Skiing the way it used to be
Skiing should be fun and affordable. At big resorts, lift tickets alone for a family of four can run close to $900 a day. There’s still a place where skiing is the way it used to be: Ski Cooper in Leadville, Colorado.
Ski Cooper began in the 1940s as a training hill for the 10th Mountain Division, the Army’s ski troops. It is still a small, friendly hill. You park for free close to the lodge. You buy your ticket for the same price online or at the window. Then you spend the day on the snow.
There are 480 acres, 64 trails and five lifts. The base sits at 10,500 feet, and about 250 inches of snow fall in a normal winter. Kids learn on gentle runs. Friends meet for lunch on the sunny patio.
Leadville is just down the road. At 10,152 feet, it is the highest incorporated city in North America. Its main street, Harrison Avenue, is lined with brick buildings, old saloons and the 1879 Tabor Opera House.
About half the price
A ski trip to Ski Cooper and Leadville can cost about half as much as the same trip to Copper Mountain and Summit County.
Lift tickets. Adults pay $49 on weekdays and $99 on weekends and holidays. Kids ages 6 to 14 pay $35 any day. Last season, an adult ticket at Copper’s window cost $264 to $274.
Rentals. Ski Cooper’s rental shop charges $45 a day for ages 15 and up and $35 for kids. Copper’s shop charges $89.99 and $49.99 for walk-up rentals.
Parking. It is free at Ski Cooper.
Lodging. In a recent search, a 2-bedroom vacation home in Leadville cost about $160 less per night than one near Copper.
Prices change with the dates, the size of your group and how you book. The calculator below does the math for your trip.
Price your trip
Tell us who is coming, how many days you will ski and how many nights you will stay. The calculator shows your ski costs and your lodging side by side.
| Cost | Ski Cooper | Copper Mountain |
|---|---|---|
| Lift tickets | ||
| Ski and snowboard rental | ||
| Parking | ||
| Ski subtotal |
| Cost | Leadville | Summit County |
|---|---|---|
| Lodging | ||
| Lodging subtotal |
| Ski Cooper + Leadville | Copper + Summit County | |
|---|---|---|
| Total | ||
| Per person per ski day |
These are estimates before taxes. Prices were checked on October 21, 2026. Ski Cooper prices are its 2026-27 rates. Copper had not posted its 2026-27 window prices yet, so we used last season’s. Copper also sells tickets online ahead of time, and those often cost less. Rental prices are each resort’s walk-up rates. Check with each resort before you go.
Plan your Leadville ski days
For couples
Ski quiet runs in the morning. Then walk down Harrison Avenue, catch a show at the Tabor Opera House and stay in a historic hotel.
For families
Kids ages 6 to 14 ski for $35 a day. Ski school starts at age 3. Rent a house in town with room for everyone.
For friends
Weekday tickets are $49. Ride fresh snow in the trees. Then head to the old saloons on Harrison Avenue.
Stay one more day
Ski Cooper one day. The next day, try Nordic skiing, fat biking or snowshoeing at the Tennessee Pass Nordic Center. Eat at the Cookhouse.
Already have a season pass?
Pick your pass in the calculator. It leaves out lift tickets and compares the rest: rentals, parking and lodging. A Ski Cooper adult season pass is $599 this season. It comes with free days at partner ski areas. Kids ages 6 to 14 pay $279.
Common questions
How much is a lift ticket at Ski Cooper?
For the 2026-27 season, adults ages 22 to 68 pay $49 on weekdays and $99 on weekends and holidays. Ages 15 to 21 pay $40 or $69. Ages 6 to 14 pay $35 any day. Tickets cost the same online or at the window.
Which days count as holidays at Ski Cooper?
December 19, 2026 to January 3, 2027. January 15 to 17. February 12 to 14. March 13 to 26, 2027.
Is parking free at Ski Cooper?
Yes. Parking at the base area is free.
Is Ski Cooper on the Ikon Pass?
No. Ski Cooper sells its own season pass, which comes with free days at partner ski areas. Copper Mountain is on the Ikon Pass.
How much do rentals cost at Ski Cooper?
A ski or snowboard package is $45 a day for ages 15 and up and $35 for ages 14 and under. A helmet is $15.
When does Ski Cooper open?
The 2026-27 season is set to open December 9, 2026, and close April 4, 2027, if the weather allows.
How does the calculator work?
It takes each resort’s ticket and rental prices and multiplies them by your group and your ski days. Then it adds parking and lodging. If you have a season pass, it leaves out lift tickets. Prices were checked on October 21, 2026.
Sources
- Ski Cooper day pass prices, 2026-27
- Ski Cooper season passes, 2026-27
- Copper Mountain lift tickets
- Copper Mountain 2025-26 window rates, OnTheSnow
- Copper Mountain rentals, 2026-27
- Lodging: median 2-bedroom vacation home prices from an Airbnb search on October 21, 2026
