Echo Mountain Resort facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Echo Mountain |
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 Echo Mountain
Location in Colorado
Echo Mountain
Location in the United States
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| Location | Clear Creek County, Colorado, United States |
| Nearest city | Evergreen, Colorado |
| Coordinates | 39°41′6″N 105°31′10″W / 39.68500°N 105.51944°W |
| Vertical | 600 ft (180 m) |
| Top elevation | 10,650 ft (3,250 m) |
| Base elevation | 10,050 ft (3,060 m) |
| Skiable area | 226+ acres |
| Runs | 13 total - 3 easiest - 6 more difficult - 4 most difficult |
| Longest run | Pops (0.4 mi) |
| Lift system | 3 (1 triple chair, 2 covered conveyor lifts) |
| Snowfall | 275 in/year |
| Snowmaking | 50 acres (200,000 m2) |
| Night skiing | 100% lit |
| Website | [1] |
Echo Mountain is a fun place in Clear Creek County, Colorado, west of Evergreen, Colorado. It's a popular spot for skiing, snowboarding, and tubing. It's also the closest ski area to the big city of Denver, making it easy to visit for a day of snow adventures!
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About Echo Mountain
Echo Mountain is located where another ski area, Squaw Pass, used to be. Echo first opened in 2006. When it started, it was mainly a "terrain park." This means it had special areas with jumps, rails, and other features for skiers and snowboarders to practice tricks.
What Makes Echo Mountain Special?
After a few years, Echo Mountain changed its focus. It was sold in 2012 and became a private training center for ski racers. But don't worry, it changed again! In 2016, a new owner bought the mountain. They wanted to open it back up to everyone. Now, it's a great place for all kinds of snow sports fans.
One cool thing about Echo Mountain is that it's fully lit up at night. This means you can go nightskiing! The ski area has about 60 acres of land where you can ski. It's located inside the beautiful Arapaho National Forest, on the side of Chief Mountain.
Mountain Details
The main ski lift at Echo Mountain is called the Hot Laps Special. It's a triple chairlift, which means it can carry three people at a time. This lift takes you up the mountain in about 4 minutes and 39 seconds.
The mountain is also wired for sound, so music can be played while you ski! The buildings at the base of the mountain are designed in a modern style. They have lots of windows that look out over the slopes. These lodges are comfy places to relax when you're not out on the snow.
The ski area was created among different types of trees. You'll see lodgepole pines, bristlecone pines, and Douglas firs. The bottom of the mountain is at about 10,050 feet (3,060 m) high. The very top, or summit, is around 10,650 feet (3,250 m) high.
How Echo Mountain Changed Owners
Echo Mountain has had a few different owners over the years. Jerry Petitt and his family owned it for a while. They helped bring the ski area back to life in 2002. At first, they focused on making it a terrain park for younger skiers and snowboarders.
In the summer of 2012, a person named Nora Pykkonen bought Echo Mountain. She used it as a private training facility for ski racers, called Front Range Ski Club. Everyone was excited about the changes. Jerry Petitt even said, "Hopefully in a few years we will hear about an Olympic skier that came out of Echo."
In 2016, the mountain faced some financial challenges and was sold again. A new owner bought all the land, buildings, equipment, and the chairlift. This new owner decided to open Echo Mountain to the public once more, making it a fun place for everyone to enjoy.
Lifts at Echo Mountain
Echo Mountain has three lifts to get you up the slopes.
- The main lift is a triple chairlift called the Hot Laps Special. It was brought from Vail Resorts' Heavenly Resort and set up at Echo in 2005. This lift helps you reach all parts of the mountain.
- The second lift is a covered conveyor lift. It's like a moving sidewalk for skiers and snowboarders. This one was installed in 2017.
- The third lift is also a new covered conveyor lift. It was added in 2019. These conveyor lifts are great for beginners and for getting around easily.
