Sunlight Mountain Resort

Cheap, uncrowded skiing above Glenwood’s hot springs.

An independent hill 12 miles south of Glenwood Springs, celebrating 60 years this winter. Tickets start around $74, parking is free, lines are rare, and new Primo and Segundo chairs replaced the old ones in 2025. The Heathen is one of the steepest lift-served runs in Colorado. Pair it with Glenwood’s hot springs pools for an easy, affordable ski-and-soak weekend.

The mountain

Vertical drop

2,010 ft

Summit

9,895 ft

Skiable terrain

740 acres

Trails

77

Lifts

3

Average snowfall

250″ a year

Longest run

2.5 mi

Snowmaking

3% of terrain

Terrain mix

• Beginner 15%
• Intermediate 30%
• Advanced 55%

What’s here besides skiing

• Terrain park
• Snowmobiling
• Cross-country
• Snowshoeing
• Hot springs
• Spa
• Kids programs

Holidays and events

2026–27 dates where they’re posted. “Usually” means the date follows past years. Confirm before you go.

• ChristmasFri after Thanksgiving (annual)Usually

  Hotel Colorado holiday lighting

  Glenwood’s holiday kickoff. Santa counts down from the roof, more than half a million lights come on around 7 pm and fireworks follow. A craft fair, ice carving and music fill the day.

• ChristmasA Saturday before Christmas (Dec 20 in 2025)Usually

  Ski With Santa

  Hot chocolate and photos with Santa at the lodge, then a group lap down Midway. Anyone dressed as Santa or an elf gets a free cookie.

• Opening dayMid-December (Dec 13 in 2025)Usually

  Opening Day

  Sunlight starts its 60th season.

• FestivalLate January (Jan 31 in 2026)Usually

  Ski Spree

  Sunlight’s longest-running event, with a scavenger hunt, fire dancers, a torchlight parade and fireworks.

• EventEarly April (Apr 5 in 2026)Usually

  Closing Day

  End-of-season party on the slopes.

Where to stay

• ski-in/ski-outThe Brettelberg Condominiums

  Condos on the slopes, and the only ski-in/ski-out lodging at Sunlight.

  Slopeside
• hotelGlenwood Hot Springs Lodge

  Hotel next to the giant hot springs pool, sold in Sunlight’s ski-and-swim packages.

  25 min drive
• hotelHotel Colorado

  Grand 1893 hotel downtown; the Sunlight ski shuttle stops at the front door.

  25 min drive
• hotelHotel Maxwell Anderson

  Boutique hotel in the former Hotel Denver, across from the train station, with the Glenwood Canyon Brewpub downstairs.

  25 min drive
• hotelGlenwood Springs Cedar Lodge

  Value motel on Grand Avenue with indoor and outdoor pools, hot tubs and kitchen suites, steps from the free city bus.

  20 min drive

Rates are typical winter lows before taxes and fees, and change constantly. Book on the property’s own site.

Things to do

• Glenwood Hot Springs Pool · 25 min drive

  The huge outdoor mineral pool, billed as the world’s largest, open year-round.

• Iron Mountain Hot Springs · 25 min drive

  Smaller soaking pools along the Colorado River, now 35 pools plus a new sauna area. Reserve ahead.

• Yampah Spa & Vapor Caves · 25 min drive

  Natural underground steam caves with massages and treatments.

• Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park · 25 min drive

  A gondola ride to cave tours and, from late November, the Winter on the Mountain holiday lights.

• Sunlight snowmobile tours · At the resort

  Guided rides into the backcountry next to the ski area, for beginners and families too.

• Babbish Gulch nordic trails · 5 min drive

  29 km of free groomed cross-country and snowshoe trails below Williams Peak. Rentals at the base.

• Glenwood Canyon Brewpub · 25 min drive

  Long-running downtown brewpub across from the train station.

Après and nightlife

• Todd’s Tavern

  The base lodge bar for local beer and lift stories, with last call at 5:30 pm.

• Glenwood Canyon Brewpub

  House beers and pub food downtown on the way to the pools.

• Doc Holliday’s Saloon

  Old-West saloon on Grand Avenue named for the gunfighter buried in town.

These themes are our summary of recent skier reviews, not quotes.

Getting there

• Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE) · about 50 min drive
• Denver · about 3 hr
• Salt Lake City · about 6 hr

Directions in Google Maps