Ski Cooper facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ski Cooper |
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Ski Cooper Looking SE
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 Ski Cooper
Location in Colorado
Ski Cooper
Location in the United States
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| Location | Eagle / Lake counties, Colorado, USA |
| Nearest city | Leadville, Colorado |
| Coordinates | 39°21′36″N 106°18′07″W / 39.360°N 106.302°W |
| Vertical | 1,200 feet (366 m) |
| Top elevation | 11,700 feet (3,566 m) |
| Base elevation | 10,500 feet (3,200 m) |
| Skiable area | 470 acres (1.9 km2) lift served 2,400 acres (9.7 km2) snowcat served |
| Runs | 60 total - 31% beginner - 35% intermediate - 34% advanced/expert |
| Longest run | Trails End 1.4 miles (2.3 km) |
| Lift system | 1 Triple, 1 Double, 3 Surface |
| Snowfall | 250 inches (640 cm) |
| Snowmaking | none |
| Website | skicooper.com |
Ski Cooper is a popular ski resort in Colorado. It is one of the oldest ski areas in the state. It first opened in 1942 as Cooper Hill Ski Area.
During World War II, Ski Cooper was a training site. Soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division learned to ski here. Their base, Camp Hale, was nearby. Today, Lake County owns the resort. A group of volunteers helps manage it.
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Where is Ski Cooper Located?
Ski Cooper is found at Tennessee Pass. This spot is a natural dividing line. It sits between the San Isabel National Forest and the White River National Forest. The resort is also close to the town of Leadville.
What Makes Ski Cooper Special?
Ski Cooper is known as a great place for families. It is one of the most affordable ski areas in Colorado. Only Howelsen Hill in Steamboat Springs costs less.
Skiing and Snowboarding Fun
The resort has 60 different ski runs. You can get to these runs using two chairlifts. There are also two T-bars and a magic carpet lift. Ski Cooper has lots of easy and medium-difficulty trails. All the snow here is natural.
You can also find special areas for skiing through trees. Since 2012, they have offered areas for mogul skiing. Moguls are bumps on the ski slope.
Food and Gear
When you get hungry, Ski Cooper has several choices. There is a cafeteria for quick meals. You can also visit a pub or a restaurant in a mountaintop yurt. If you need ski or snowboard gear, you can rent it. There is also a store to buy things.
Backcountry Adventures
Ski Cooper offers special tours called Chicago Ridge Snowcat Tours. A snowcat is a large vehicle that can travel over snow. These tours take you to 2,400 acres of backcountry skiing. This means you can ski in wild, undeveloped areas.
The resort also hosts big ski and snowboard races. These are called NorAm level races. The most recent one was in February 2019.
History of Ski Cooper
The Cooper Hill Ski Area started in 1942. The U.S. Army chose this spot for training. It was perfect because it was close to the Pando rail station. This made it easy for soldiers to get there.
After World War II, Ski Cooper opened to everyone. It became a public ski resort. Even today, the resort holds a special event. They celebrate Memorial Day for the World War II veterans of the 10th Mountain Division.
Since 1992, the resort has had many updates. Over $5 million has been spent on improvements. In January 2020, Ski Cooper got even bigger. They opened a new area called the Tennessee Creek Basin.
