Uphill Trend: Eldora Latest Ski Area Open For Climbing

Eldora Mountain Resort is the closest ski area to the outdoors mecca of Boulder, Colo. But for years, it’s been closed to uphill skiing. That changes this winter.

The United States Forest Service granted Eldora Mountain Resort a temporary change in its operating permit to allow alpine touring this winter.

Eldora, which sits on the southwest corner of Boulder Country, will trial uphill traffic this season. It will review benefits, use, and its place in daily operations.

Unlike most other ski areas’ free uphill access, you’ll have to pay at Eldora.

Eldora Uphill Access: How It Works

Eldora ski patrol will designate uphill routes, which may be limited to a single trail depending on weather, snow conditions, and on-hill events. Skiers must sign an AT (alpine touring) liability waiver and adhere to normal operating hours, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This differs from many ski areas, which allow uphill access before and after lift-served skiing runs mid-day.

Skiers must respect resort boundaries, meaning they can’t drop-in from backcountry areas before the resort is open.

Skiers may start skinning uphill at 8:45 a.m. but are not permitted to ski down until patrol has officially opened the resort and the first chair has unloaded.

Alpine touring is only available Monday through Friday, and not open on weekends or holidays.

Passes

Adult AT day tickets are $25, $16 for children and seniors. A season pass add-on is $99 for adults and $89 for children and seniors. An AT season pass is $149 for adults, $129 for children and seniors.

Eldora will also offer “Morning Cardio Sessions.” The mountain will offer AT season-pass holders uphill instruction on the south side of Challenge/Cannonball lift on specified Mondays and Thursdays from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m., January through March.

For more information on policy and dates visit Eldora Mountain Resort.