--- title: "Find your stay in Winter Park" canonical: "https://www.firstchair.com/destinations/colorado/winter-park" --- # Find your stay in Winter Park [First Chair Destinations](https://www.firstchair.com/) › [Colorado](https://www.firstchair.com/destinations/colorado) › Winter Park, Colorado Seven ski territories, 3,081 acres, and a winter train from Denver Union Station to the base ## Take the train to the lifts Winter Park is the closest major resort to Denver, 67 miles west along the Continental Divide, and the only one in the country where a train drops skiers at the base of the mountain. Its visitors enjoy an unusual range of terrain paired with a low-key base village, premier accommodations, and immediate access to hundreds of thousands of acres of public land. Winter Park spreads across seven distinct territories covering 3,081 acres — Discovery Park for first-timers, long groomers on the original Winter Park side, the legendary moguls of Mary Jane, and expert terrain in Vasquez Cirque and The Cirque, some of it hike-to or snowcat-accessed. The mountain climbs from a 9,000-foot base to a 12,060-foot summit with 3,060 feet of vertical. Beyond the slopes, free buses connect the resort with Winter Park, Fraser, and Granby, and the Winter Park Express runs from Denver Union Station on winter weekends. ## Everything you need to know ### How do I get to Winter Park? Winter Park sits 67 miles west of Denver and about 90 miles from Denver International Airport, roughly 90 minutes to two hours by car via I-70 and US-40 over Berthoud Pass. Amtrak's Winter Park Express runs from Denver Union Station directly to the resort base in winter. ### How far is Winter Park from Denver? About 67 miles on US 40 over Berthoud Pass, typically 1.5 to 2 hours depending on weather and traffic. Berthoud Pass tops out at 11,307 feet with steep grades and switchbacks, so check conditions before driving it in a storm. ### Can I get to Winter Park without a car? Yes, more directly than anywhere else in Colorado. The Winter Park Express drops passengers at a platform at the base of the mountain, not at a station requiring a transfer. Once you're there, the free Lift Transit System connects the resort with Winter Park, Fraser, and Granby. ### How does the Winter Park Express work? The train departs Denver Union Station early morning and arrives at the resort base a little over two hours later, returning in the late afternoon. It runs Thursday through Sunday during the winter season, with fares starting around $9 one way. Ski and snowboard transport is included. ### When does the ski train run? Typically late December through late March, with regular Thursday-through-Sunday service beginning in January. Exact dates and fares are set each year, so check Amtrak or the resort site before planning around it. Weekend trips sell out, so book several weeks ahead. ### Is Winter Park good for skiers with disabilities? Yes, notably so. Winter Park is home to the National Sports Center for the Disabled, one of the largest recreational and therapeutic skiing programs of its kind. The Winter Park Express is also wheelchair accessible on the train’s lower level. ### Is Winter Park good for beginners? Yes. The Winter Park territory carries the resort’s learning terrain and its wide groomed runs. Mary Jane, the bump skiing the resort is known for, is a separate territory, so beginners and experts are not sharing the same trails. ### What is Mary Jane? Mary Jane is Winter Park’s mogul territory, opened in 1975 and known well beyond Colorado for its bump runs. The local phrase is “No Pain, No Jane.” It‘s steep, ungroomed, and demanding: the terrain that gives the resort its reputation among strong skiers. ### Is Winter Park good for advanced skiers? Yes. Beyond Mary Jane’s moguls, Vasquez Cirque and The Cirque hold high-alpine and expert-only terrain, some of it hike-to or snowcat-accessed. Parsenn Bowl opens above treeline. The 3,060-foot vertical delivers long sustained descents. ### Where should I stay in Winter Park? Homes and condos are spread between the resort base, the town of Winter Park, Fraser, and Granby. All four are connected by The Lift’s free shuttle, so a place in Fraser or Granby is still an easy ride to the lifts. ### Do I need a rental car in Winter Park? Not necessarily. The free Lift Transit System covers the resort, town, Fraser, and Granby, and a complimentary shuttle runs between lodging and base areas. A car helps for exploring Grand County or Rocky Mountain National Park, but it isn’t required for a ski trip. ### How big is Winter Park? Winter Park covers 3,081 skiable acres across seven distinct territories, climbing from a 9,000-foot base to a 12,060-foot summit with 3,060 feet of vertical. The territories are Winter Park, Mary Jane, Vasquez Cirque, Vasquez Ridge, Eagle Wind, Parsenn Bowl, and The Cirque. ### Who owns Winter Park? The City and County of Denver, making it the only major U.S. ski resort owned by a city. It’s also Colorado’s longest continuously operated ski area, with the mountain first opening in 1940: the same year the original ski train began running. ### How many days should I stay in Winter Park? Three to four days works well, and weekend trips are practical here in a way they aren’t at fly-in destinations. The proximity to Denver and the train schedule both support shorter stays. Groups renting a home often go longer to cover all seven territories. ### Is Winter Park a good place to stay in the summer? Yes. Trestle Bike Park runs lift-served downhill mountain biking from June through Labor Day, with lifts carrying bikes to 12,060 feet. The area gives access to hundreds of thousands of acres of public land, with Rocky Mountain National Park nearby. ## All homes in Winter Park - [Beautiful Riverfront 2BR - Hi Country Haus 12-1](https://www.firstchair.com/property/1124234) · 2 bd · sleeps 6 - [Beaver Village](https://www.firstchair.com/property/1091459) · 2 bd · sleeps 5 - [Coziest Condo](https://www.firstchair.com/property/1090923) · 2 bd · sleeps 6 - [Cozy Corner](https://www.firstchair.com/property/1090916) · 2 bd · sleeps 6 - [Crisp Mountain Retreat](https://www.firstchair.com/property/1090909) · 2 bd · sleeps 8 - [Divide View Townhome](https://www.firstchair.com/property/1090869) · 3 bd · sleeps 10 - [Elk Trail Retreat](https://www.firstchair.com/property/1090210) · 2 bd · sleeps 6 - [Founders Pointe 4445](https://www.firstchair.com/property/1091640) · sleeps 4 - [Founders Pointe Condo](https://www.firstchair.com/property/1090198) · sleeps 4 - [Hi Country Haus 6-15](https://www.firstchair.com/property/1091639) · 1 bd · sleeps 4 - [Hi Country Haus 11-12](https://www.firstchair.com/property/1090409) · 2 bd · sleeps 6 - [Hi Country Haus 11-2](https://www.firstchair.com/property/1090910) · 1 bd · sleeps 4 - [Hi Country Haus 14-5](https://www.firstchair.com/property/1090981) · 1 bd · sleeps 4 - [Hi Country Haus Getaway](https://www.firstchair.com/property/1090915) · 1 bd · sleeps 4 - [Hi Country Haus Haven](https://www.firstchair.com/property/1090212) · 1 bd · sleeps 4 - [Hi Country Haus Hideaway](https://www.firstchair.com/property/1090206) · 2 bd · sleeps 6 - [High Country Nest in Winter Park](https://www.firstchair.com/property/1090926) · 1 bd · sleeps 4 - [Iron Horse Resort 3063](https://www.firstchair.com/property/1090199) · sleeps 4 - [Iron Horse Resort 5064](https://www.firstchair.com/property/1090912) · sleeps 4 - [Iron Horse Resort D3084--Studio](https://www.firstchair.com/property/1090659) · sleeps 4 - [Iron Horse Studio](https://www.firstchair.com/property/1091083) · sleeps 4 - [Lakota Northwoods Luxury Villa 308](https://www.firstchair.com/property/1090925) · 4 bd · sleeps 12 - [Lucky Adventure Lodge](https://www.firstchair.com/property/1090406) · 2 bd · sleeps 8 - [Modern High Country Haus](https://www.firstchair.com/property/1090322) · 3 bd · sleeps 8 - [Mountain Haven at Hi Country Haus](https://www.firstchair.com/property/1090922) · 1 bd · sleeps 4 - [Red Quill Basecamp](https://www.firstchair.com/property/1090456) · 3 bd · sleeps 8 - [Red Quill Village](https://www.firstchair.com/property/1090844) · 4 bd · sleeps 14 - [Rustic Relaxation in Winter Park](https://www.firstchair.com/property/1090924) · 3 bd · sleeps 14 - [Skiing Sanctuary](https://www.firstchair.com/property/1090385) · 2 bd · sleeps 6 - [Snowblaze Condominiums C14](https://www.firstchair.com/property/1091648) · 2 bd · sleeps 7 - [Snowblaze Condominiums E103](https://www.firstchair.com/property/1090200) · sleeps 4 - [Snowblaze Studio](https://www.firstchair.com/property/1090921) · sleeps 4 - [The Antlers 401](https://www.firstchair.com/property/1090730) · 4 bd · sleeps 10 - [The Modern Mountain Getaway](https://www.firstchair.com/property/1091643) · 2 bd · sleeps 8 - [The Sanctuary Hi Country Haus](https://www.firstchair.com/property/1090209) · 2 bd · sleeps 8 - [Timber Fox Escape](https://www.firstchair.com/property/1090408) · 3 bd · sleeps 6 - [Timber Run Evergreen 9](https://www.firstchair.com/property/1091618) · 2 bd · sleeps 9 - [Timber Run Vista 2](https://www.firstchair.com/property/1090914) · sleeps 4 - [Trailside Tranquility](https://www.firstchair.com/property/1090927) · 3 bd · sleeps 9 - [Vasquez Vista](https://www.firstchair.com/property/1090207) · 2 bd · sleeps 9 - [Viking Alpine Haven](https://www.firstchair.com/property/1090929) · 3 bd · sleeps 10 - [Zephyr Mountain Ski-In/Ski-Out Condo](https://www.firstchair.com/property/1091642) · 1 bd · sleeps 4 --- For photos, current rates and availability, see the page: https://www.firstchair.com/destinations/colorado/winter-park