Trails Less Traveled

Looking for an alternative to the maddening crowds that plague so many of Colorado's major ski resorts? Tired of the same old slopes? Or maybe you simply need a break from those ever-skyrocketing lift-ticket prices?

We've got the answwer: a visit to one of the state's smaller, more intimate ski areas. These are picture-perfect resorts with lesser-known names like Eldora, Arrowhead, and Ski Cooper. Ring any bells? How 'bout Loveland, Monarch, SilverCreek, and Ski Sunlight?

Combined, these areas total a little more than 3,000 skiable acres. When compared with Vail, Which with more than 4,000 acres is teh state's largest ski resort, they may seem a bit skimpy.