Winter Park: A Top Destination for Intermediate Skiers
Discover why Winter Park is the perfect destination for intermediate skiers, offering a variety of blue and blue-black runs.
Winter Park: A Top Destination for Intermediate Skiers
Winter Park is an excellent destination for intermediate skiers, offering a variety of blue runs that make up 20% of the resort and nearly 40% when including blue-black runs. Both Winter Park (Parkside) and Mary Jane (Janeside) base areas serve as excellent starting points. For families or those using the resort bus, Winter Park base is ideal due to its extensive facilities. Smaller groups or those driving might prefer the Mary Jane base for its ample parking and less crowded environment.
Choosing Your Base: Winter Park vs. Mary Jane
Confident skiers will find plenty of enjoyable trails on both sides of the mountain. The Parkside features smooth blue runs like Cramner, perfect for early morning laps off the Explorer lift, though it can get busy by mid-morning. Mary Jane Trail offers similar appeal. For those seeking a bit more challenge, the blues off Olympia Express are decent, though they have a camber and a run-out back to the lift, making them a suitable hideaway in poor weather.
Best Trails for Confident Intermediate Skiers at Winter Park
When snow conditions are favourable, Wild Spur Express is a great spot to enjoy blue trails away from the crowds. In good weather, Sunnyside and Panoramic lifts are also excellent choices, albeit crowded on weekends. Bluebell is best early in the day, while Parry’s Peek and Forever Eva offer fun runs.
Exploring Mary Jane: Ideal Trails for Intermediate Skiers
Sleeper Trail will test your skills with its camber, and access via Rollins Ridge can be busy with advanced skiers. Accessible from the Olympia lift, the Lower Arrowhead loop is a hidden gem, providing a wide, consistent gradient that receives less traffic. 
Hidden Gems: Lesser-Known Trails at Winter Park
Aggressive intermediate skiers can test their skills on park side trails like Butch’s Breezeway and Over n Underwood. Hughes trail is long and leads back to the base, while Cramner’s moguls provide a chance to practice without committing to a full bump run. The Jane side has trails like Roundhouse and Sleeper for skill-building.
Challenging Trails for Aggressive Intermediate Skiers
Bradley’s Bash is another excellent trail, often groomed on one side, with a moderate gradient for pushing intermediate skiers. Hughes and Little Pierre are noteworthy, groomed trails for building confidence with challenging camber sections.
Parsenn Bowl: Perfect for Skill-Building and Photos
Parsenn Bowl is perfect for skill-building and taking holiday photos from the top of the resort. Runs into the bowl from Village Way offer open bowl skiing, though they can be tracked out or wind-blown. Forever Eva provides open glade skiing, with more challenging runs from Calypso to Johnstone Junction.
Family-Friendly Trails and Adventure Zones at Winter Park
Rainbow Cut is a quiet, challenging trail with changes in pitch, often groomed with uncut corduroy visible in the early afternoon. Dilly Dally Alley is a fun adventure zone for kiddos, while Ash Cat introduces rails and jumps for those seeking a challenge.
Tips for Avoiding Crowds and Finding Parking at Winter Park
If you park on the Janeside, Corona Way provides convenient access to parking lots. By afternoon, intermediate skiers may face challenges from mini moguls and chopped-up terrain on the Mary Jane Trail. Cramner can be busy with beginners and advanced skiers alike. To avoid the Village Way crush, use Larry Sale, but watch for icy patches.
Why Winter Park is Perfect for Intermediate Skiers
Despite its reputation for hardcore mogul skiing, Winter Park offers unbeatable terrain variety for intermediate skiers, ensuring a week of enjoyable skiing without boredom. Check out our resort guide video for more information about this family-friendly resort.
