Planes, trains, and buses: How to use RTD to connect to the slopes this season
The holidays are here, and despite the lackluster snowfall to begin the ski and snowboard season, lifts across Colorado are spinning, and there is still plenty of fun to be had on the slopes. However, getting to them this time of year can be stressful, expensive, frustrating, and time-consuming. Rather than navigating winter driving conditions or searching (and, in some cases, paying) for parking at crowded resorts, customers take advantage of RTD services to connect to several third-party regional transit options to get to some of Colorado's most popular ski resorts.
Eldora Mountain Resort
Eldora Mountain Resort's slogan, "Closer To You," is not just hyperbole. Nestled up in the Front Range just outside of Nederland, only 20 miles west of Boulder, the resort is a popular destination for the many skiers and snowboarders living in the north metro area. It is also home to arguably RTD's most unique route in the agency's entire service area.
The Route NB1 takes skiers and snowboarders from Downtown Boulder Station and drops them off just steps away from the Alpenglow lift at the resort seven days a week during Eldora’s ski season. Skiers and snowboarders can load their gear into the luggage bays underneath the coach-style buses and enjoy a smooth ride through Boulder Canyon right to the lifts.
Winter Park Resort
Imagine being able to head up to enjoy the mountains without ever needing to deal with Interstate 70 or any of the other roads leading up into the high country. No traffic or construction. No dealing with adverse weather conditions. Just an easy, relaxing journey through the backcountry of Colorado right to the slopes. Make that a reality, as the Amtrak Winter Park Express is now providing service between Union Station and Winter Park Resort.
Every Friday through Sunday through Jan. 4, and then every Thursday through Sunday from Jan. 8 through March 29, grab a seat on the train as it winds its way through the steep slopes and untouched backcountry of the Rockies, passing through the historic Moffat Tunnel right to the slopes of Winter Park Resort. Onboard the train, customers can visit the Sightseer Lounge, which includes panoramic viewing windows on the top level and a café on the bottom level with snacks and beverages.
The train departs from Denver Union Station at 7 a.m. and from Winter Park Resort at 4:35 p.m. while in service.
Customers flying in can take the A Line to Union Station to connect to the train, while everyone else can take any Union Station-bound RTD bus or train and connect to the Winter Park Express on Track 4. Tickets for the train start at $9 one-way per person and can be purchased at https://www.amtrak.com/winter-park-express.
Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, Loveland Ski Area, Copper Mountain Resort, and Breckenridge Resort
The beauty of living along the Front Range is having access to some of the best ski areas in the world just a short hour and a half drive away. Well, in an ideal world, that is. In reality, getting to the resorts of Summit County can take hours on the weekends, especially during this season. Typical weekend traffic mixed with ongoing construction work at the Interstate 70 and US 6 interchange near Idaho Springs can make the drive anywhere between 30 minutes to an hour longer, and that doesn’t factor in adverse weather and road conditions.
Instead of sitting in traffic burning gas, consider taking Snowstang. Founded and operated by the Colorado Department of Transportation, the Snowstang provides bus service to Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, Loveland Ski Area, Copper Mountain Resort, and Breckenridge Resort, providing skiers and snowboarders with a safe and comfortable alternative to navigating weekend ski traffic. The best part? Snowstang serves two RTD stations: Union Station in the underground bus concourse and Federal Center Station in Lakewood, making it entirely accessible via RTD services.
Each resort has its own dedicated Snowstang bus, equipped with gear storage in the luggage bays underneath, free WiFi, a restroom, and USB and power outlets at every seat.
Snowstang routes operate every Saturday and Sunday, and on Mondays during holiday weekends, through May 2026. Service to Arapahoe Basin, Loveland, Breckenridge, and Copper Mountain is now operating for the season.
Round-trip tickets for Snowstang are $25 per person and can be purchased at https://www.ridebustang.com. Connections via RTD services can be made via any Union Station-bound bus route or rail line, and via the W Line or bus routes 3, 17, 99, 100, 116X, CV, EV, GS, and the Green Mountain FlexRide.