Colorado Ski Areas The Best of the BestColorado is considered one of the best ski areas in the world and has few peers in the United States. It always has the first area to open and the last to close. This year Arapahoe basin took the first open prize. It has always been known for the most snow and the best powder conditions available anywhere. We regularly have over  100 inches at ski areas all over the state  Photo Keystone Ski Resort

I will bet you always wanted to know what the skiers think is the best in Colorado. This information was compiled from media sources from all over the U.S. including many internet sources and from skiers who come here from all over the world just to ski. The Best of the Best

Best powder: Steamboat Springs.

Best views: Aspen Highlands or Aspen; Telluride (view the old mining town from atop the Plunge or turn your head and you can see all the way to Utah); Loveland (not too many areas where you can slide a few feet from a lift to the Continental Divide).

Best extreme terrain: Silverton Mountain. But hey, most of the resorts have double-black diamond runs (experts only).

Best out-of-the-way resort: Telluride. It's nestled in a box canyon in the San Juan Mountains 330 miles from Denver, and flying here often requires a stop somewhere else first. Jaw-dropping views of 13,000-foot peaks.

Best family area: Winter Park. Every ski area makes this claim, but here, it's second-nature to let the teens hit the bumps or the terrain park while you take a cruiser before you all meet at the bottom. Bonus: Take the Ski Train home to Denver and avoid the commute.

Best moguls: Mary Jane at Winter Park for years has styled itself as the place for the best bumps in Colorado. But everyone has 'em: Aspen and Vail have killer bumps, and so does Copper Mountain.

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