Mountain Review: Loveland (2020-2023)
MOUNTAIN SCORE
CATEGORY BREAKDOWN
See our criteria
8
Snow:
6
Resiliency:
7
Size:
7
Terrain Diversity:
7
Challenge:
4
Lifts:
7
Crowd Flow:
5
Facilities:
5
Navigation:
8
Mountain Aesthetic:
GOOD TO KNOW
On-site Lodging: No
Apres-ski: Limited
Pass Affiliation: Powder Alliance
Recommended Ability Level:
+ Pros
Easy access from Denver
Heavy annual snowfall
Wide variety of bowl skiing
Price
– Cons
Inconsistent conditions due to wind exposure
Slow lifts in many areas
No on-site lodging
MOUNTAIN STATS
Lifts: 10
Trails: 94
Beginner: 13%
Intermediate: 41%
Advanced/Expert: 46%
Mountain Review
If you’ve ever driven west on I-70 through the Eisenhower Tunnel, chances are you’ve noticed Loveland, the ski area that incredibly sits right above it. The ability to ski on top of a major interstate highway will assuredly attract at least a few people, but if you’re like most skiers, you’re probably looking for more in an ideal mountain experience. And while the ski area sees lots of snowfall throughout the year and offers solid bowl skiing, inconsistent conditions, modest acreage, and a lack of resort lodging leave Loveland at a disadvantage compared to other mountains.
The Loveland ski area is actually composed of two mountain areas: the main Loveland Basin area and the much smaller, beginner-friendly Loveland Valley. Loveland Valley is only connected to the rest by shuttle bus service and offers beginners complete isolation from the more aggressive skiers in other areas.
Directly on the continental divide, Loveland sits at a remarkably high elevation. Above-treeline terrain makes up a significant portion of the resort and spans hundreds of acres, with bowls offered for all ability levels. Some may find it difficult to exert energy up here due to the thinner atmosphere.
The altitude furnishes Loveland with extraordinary accumulation each season. When there’s powder, the resort delivers high quality snow everywhere on the mountain. On Thursdays through Sundays when conditions allow, Loveland offers free snowcat bowl skiing for experts at the top of the resort. Getting to the loading area requires a mild hike, but when conditions are good, the cat ride brings you to untouched snow.
However, many parts of the mountain fail to hold accumulation and get crusty quickly due to significant wind exposure. On bad days, visitors may come across unmarked thin cover and rough patches in many bowls. It’s best to stay clear of the highest elevation areas after a few days with no new snow.
On non-powder days, you’ll typically find Loveland’s best snow off the Chet’s Dream lift, which was recently upgraded to become the resort’s only high-speed lift. With entirely below-treeline north-facing terrain, this area holds snow much better than other parts of the mountain. You’ll consistently find powdery groomers and mogul runs here. Other below-treeline mountain areas generally offer decent conditions as well. Loveland builds the snow base on some lower mountain trails with early season snowmaking, often allowing the mountain to open as early as mid-October. However, the resort typically doesn’t continue the practice past December.
As you might expect from a fairly underdeveloped mountain, the majority of Loveland’s lifts are slow. Many chairs see heavy wind-exposure, but the resort finally installed safety bars on all of their lifts this year. A few logistical issues exist due to less-than-ideal lift placement. Even though every lift starts within a few thousand feet of the base, you need to take as many as three indirect ones to get to the top parts of the mountain. Some lifts are easy to miss on your way down due to the lack of true junction areas, and poor signage exacerbates the problem.
Luckily, low crowds help keep things moving, and the resort’s wide open nature helps make lifts visible from far away. In addition, you can get directly to the base area from anywhere at the resort.
One of Loveland’s strongest suits is its breathtaking mountain aesthetic. You’ll get direct views of some of the tallest peaks on the continental divide and feel like you’re on top of the world. There’s minimal development here except, of course, the major interstate highway running below—however, parts of the resort feel completely removed from that too. Some may be put off by the abandoned parking lot lift between Loveland Basin and Loveland Valley, but the general lack of crowds and local feel lead to pleasant vibes overall.
Both Loveland areas have their own base lodges with rental shops. Food at these is relatively cheap, and it’s possible to get a decent meal for under $10. Loveland Basin offers a few conveniently placed mid-mountain lodges and cabins, but they aren’t always open.
Lodging
There’s nowhere to stay on-site at Loveland—the nearest hotels are a few miles away on the other side of the continental divide. At certain times, snowstorms can leave roads unpassable and make the mountain difficult or impossible to drive to. You might be able to get to Loveland when roads to the other resorts are closed, but in these cases, the mountain’s parking lot can fill up and make it impossible to find a spot. Those searching for a dependable, multi-day ski vacation may want to look elsewhere.
Loveland ultimately makes the most sense as a day trip from Denver. With a drive of just one to two hours depending on traffic, it’s significantly faster to reach Loveland than many other Front Range resorts.
Apres-ski
Given the lack of a village, Loveland isn’t really an apres-ski mountain. However, both Loveland Basin and Loveland Valley have bars at the base area.
Verdict
Loveland doesn’t offer the same acreage, consistency, or lift modernization as competing ski resorts only a few miles west on the other side of the continental divide. But it’s worth noting that ticket prices are significantly cheaper than those at competing resorts, and on good days, it’s hard to find the same quality of powder anywhere else for the price. While the resort doesn’t offer any hotel lodging, the low lines, breathtaking views, and dedicated beginner area may be sufficient to sell day trippers.
