• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Because the Family that Skis Together, Enjoys Life Together.
  • Home
  • About
    • Awards
    • Featured Author
    • Brand Ambassador
  • Brave Ski Mom Stickers
  • Contact Me

The Brave Ski Mom

Building a new generation of skiers and snowboarders.

  • Skiing
    • Skiing With Kids
    • Ski Racing
    • Learn to Ski
    • Cross Country Skiing
    • Telemark Skiing
    • Snowboarding
  • Ski Resort Reviews
    • United States
      • Alaska
      • California
      • Colorado
      • Connecticut
      • Idaho
      • Maine
      • Massachusetts
      • Michigan
      • Minnesota
      • Montana
      • Nevada
      • New Hampshire
      • New Mexico
      • New York
      • North Carolina
      • Oregon
      • Pennsylvania
      • Utah
      • Vermont
      • Washington
      • West Virginia
      • Wisconsin
      • Wyoming
    • Argentina
    • Australia
    • Austria
    • Bulgaria
    • Canada
    • Chile
    • France
    • Finland
    • Greece
    • Italy
    • Japan
    • New Zealand
  • Ski Gear Checklist and Recommendations
    • Equipment and Gear
    • Product Reviews
    • Brave Ski Mom Stickers
  • Hiking
    • Camping
  • Biking
    • Downhill Biking
    • Mountain Biking
    • Road Biking
  • Good Stuff
    • Parenting
    • Health
      • Getting in Shape
    • Reflections

Sunlight Mountain Resort: Friendly, Fun and Unexpectedly Extreme

February 15, 2013 by braveskimom

sunlight frontside of mountainbraveskimom logoWhen I think of Sunlight Mountain Resort, two memories immediately come to mind.

The first is from 30 years ago. Our junior ski team was competing at Sunlight in the Buddy Werner League championships. While we were excited about racing, we were more excited to ski Ute, a 2.5 mile run which claimed top honors as the longest ski run in Colorado.

My second memory is from only 6 years ago. Our youngest son was also competing in the Buddy Werner League championships, now known as the “state race.” He won. He got to stand atop the podium, arms outstretched like an Olympian. To celebrate he went to the terrain park. Long story short, we ended the day at Ski Patrol, his nose bleeding and his face banged up. The ski patroller on duty gave him a beautiful polished rock. My son still has this rock.

sunlight ski patrol
Accidents are no fun, but the Sunlight Ski Patrol quickly took away the hurt.

So what do these stories have to do with skiing at Sunlight Mountain Resort today?

Actually a lot.

Let’s start with terrain.

Long Runs, Long Views

Like many of Colorado’s smaller resorts, the Sunlight map is covered in blue and green trails. There are three lifts at Sunlight, one of which goes to the top of the mountain and another goes about two-thirds of the way up. There are gentle wandering greens off of both lifts, perfect for building beginner confidence while providing big mountain views.

sunlight ski greens

Although other runs have bested Ute for top honors as Colorado’s longest ski run, this long rolling trail glides remains a local favorite, with “shooting the Ute” a favorite way to end a long ski day.

Rolling Blues With Short Bursts of Bumps and Trees

Fifty-five percent of the terrain at Sunlight is intermediate and many of these runs are immaculate, perfectly groomed cruisers, like White River and Cornice. Joslin, which doubles as the race course, is especially fun, with some nice rollers and a bit steeper pitch.

sunlight blue groomer

None of the blue runs is exceptionally long and many of them connect back to the mid-mountain Primo lift. But there are many options for mixing it up. On the west side of the mountain, skiers and riders can intersperse groomers with short bursts of moguls and glades. Charlie’s Glades between Cornice and White River is a great place to practice dodging trees, while skiers need to bring their “A” game to venture into the super tight Joslin Glades.

sunlight moguls

We hit Sunlight on a day with one inch of new snow. After cruising around the mountain and getting the lay of the land, we took Cornice down to Frying Pan Alley, one of six advanced trails that run out near the Tercero chair. At 2:00 p.m. our tracks were the first of the day. A week after the last big storm, the snow was still soft and was barely skied.

Skier’s left offers similar options with more double black glades and longer blue runs such as Beaujolais.

Sunlight Extreme

What really sets Sunlight apart is their double black terrain. Although the resort claims only 5% of its 470 acres as extreme skiing, the steep chutes off in the East Ridge offer plenty of challenge and diversity. There are 13 double black runs in this area, many tight in the trees and narrow. The steepest of them all, The Heathen, has a 52% pitch, making it one of the steepest in-bounds runs in Colorado. There are also two single black runs, Defiance and Inspiration.

sunlight extreme

Friendly, Family, Fun

As for my second memory, it’s all about the good people who work and ski at Sunlight. Ask any local why they ski Sunlight and they’ll tell you it’s because it feels like family. This certainly holds with our experience.

Sunlight has a traditional, ski/ride-centered vibe. Locals come to Sunlight because they know they’ll find their friends here. Parents ski together while their children are in lessons or ski club. Buddies meet buddies, and on sunny afternoons, the south-facing decks are filled with happy people drinking beer, laughing and enjoying the last rays of sunshine.

sunlight view of mount sopris
Skiers and riders at Sunlight enjoy the incredible view of nearby Mount Sopris.

Why Visit Sunlight?

Here are three good reasons:

1.            Family Fun. Sunlight offers a unique Ski, Swim, Stay package which is an incredible value. Come for the weekend, stay in the historic Hotel Colorado or your choice of another property, enjoy skiing and riding at Sunlight and then hit the Glenwood Hot Springs pool. You’ve just scored a fun, memorable and unique weekend away.

2.            Ski and Ride School. No matter how good a skier you are, there comes a time when you may want to take up something new like telemark skiing or snowboarding. As a smaller resort, Sunlight offers a great value in lessons, especially midweek, when you may be one of only a handful of students. PSIA/AASI instructors meet professional standards, so you’ll be learning from the best at a fraction of the cost of a large resort lesson.

For children, the value is even better, especially if you go midweek. Put them in a multi-day lesson and let their skills take off, while you explore the harder terrain or spike your heart rate hiking up the mountain on your skis or snowshoes. Sunlight allows uphill traffic all day long, as long as you get a  hiker’s pass from Guest Services. There is also Nordic terrain adjacent to the resort, with a combination of groomed and backcountry cross-country ski trails.

3.            The Defiance Challenge. This event, which started last year as a fundraiser for the Sunlight Ski Patrol, tests the best skiers and riders on Sunlight’s extreme terrain and tree runs. Extended lift hours kick off the event on Friday, March 1st at 7:00 a.m. Teams of two must ski every double black run on the mountain. It’s a vertical challenge event, so partners must stay together and finish together. The challenge ends at 5:00 p.m. with an après ski party. If you think you’re a good skier, this event is guaranteed to push you in the steep and deep.

sunlight east ridge
Looking down, straight down on Sunlight’s extreme terrain.

The next day, March 2nd, is Melanoma Awareness Day and a fundraiser for skin cancer research. Click here for more information on the Defiance Challenge and Melanoma Awareness Day.

Enjoy!

Related Posts: 

Colorado’s Gems: Bigger Isn’t Always Better, January 25, 2011.

© 2013 – 2014, braveskimom. All rights reserved. Any use or publication of content, including photos, requires express permission.

Spread the Love (thanks!)

  • Email
  • Print
  • Tweet
  • Share on Tumblr

Related

Filed Under: Colorado, Ski Resort Reviews, United States Tagged With: Colorado, Family Skiing, ski, ski resort reviews, skiing, Skiing in Colorado

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Melissa @ Adventure Tykes says

    February 15, 2013 at 9:48 pm

    I haven’t been to Sunlight in ages but from what I remember it was a great place for a beginner skier and much quieter than other Colorado resorts. I know we will be taking our little man there when he starts skiing.

    • braveskimom says

      February 16, 2013 at 10:23 am

      I think you’re so right — quieter is better for little ones. And the value in lessons is quite high. On the Western Slope, both Sunlight and Powderhorn are excellent choices for families. Enjoy!

  2. Cathie says

    February 17, 2013 at 6:42 am

    We discovered Sunlight several years ago during a visit to the aspen area. We are from Vermont and ski Mad River Glen back home. The vibe at Sunlight is much like that of MRG. We instantly loved it and we make it a point to ski Sunlight several days during our every other year Colorado visit. Our kids now 12 and 15 love it too! We can’t say enough about the positive energy and culture at Sunlight. It should be on the must ski list for any family visiting the area. Thanks!

    • braveskimom says

      February 17, 2013 at 8:33 am

      Thanks Cathie! I’m so excited to hear that you found Sunlight and keep coming back! There really is place in skiers’ hearts for all different types of resorts — big and small! Cheers!

  3. Maria says

    February 18, 2013 at 1:48 am

    Our little one learned to ski at sunlight- threemosabes. We drove about 2 hours each way from Paonia. The ski school was incredible. It gave him a solid foundation. Now, at 5 years old, he’s a solid black diamond skier, which serves him well since we no longer live in Colorado and our terrain is much more difficult now!
    Thank you to sunlight!

    • braveskimom says

      February 18, 2013 at 10:27 am

      Thank you Maria. What an awesome testimonial! It looks like you now live in Alaska! Have fun and keep rippin’!

Trackbacks

  1. Sunlight Mountain Resort – A BraveSkiMom.com Review « Mtn Town Views says:
    February 20, 2013 at 8:12 am

    […] We hit Sunlight on a day with one inch of new snow. After cruising around the mountain and getting the lay of the land, we took Cornice down to Frying Pan Alley, one of six advanced trails that run out near the Tercero chair. At 2:00 p.m. our tracks were the first of the day. A week after the last big storm, the snow.. Keep Reading, Click Here […]

Primary Sidebar

2023-2024 Partners

FERA
World Snow Day
FERA

Welcome

I'm Kristen, a western Colorado mom, wife and trail boss in a busy outdoor family. Our family has a passion for skiing and my goal is to provide information to help other families enjoy their skiing adventures. Whether you have tiny toddlers just learning to slide or grown children with whom you're planning a reunion, you're in the right place. Cheers!

Never Miss a Post

Enter your email address to subscribe. You'll receive notifications of new posts by email.

Follow Me

FacebookInstagram Pinterest Twitter

Today’s Most Popular Posts

  • No Snow? No Problem: Summer Skiing in North America
    No Snow? No Problem: Summer Skiing in North America
  • A First-Time Family Guide to Skiing Breckenridge, Colorado
    A First-Time Family Guide to Skiing Breckenridge, Colorado
  • Why Our Family Likes to Ski at Teton Village, Wyoming
    Why Our Family Likes to Ski at Teton Village, Wyoming
  • Ski Fashion 2016-2017: Season Highlights from WinterWomen.com
    Ski Fashion 2016-2017: Season Highlights from WinterWomen.com
  • Quotable Ski Quotes?
    Quotable Ski Quotes?
  • Family Skiing at Beaver Creek and Vail
    Family Skiing at Beaver Creek and Vail

Categories

Footer

Recent Tweets

My Tweets

Featured In

snowlink world snow day snowkidz
liftopia mtn town learn to ski and snowboard mom trends
Copyright © 2025 · Genesis Framework by StudioPress · Affiliate Disclosure · Product Review & Giveaway Policy · Guest Post Policy · Privacy Policy · Login
 

Loading Comments...