Keystone

History

Before the ski era, the Snake River valley above Dillon was mining country. Silver strikes in the late 1800s brought prospectors to camps such as Montezuma and Saints John, high in the side valleys, and ranching and logging continued in the lower valley after the boom faded. The modern history of Keystone began with Max and Edna Dercum, ski pioneers who settled in the valley and helped found Keystone ski area, which opened in 1970. Dercum Mountain, the front face of the resort, carries Max Dercum's name. The resort later expanded onto North Peak and The Outback and is now owned by Vail Resorts. Keystone itself is not an incorporated town; it is a resort community that grew up around the base areas.

Main Attractions

Keystone Resort is the main draw. Its three connected peaks offer a long menu of groomed runs, gladed terrain on the back side and some of the most extensive night skiing in Colorado. River Run Village, at the base of the gondola, has shops, restaurants and lodging in a pedestrian setting, while Lakeside Village surrounds Keystone Lake, where skating on the frozen lake is a winter tradition.

A few miles east on US Highway 6, Arapahoe Basin is a very different kind of ski area: small, high and steep, with a summit above 13,000 feet, expert terrain such as the East Wall and a season that often runs into June. Beyond it, the highway climbs to Loveland Pass at 11,990 feet, where a summit pull-off gives sweeping views along the Continental Divide.

Lake Dillon, a few miles west, is the big reservoir at the heart of Summit County, completed in 1963 and owned by Denver Water. Its marinas at Dillon and Frisco rent sailboats, kayaks and paddleboards in summer. Up a side valley southeast of Keystone, Montezuma is one of the highest incorporated towns in the United States, a handful of old cabins and homes from the silver era surrounded by peaks.

Activities

In winter Keystone means skiing and snowboarding by day and under the lights, plus skating, snowshoeing and tubing. In summer the resort runs lift-served mountain biking and scenic gondola rides, and the valley offers hiking, fishing on the Snake River, golf and paddling on Lake Dillon. The paved Summit County recreation path connects Keystone with Dillon, Frisco, Breckenridge and Silverthorne, making it easy to explore by bike.

Getting There

Keystone is about 75 miles west of Denver. Drivers follow I-70 west through the Eisenhower Tunnel, leave the interstate at the Dillon and Silverthorne exit and take US Highway 6 east for a few miles to the resort. In good summer weather, US Highway 6 over Loveland Pass is a scenic alternative to the tunnel. Shuttle services run from Denver International Airport, and the free Summit Stage bus links Keystone with other Summit County towns.

Best Time to Visit

The ski season usually runs from early November into April, and Arapahoe Basin nearby stays open much later in spring. Summer, from late June to early September, is the season for biking, hiking and lake days, with cool nights at this altitude. September brings golden aspens and quieter trails, while late spring and late autumn are the quietest shoulder seasons.