- 20% advanced
- 5% expert
Longest run2.5 miles (4.0 km)
Lift system3 chairlifts
- (1 triple, 2 double)
Terrain parks1
Snowfall250 in (635 cm)
Night skiingnone
Websitesunlightmtn.com

About edit

The ski area caters to local skiers and large groups. The area has three chairlifts and a vertical drop exceeding 2,010 feet (610 m). Operations began in December 1966 with one chairlift and a second was added in 1973.[2]

Terrain edit

The resort has surprising variety of terrain for its size, encompassing easy beginner runs, cruiser runs, as well as a section of steep chutes. The area covers a northeast-facing below-tree line basin that funnels all runs toward a single base area. Sunlight's summit offers views of Mount Sopris and the Elk Mountains.

U.S. Ski Team edit

  • Alice McKennis (b. 1989), World Cup racer in speed events. Two-time Olympian from New Castle, Colo., who learned to ski at Sunlight at the age of two. McKennis placed fifth in the Women's Downhill in 2018 Winter Olympics. On March 31, 2018, Sunlight dedicated Aligator Alleys, a series of three steep chutes on its famed East Ridge, in honor of McKennis, whose Instagram profile name is @thealigator.

References edit

  1. ^ "Winter Fun!". Sunlight Mountain Resort. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  2. ^ "History". Sunlight Mountain Resort. Retrieved January 12, 2013.

External links edit