Copper Mountain could be getting a lot bigger in the coming seasons. On Feb. 27, White River National Forest (WRNF) approved a master plan to expand the resort by more than 500 acres. The plan also includes eight upgrades to existing lifts and six brand-new lifts — one of which would be the highest in North America.
It is an ambitious growth proposal and one that the resort now has the green light to pursue.
“The upgrade plan works to improve circulation around the mountain with updated lift infrastructure, as well as provide guests with access to new and unique terrain within Copper’s existing Special Use Permit area,” SE Group, which designed the plan, stated in its summary.
Currently, the resort encompasses 3,641 skiable acres. The expansion would boost that by 14%, bringing the total to 4,154 acres. Copper aims to increase out-of-base lift capacity and better disperse visitors across the mountain. With that added terrain and new and upgraded lifts, the resort’s carrying capacity would go from 11,870 to 15,360 skiers per day.
It won’t take cars off I-70 or make parking any easier. But if this conceptual master plan comes to fruition, it could help break up and scatter crowds across Copper Mountain more effectively.
Copper Mountain Expansion Plan

Updated Lifts
The master plan outlines a list of hopeful improvements and updates to Copper Mountain — including restroom improvements, restaurant upgrades, adding utilities, new MTB and hiking trails, and much more.
It is still conceptual, even though it got the WRNF stamp of approval.
However, two of the lift upgrades outlined in the plan have already been approved and just need to be implemented. Alpine Lift on the far eastern side of the resort would be replaced and extended to access more terrain. Similarly, the notoriously slow 43-year-old three-person Lumberjack lift on the far west side of the resort would be replaced with a high-speed six-person lift.
Other lift upgrades outlined in the Master Plan include upgrading Superbee, Excelerator, Mountain Chief, and Black Jack lifts, as well as upgrading and extending Alpine Lift and upgrading and realigning Rendezvous Lift.
New Lifts, Tucker Gulch Expansion

Copper Mountain Expansion: More to Come
