Keystone
Three peaks, night skiing, and the biggest snow fort you've ever seen.
3D Terrain
Download 3D Print Kit (.ZIP)Our Take
Keystone is the Swiss Army knife of Colorado skiing. Three interconnected peaks -- Dercum, North Peak, and The Outback -- give you 3,148 acres that range from perfectly groomed front-side cruisers to legit backcountry-feel bowls. It's one of the few Colorado resorts with night skiing, which means you can ride until 8 PM under the lights and still get a full day in. The A51 terrain park is consistently ranked top-tier, and families love it because the base village is walkable and kid-friendly without being boring. Also, they build a literal snow fort every year -- Kidtopia -- with a 60-foot-tall castle. It's for kids but adults secretly love it too.
Nerd Stats
Skiable Acres
3,148
Peaks
3
Lifts
21
Summit Elevation
12,408'
Fun Facts
- Night skiing until 8 PM on a lit, groomed network. Rare in Colorado and totally worth it.
- Kidtopia snow fort is rebuilt every season. 60+ feet tall. It's absurd and wonderful.
- The Outback (third peak) feels like backcountry but it's fully in-bounds. Best-kept secret on the mountain.
- Keystone hosted the US Pro Ski Tour for years and the A51 park draws national-level riders.
Why Keystone?
Keystone is Summit County's night skiing mountain, the family-friendly option, and secretly has some of the best expert terrain in the area on the backside. Three peaks, a frozen lake with ice skating and hockey, and one of the earliest openings in Colorado every year.
The Lowdown
Local's Tips
- 1.The Outback (Peak 3) has legit gladed terrain that rivals anything in Summit County. Most visitors never leave Peaks 1 and 2.
- 2.Night skiing runs until 8 PM and the mountain is nearly empty after 5. Best laps of the day.
- 3.The A51 Terrain Park on Dercum Mountain is one of the best parks in Colorado. Worth a session even if you're not a park rat.
- 4.Keystone opens in October most years. Early season turns are thin but the stoke is real.
Don't Miss
Night skiing under the lights
Keystone has the largest night skiing operation in Colorado. The temperature drops, the crowds thin out, and you get perfectly groomed corduroy under the lights. It's a vibe.
Ice skating on Keystone Lake
A massive Zamboni-groomed lake right at the base. It's beautiful, it's free (with skate rental), and it's one of those quintessential mountain experiences.
Alpenglow Stube fondue dinner
Ride two gondolas to reach North America's highest AAA Four Diamond restaurant at 11,444 feet. The six-course fondue menu is a splurge worth making.
Where to Eat
Our picks -- not just the Google results
Alpenglow Stube
$$$$European Fine Dining
North America's highest fine-dining restaurant, perched at 11,444 feet. Take two gondolas to get there, and the multi-course menu is surprisingly excellent for a mountaintop. The views are absurd.
Go for dinner -- riding the gondola up in the dark is an experience itself.
Kickapoo Tavern
$$American Pub
The River Run apres staple. Great nachos, cold beer, live music on weekends. Nothing fancy, just reliable good times after a day on the slopes.
Grab a patio spot when the sun hits. Best apres in the Keystone base area.
Inxpot
$Coffee / Breakfast
The morning fuel stop in River Run Village. Good coffee, breakfast burritos, pastries. It's where every Keystone morning starts and that's not an exaggeration.
The breakfast burrito. Every time.
Things You Should Actually Do
Beyond the obvious -- our insider picks
Night Skiing on Dercum Mountain
Skiing
The only real night skiing in Colorado. 11 lit runs until 8pm on select nights. It's a totally different experience -- the mountain gets quieter, the lights create cool shadows, and you get way more runs in.
Friday and Saturday nights are busiest. Midweek night sessions are almost empty.
Keystone Lake Ice Skating
Winter Classic
A 5-acre Zamboni-maintained lake rink surrounded by the village. It's the largest maintained outdoor rink in North America. Hockey, figure skating, or just wobbling around -- it's magical at night.
Go at night when the village lights reflect off the ice. Free with resort lodging.
Kidtopia Snow Fort
Family
A massive snow fort built fresh each season at the summit. Slides, tunnels, and towers. Kids absolutely lose their minds. Even adults have to admit it's pretty impressive.
Best photo op is from outside looking at the whole structure with the Continental Divide behind it.
The Vibe at Keystone
Keystone is Summit County's underrated gem. Three mountains, night skiing (the only place in Colorado with a real night skiing operation), and it's less crowded than its neighbors on the Epic Pass. Plus the village ice skating rink and village are legitimately charming.