Results of SeniorsSkiing.Com’s Recent Survey And Industry Research Reveals 16 Winners
Sixteen resorts in the East. Midwest, West/Northwest, and Canada are recognized as “Senior Friendly” for their proactive efforts to meet the needs of older skiers.
The selection is based on input from SeniorsSkiing.com’s second annual survey of US and Canadian resorts, reader input, and industry sources. Factors taken into account include free or discounted lift tickets and a variety of features—such as resort-sponsored clubs, close-to-lodge parking, and other amenities—which readers of SeniorsSkiing.com have identified as important.
The resorts designated as friendliest to seniors are (*designated Senior-Friendly in 2014-15):
East
Attitash Mountain Resort, Bartlett, New Hampshire
Special ski school clinics, discounts, clubs, social activities; $50 season pass (80+), 30% discount (65-79).
Cannon Mountain Ski Area, Franconia, New Hampshire
Ski school clinics, discounts, curbside assistance, $50 season pass (80+). 14% discount (65-79).
Cataloochee, Maggie Valley, North Carolina
Free skiing (65+).
Smugglers’ Notch Resort, Jeffersonville, Vermont
Reserved areas in lodge, discounts: ski shops, rentals, school; area sponsored clubs, social activities, $20 season pass (70+0.
Sugarbush Resort, Warren, Vermont
$199 mid-week season (65+); free skiing (90+).
Waterville Valley Resort*, Waterville Valley, New Hampshire
Silver Streaks ski club: clinics, races, social events. 30% discount (65-79), $25 season pass (80+).
Midwest
Crystal Mountain, Traverse City, Michigan
“Retired Not Tired” program: provides local retirees opportunity to return to skiing; actively enjoy winter in the company of peers. 42% discounts for mid-week season passes (56+), $29 season pass (80+).
Mt Zion Ski Hill, Ironwood, Michigan
Ski school clinics, curbside assistance, close-to-lodge parking, restaurant discounts. Free skiing (70+), 20% discount (65-69).
West/Northwest
Arapahoe Basin, Keystone, Colorado
Close-to-lodge parking, clubs and activities. Single day tickets $25 (70+), season pass $75.
Hogadon Ski Area, Casper, Wyoming
School clinics, equipment carts for gear, clubs and activities. 25% discount (65+), free skiing (70+).
Mt Hood Skibowl*, Government Camp, Oregon
School clinics, mid-week parties, clubs/activities, mid-week motor coach transportation. Free skiing (75+), 30% discount (65-69).
Purgatory Resort, Durango, Colorado
School clinics, equipment carts for gear, mid-week parties, curbside assistance, valet parking, close-to-lodge parking. 30 percent off season pass (65 -79), $120season pass (80+).
Snowbird, Snowbird, Utah
Generous season passes discount; 10% food discount for seniors in all dining facilities (including new Summit at Snowbird). Ask the cashier.
Sundance Mountain Resort, Sundance, Utah
Sundance Senior Ski Group (free for 65+); lift ticket ($15), season pass ($125). Includes all skiing, x-c ski/snowshoe trail facilities, use of lift in summer months. Coaching available on select dates throughout season.
Tahoe Donner, Truckee, California
School clinics and discounts, mid-week parties, close-to-lodge parking, clubs, awards banquets, equipment rental discounts. Free skiing (70+), 45% discount (65-69).
Canada
Lake Louise Ski Resort*, Lake Louise, Alberta
School, equipment discounts. Free skiing (80+), 20% discount (65-79)
All Senior-Friendly resorts will be receiving an award plaque from SeniorsSkiing.com. Many of these resorts report that up to 40 percent of mid-week skiers are seniors taking advantage of fast lift lines, space in the lodge to spread out, as well as other low-cost, or no-cost amenities.
SeniorsSkiing.com salutes these resorts and thanks them for setting an example for the ski industry and for making seniors feel welcome.
Our Senior Program will begins its 7th year this season. We average over 50 Seniors each week. Check us out!
http://www.mthigh.com/site/lessons-and-rentals/adult-lessons/senior-program.html
I have beem a skier for 56 years – since college. We go to Colorado for the winter season and ski almost daily….The best place for Senior Skiers in my opinion is Copper Mountain. They have a most reasonable season pass as well as a very active Over The Hill Gang thst meets 4 days a week to ski in small ability and friendship based groups. We have tried almost every ski area in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Montana, California, and the Canadian Rockies. Nothing compares to the skiing at Copper with the Gang.
It’s not all about price for seniors, you know. Another big factor is ease of access, and although this article seems to want to ignore Vail Resorts areas, the ease of access to Beaver Creek’s slopes is unmatched anywhere. Besides the free parking and frequent bus shuttles to the base village, the escalators from there to the main lift area means that we older folks don’t have to expend as much energy getting to the lifts, and therefore have a lot more energy to expend on the skiing itself. For my money, Beaver Creek belongs prominently on this list.
You missed one of the best. Loveland ski area on top of the Eisenhower Tunnel on I-70 in Colorado has an unlimited senior ski pass for 70 years old plus with discounts on food, and friends who want to ski with you for $89.00 a hell of a deal. I live in Breckenridge and I have a full EPIC Pass to all Vail Resorts ski areas and bought this one also.
I’ve only skied two of the areas in this list. Purgatory and A-Basin. Both are great mountains, but the Purgatory I skied was challenging at any age. A-Basin is one of my favs. Get there early. and it’s a very short walk to the lodge. There are runs for every skill level, and the view from the top can not be beat. Waiting for last run at 12 thousand feet is one of my fondest memories. Burgers and Brats from outdoor grills at midway. I always found the staff and skiers amoung the friendliest in Colorado. At 67 I’d still give it a go.
Berkshire East in western Massachusetts on weekdays. Reasoable price short walk excellent groomed trails short lines.
Brundage Mountain Resort, McCall, Idaho!
Thanks for your comment Linda. It’s going to be included in a follow-up on Senior-Friendly areas.
I can’t believe you have included Snowbird with no seniors program at all and a seniors pass costing $799 for 65+ while excluding Copper Mountain at $316 for 65+ with an all-season 4 days a week program of instructor-guided ability-based groups for only another $380! I ski Alta and Snowbird for 3 weeks each year so an Alta 65+ pass at $599 with $30 upgrades to ski days at Snowbird is the best senior package there. Even better, the Alta season pass is FREE for 80+ ! Copper remains top of my own senior-friendly ski areas list for quality and fun but thank you for news of areas offering free skiing for over 70s or very cheap senior season pass rates and free senior skiing programs, especially Sundance which sounds very welcoming and can be reached from Salt Lake City by public transport.
Thanks for your comment Paul. We are going to add to other comments our readers have made in a follow-up article on where to find senior-friendly ski areas.
However, the Super Senior (80+) season pass is still just $59 at Killington, which includes Pico, Killington’s nearby sister resort.
Pico offers seniors 65-79 a season pass for $369 which includes 3 free days at Mt. Sunapee, NH . An upgrade to include Killington is available) and there’s a Pico Super Senior for $59 but get the Killington SS as it includes Pico!
Okemo has a midweek pass for 70 and up for $379.
Early bird purchases offer the best rates but need to be bought in March or April for following season. Saves big money!
You left out Aspen-Snowmass CO. 75+ Season pass $429+or_. Great skiing. Multiple mountains.