Do you prefer corn snow to powder? Then head to Crested Butte, Colorado, for some end-of-season skiing. Thanks to Mt. Crested Butte's location in the southwestern part of the state, it has plenty of the slushy stuff this time of year.
"I love skiing corn snow. It's more fun than powder," says Nick Herrin, director of Crested Butte Mountain Resort's Ski and Ride School. "Spring is my favorite time of year on the mountain."
If you're just learning to ski or ride, you also will like this type of snow — which forms when temps rise during the day and get back to below freezing at night — because of its forgiveness.
"Corn snow is soft and easy to push around," says Nick Herrin, director of Crested Butte Mountain Resort's ski school. "It's almost like you're water skiing."
"It's soft and easy to push around. It's almost like you're water skiing," Herrin explains.
And if you like fresh powder, too, he says storm days are not unusual during the last few weeks before April 6, when ski season on the mountain ends.
No matter what kind of snow you find during a visit, Crested Butte itself remains the "Best Ski Town in North America," according to Powder Magazine. Shopping, dining and drinking establishments, tucked behind charming Victorian storefronts, line the streets, and the relaxed pace and lack of crowds creates a laid-back atmosphere not found in busier areas such as Aspen.
You will experience that same feeling of ease and comfort as a guest at Elevation Hotel & Spa, the upscale ski lodge nestled at the base of Mt. Crested Butte. Its location just a few feet from the lifts allows you to ski-in and ski-out, picking up and checking equipment with one of the many ski valets on staff.
After the last run of the day, you also will appreciate the proximity of 9380 Prime. The hotel's restaurant serves as the go-to spot for après-ski drinks and dining, thanks to its delicious American cuisine and large outdoor deck kept cozy by heaters and a fire pit. Elevation hosts a complimentary wine hour for guests — with hot cider for kids — in the lobby every night, as well.
And if skiing or snowboarding leaves your muscles tired and skin dry, the hotel's 11,000-square-foot spa offers massage and spa treatments by appointment, plus a state-of-the-art fitness center, sauna, steam room, heated indoor pool, and indoor and outdoor hot tubs with stunning views of the surrounding mountains.
The 262 rooms and suites at Elevation Hotel & Spa also are warm and welcoming. Couples and families alike reserve the Deluxe One-Bedroom Suite for its 800 square feet of spaciousness and luxury.
The bedroom features a king-size bed with pillow-top mattress, high-thread-count linens, and faux-down comforters and pillows. Kids can stay on a sleeper sofa in the separate living room. You also will like having a full kitchen and two oversized bathrooms with soaker tubs if traveling as a family.
Each room and suite features the mountain-chic decor found throughout the hotel and a private balcony with breathtaking views of the winter wonderland — whether covered in corn snow or powder at the moment.
To Go: Convenient flights are available to Crested Butte from Houston, Dallas and Austin airports. Click here for more features about Elevation Hotel & Spa as well as Insider Offers for accommodations.
Shops lining the street in downtown Crested Butte.
