My family goes here every year we can for a getaway weekend. It's so beautiful and relaxing, I don't even want to tell you about it because I don't want it to get crowded. Booking can be a little tedious because they seem to be working in 1994 instead if 2014, but it's worth being patient.
For the high price of the ski lift ticket I was expecting a little more. The lodge isn't anything special, I've seen many nicer (same priced, same sized) resorts in Colorado with much nicer accommodations. There were only 3 lifts. Its a good place for your not so hard core skiers and snowboarders. The tubing was a great cheap way to help us make our vacation slightly better. It was fun.
If you are looking for a reasonably priced small mountain to ski/snowboard at, Powderhorn is your place. Close to Grand Junction, this small resort is a great family snow spot. The runs are beginner to intermediate at best and there are only a handful of lifts, but you can't beat it for a quick day trip for the family.
The jump from Green runs to Blue runs is sizeable. There are some great Blues, but you need to be a Type II or III skier to be comfortable on them. The Blacks are ridiculous!
My daughters learned to ski here, and the friendly slopes and comfortable atmosphere make this our winter hang out. It's not Vail, and that is nice. No lift lines, No fashion show, No attitudes. Yes, fun, Yes nice weather, Yes on hanging out with family and friends. It is a smaller set of slopes, but we always have a good time.
The nearest ski resort to Grand Junction should not be missed by locals or visitors. In the last few years Powderhorn has had some of the best snow conditions in Colorado. The grooming crews are experts at maintaining excellent conditions where needed. Great prices for the whole family.
I've always enjoyed Powderhorn, but the last few years, I have been disappointed to see the pricing continue to go up up up, while the dated, small lodge stays the same. It is so incredibly packed in there, there is really no place to go inside to warm up or rest. The grill is often overcrowded to the point of being standing room only. And they do nothing to help deter crime. People have their boards/skis stolen off the racks by the lodge every time I go up there, even when using locks/cables. A couple of good cameras pointed at the racks and in the parking lots would be a great service to their loyal customers. I've known three kid who had their brand new boards stolen the day after Christmas. It was heartbreaking, as their parents couldn't afford to replace them and the resort was of no help.
Nice area for skiing when the snow is falling. This is a small resort with not too many green slopes, but for the adventurous you will have many options. There is a small food area and bar at the lodge. The outside deck is a great place to relax and enjoy the view. Overall the price is right with lift tickets being much less costly that other ski resorts in Colorado. This is lovely area that is not well known except for locals.
We skied here during the week and pleasantly surprised with affordable lift tickets, no lift lines, an uncrowded parking lot and nice deck to sit on after our day. We usually ski in Telluride. This was the first time skiing at this resort. My only complaint was with the ski school. Although I made a reservation for a lesson, we waited 30 minutes for our instructor to show up, only to find out that he went AWOL on the slopes due to some communication mix-up. The instructor we eventually had assumed we had more experience than we did and assumed that we knew the ski runs, which made for an unpleasant lesson where I learned nothing. He failed to warn us to be prepared for the small, steep hill when getting off the chairlift or how to deal with it. That being said, the staff was friendly and it was nice to ski with locals and not tourists from back east. It was also fun to see desert as we skied down the runs instead of snow-capped mountains.
Aside from excellent skiing, Powderhorn offers lovely fall color viewing, lush forest hikes and the perfect place to hold weddings, or other family events. Formal or informal, you cannot beat their prices, scenery, service or food.