Skiing in March in Colorado

Is March a good time to ski in Colorado?

March is the sweet spot of the Colorado season. You get the deep base laid down by midwinter plus March's own heavy snowfall on top, while the days grow noticeably longer, warmer and sunnier than the cold dark heart of winter. That combination of reliable deep snow and pleasant conditions is why many Colorado locals quietly rate March as the best month of all, and why the marquee resorts are at their busiest.

The trade off is timing around the crowds rather than any doubt about the snow. The middle of March is peak spring break in the United States, so the famous resorts fill with families and college groups, lift lines lengthen, and prices sit at their seasonal high. Skiing the first or last week of the month, or choosing a less hyped resort, sidesteps most of that while keeping the excellent snow.

What is the snow like in Colorado in March?

March is the snowiest month in much of Colorado. The top resorts, including Vail, Breckenridge and Keystone, typically see their heaviest snowfall of the season in March, with big spring storms dropping substantial fresh snow on an already deep base, so powder days are very much in play alongside the spring sunshine. Vail, for example, often sees its strongest monthly snow totals in March, which is exactly why the locals love it.

Day to day, expect a spring rhythm. Mornings can start firm or even icy after a cold clear night, then the strong high altitude sun softens the snow into smooth, forgiving spring conditions by late morning and into the afternoon. The practical move is to start mid morning rather than rushing first lift, chase north facing or higher slopes for the best snow, and finish the day with apres ski on a sunny deck. After a storm, though, March can ski like deep midwinter.

How busy and expensive is March, and when is spring break?

March is the busiest and priciest stretch of the Colorado season, driven by spring break. United States school and college breaks cluster through the middle of the month, roughly the second and third weeks, which is when the marquee resorts such as Vail, Breckenridge and Aspen Snowmass are fullest and lodging peaks. A week at a headline resort in peak spring break can sit in the $4,000 to $8,000 per person band once flights, transfers, lodging, lift passes and lessons are counted.

You have two good levers. First, timing: the first week of March, and the back end after the breaks wind down, are noticeably calmer and cheaper while the snow stays excellent. Second, resort choice: the less hyped big mountains like Steamboat, Winter Park and Telluride deliver the same March snow with smaller crowds and lower prices than the most famous names. Move either lever and a comfortable week eases into the $2,000 to $4,000 per person range.

Who should ski Colorado in March, and who should pick another month?

March suits almost everyone. It is ideal for skiers who want the best odds of both powder and sunshine, for intermediates and families who enjoy long, warm, forgiving spring days, and for anyone who only gets one trip a year and wants the safest combination of deep snow and good weather. If you can avoid the exact spring break weeks, you get the best of the whole season.

It suits you less well only if your priority is the very lowest prices or the emptiest slopes. The deepest cold and the quietest pistes belong to midweek January, and the cheapest skiing comes in April and May as the season winds down. Powder purists who want guaranteed cold smoke and empty lifts may prefer a midweek window in late January or early February, but for the best all round Colorado experience, March is hard to beat.

March in Colorado: the case for and against

Where to ski in Colorado in March

For March we would point you first at these, each with our full review:

• Vail. A vast mountain that often sees its heaviest snow in March, pairing big terrain with the best of the spring conditions.
• Breckenridge. High and snowy with a lively town, one of Colorado's snowiest March resorts and a strong family and spring break pick.
• Steamboat. Famous for its light snow and relaxed feel, a quieter big mountain alternative to the marquee names with excellent March cover.
• Telluride. A stunning, less crowded resort in the San Juans that holds great March snow, ideal for skiers who want scenery without the spring break crush.

Common questions