How is Eldora Resort?

Are you claiming Wolf Creek is a day trip destination from Denver? The OP is about Eldora based on convenience. Might as well throw Silverton in there too then.
Nick- if you get the chance, by all means check out Wolf Creek.

For me the quickest from the Denver area is Abasin. Nothing wrong with Loveland, I have the Epic local/colorado/buddy/whatever pass. I hit the hogback by 6:50, get to the area before it opens and either skin up or eat breakfast. I leave at ~2pm. No traffic. Front door to Abasin parking lot in 1:15 driving 5-10 over the speed limit assuming clear roads and no avy control on Loveland Pass. I live near downtown, so in the Western burbs it would be more like an hour flat.

As far as Winter Park being an easier drive, Berthoud Pass is a mess after a storm and guess what, I70 traffic eases up after the Empire exit, go figure.

It depends on what you like. Personally, I'm bored senseless with the bowl skiing at most Front Range resorts, like Vail, Copper, Breck, etc. Corona Bowl at Eldora has some of that, which can be nice on a powder day, but there is also a small collection of short steeps and glades, but its fairly limited.

IMO, the only place the mixes steeps+glades with a 'short' drive is Loveland. Yeah, A-Basin has slightly more variety, but on big powder days Loveland Pass closes. Loveland has the best collection of steeps+glades off Chair 1 at Front Range areas outside of A-Basin.

s.price wrote: What an overstatement! Wolf creek has the most snow, excellent backcountry access, no crowds, cheap lift tickets, did i mention the most snow and powder for days after a storm. 31 years of skiing this great state and i'll take wolf creek anytime. Considering all the time you spend in I-70 traffic you could drive to wolf creek, sleep in the parking lot which is actually encouraged, save money and frustration and ski instead of sit in traffic. Summit and the other front range areas are truly overrated. if standing in line is your thing i guess they are o.k.. i buy a lift ticket to ski, not wait in line or traffic

I lived in Durango for 11 years and skied Wolf Creek many times. I never understood what people like about this place. Yes it gets lots of snow but there is only 1000' of decent vert. After you ski the top part of the mountain you have to glide the second half to the lift. If there is over a foot of snow you have to stay in soemone elses tracks. Alberta peak is fun but not nearly as epic as say Gold Hill or Highlands Bowl.

Another thing to consider is when the skiing is prime at Abasin and Loveland from late March to early May, the I-70 traffic is way, way down. December through February are not the prime months for skiing in Colorado despite what all of the hordes on I-70 may think.

Agree with Rick on the spring skiing at the Basin or Loveland. Prefect conditions and less traffic by later in April is my experience for many years.