So the Keystone “Evolution” never really happened. The marketing idea to make Keystone more of an extreme resort and verge away from it’s goody-goody family image, failed. Keystone is still a pretty chill mountain… Or at least the majority of it is. However, far on the back of the mountain is The Outback which on a powder day has some excellent low-angle tree runs that go on forever. There are also the snow cat accessible areas with wide-open, untouched powder runs. As the only area in the five Summit County resorts that offers night riding, Keystone certainly has an edge there. The gondola is also a welcome feature for cold day and night riding. But what really makes Keystone is its terrain park, Area-51. Also open at night as Colorado’s largest night park, Keystone has their parked dialed to near perfection.
A-51 is located to off of Schoolmarm at the top of Peru lift, although the easier way to get there is to park at the River Run base and take either the Summit Express or the River Run Gondola take Schoolmarm down to the top. Once there you may let lose the full excitement that has been building up that whole boring trail down. The jump line is amazing. Decently sized around 35-50 feet, three jumps follow straight into a wicked channel gap. To the other side is a booting 60 footer and their super pipe. But what really makes Keystone is their rail garden. Boxes and rails of all shapes and sizes are enough to challenge anyone and with their park crew constantly on the prowl, take offs and landings are almost always perfect. If your fortunate enough to master all the features, not to worry, three weeks later you’ll find the rail selection changed about.
Tired about having to take a full lift ride up though a maze of tourist just to ski a quarter of the hill? The A-51 lift services just the park, the perfect gift for the lazy jibber. And the odds of finding a fellow freeheeler are generally high. Some pros sometimes find their way over there, but often they are your everyday Joe there to throw down.
A-51 is located to off of Schoolmarm at the top of Peru lift, although the easier way to get there is to park at the River Run base and take either the Summit Express or the River Run Gondola take Schoolmarm down to the top. Once there you may let lose the full excitement that has been building up that whole boring trail down. The jump line is amazing. Decently sized around 35-50 feet, three jumps follow straight into a wicked channel gap. To the other side is a booting 60 footer and their super pipe. But what really makes Keystone is their rail garden. Boxes and rails of all shapes and sizes are enough to challenge anyone and with their park crew constantly on the prowl, take offs and landings are almost always perfect. If your fortunate enough to master all the features, not to worry, three weeks later you’ll find the rail selection changed about.
Tired about having to take a full lift ride up though a maze of tourist just to ski a quarter of the hill? The A-51 lift services just the park, the perfect gift for the lazy jibber. And the odds of finding a fellow freeheeler are generally high. Some pros sometimes find their way over there, but often they are your everyday Joe there to throw down.
| Closest Airports: | Denver International Airport (2.5 hours away) Eagle County Airport (1hour away) |
| Lift tickets: | $75 |
| Vertical: | 3,128 feet |
| Skiable Terrain: | 2,870 acres |
| Website: | www.keystoneresort.com |