Winter Park (Colorado)

Winter Park is a little over 65 miles from Denver, and is one of the closest ski resorts from Denver. The route is I-70 West most of the way, with the remainder on U.S. Route 40 West, which goes over Berthoud Pass. Be sure to check for current conditions on Berthoud Pass, as it's common for it to be snowing (sometimes heavily) on the pass with no snow in Denver or on the way up I-70.
There are shuttles to Winter Park from Denver International Airport, and the town has an adequate free shuttle between Winter Park Resort, the town of Winter Park, and the town of Fraser.

By train

For over sixty years, the train going from Denver Union Station to Winter Park was an institution and something of a rite of passage for skiers in the area. It was cancelled in 2009, but will be back for the 2017 winter season. Departures are once every Saturday and Sunday morning with the return in the evening. See Amtrak's page on this service for more information. As Denver international airport is connected to Union station by light rail, you can fly into Denver, take the train to the ski area and never once have to use a car.

Powderhound Transportation provides shuttle service from Denver International Airport to Winter Park Colorado.

• Winter Park Resort

  phone: +1 303-892-0961
  address: 239 Winter Park Dr
  Ski Resort. Check out the Alpine Slide in the Summer!

• Hot Sulphur Springs ResortHot Sulpher Springs is about 45 minutes north of Winter Park. They have a fantastic set of hot springs pools, fun in both the winter and summer. They also have lodging here, but there's a level train crossing and 3 to 4 trains come through in the middle of the night blowing their whistles within half a mile of the rooms.

• Grand Adventures

  address: 81699 US Highway 40
  Snowmobiling, Sleigh Rides, ATV Rentals, and Horseback Riding.

• Pole Creek Golf Course

  phone: +1 970-887-9195
  address: 6827 County rd 51, Tabernash, Colorado 80478
  27 holes of Colorado Mountain Golf on 3 distinct courses The Meadow, The Ranch and The Ridge. Course is at 8,600 feet, and plays to 7,107 yards from the back tees. Voted Best New Public Course in North America in 1985.

• Hernando's, Pizza and PastaLocal, $7 per person

• Mad Munchies(30 miles north in Grandby), fantastic sandwiches. Local, $6 per person.

• Pizza ShopIn Frasier. Good pizza and Italian food. Local, $6 per person.

• De Antonio's, Pizza and Pasta(2 miles north in Frazier). In the Alco strip-mall, across the street from Safeway. Some of the best pizza by the slice in the area. (Local, $7 per person)

• Mountain RoseBreakfast in downtown Winter Park. It's fairly small, and almost always seems to have a wait. This seems mostly to be due to slow table turnover and a small dining-room. They're fairly heavy on attitude, and the sign out front says "Hours Iffy". Good food. (Local, $8 per person)

• Fontenot's Seafood Restaurant

  phone: +1 970-726-4021
  address: 78336 US Hwy 40
  This restaurant has been around since 1990 and is favored by the locals. Seafood is their specialty with or without a Cajun slant, but they also serve steaks, chicken, and pasta. A great selection of wines by the glass as well as some micro brews. Lunch is great value and they also have great happy hour deals on appetizers. Located in King’s Crossing Shopping Center, downtown Winter Park.

• Gasthaus Eichler Restaurant

  phone: +1 970-726-5133
  address: 78786 US Hwy 40
  Back under management by the original owners, Hans & Hanne Eichler. Using family recipes and everything hand-made, it serves up European and Continental cuisine. Their traditional German dishes have a huge local following, and includes such favorites as Paprika Goulasch, Jagerschnitzel, and Wiener Schnitzel. However, do not overlook the Chateaubriand, Steak Diane and the Rocky Mountain Trout. Serving lunch and dinner daily, with take-out available.

• Pearl Dragon II

  phone: +1 970 726-5252
  address: 45 County Road 804, Fraser, CO 80442
  Great Chinese food made fresh to order. Generous portions, reasonable prices and a great atmosphere. The family that runs Pearl Dragon is friendly and welcoming. A must for locals and out of town guest!

• Hernando's Pizza Pub

  phone: +1 970 726-5409
  address: 78199 Us Hwy 40
  Good variety of pizza and beer.

• Iron Horse Resort

  address: 101 Iron Horse Way
  Ski-In/Ski-Out, Full-Service resort offering condominiums in hotel style atmosphere.

• Moose Mountain Inn

  phone: +1 970 726-8255
  Moose Mountain Inn offers luxurious lodging.

• Best Western Alpenglo Lodge

  phone: +1 970 726-8088
  address: 78665 US Highway 40

• The Rocky Mountain Inn and Hostel

  address: Frasier
  Very cheap rooms and communal rooms. Has a computer with dial-up net access, but also has very good CDMA coverage.
• About 10 miles north of Frasier is a golf resort that has many very nice condos as well as hotel rooms, for around $140 per night. The condos all seem to have hot tubs in them. No CDMA coverage though.

• Destinations West at Beaver Village Condominiums

  phone: +1 970-726-8813
  address: 50 Village Dr
  Condos range in size from 1-4 bedrooms. Located only 2 blocks from downtown and 1.5 miles to the base of the ski resort, easily accessible to all of Winter Park. Free town ski shuttle will transport to the ski area directly from all of the condos. Centrally located Clubhouse has a heated indoor pool, hot tubs, sauna, guest laundry and 1200 square feet of meeting space. The Clubhouse and condos are also equipped with free high speed wireless internet services.

• Wild Horse Inn

  phone: +1 970-726-0456
  address: 1536 County Road 83, Fraser
  Lodge rooms and 3 private cabins. Breakfast included at Wild Horse Inn. Open year-round.

• StayWinterPark

  phone: +1 970-726-6200
  address: 50 Village Dr.
  Offering a variety of condos, cabins, townhomes, and houses for rent in areas of Winter Park such as Beaver Village, Lakota, and Fraser.

The hostel has dial-in on a public terminal.
Winter Park has great Sprint CDMA coverage which extends north to Frasier, but not much further. AT&T provides GSM and 3G (UMTS 850/1900) on US40 from Winter Park north through Frasier to Tabernash; further afield, coverage is sporadic due to mountains. Some spots are 3G-only, serviced only by another carrier or completely dead.

Wireless Internet

• Rocky Mountain Roastery and Coffee Company, with branches in Fraser and Winter Park, added pay-per-use wireless Internet connectivity in August 2014.
• Winter Park Coffee Company has free wireless with a purchase. Located next to Deno's restaurant, in the main street Real Estate building.