A 6-Night Car-Free Winter Escape to Winter Park, Colorado

Fly into Denver International Airport and make your way into the city via the RTD A-Line train, which drops you directly at Union Station in about 40 minutes. Because the Winter Park Express departs early in the morning and only runs on select days during ski season, I strongly recommend building in a Denver overnight rather than trying to rush straight into the mountains. It makes the logistics significantly easier and turns travel day into part of the experience instead of something to push through.

Check into The Crawford Hotel, located right inside Union Station and one of my favorite places to stay in Denver for a trip like this. It’s beautiful, full of character, and especially fitting if you’re building your itinerary around rail travel. Spend the rest of the day settling in, grabbing a drink at Cooper Lounge, browsing Tattered Cover, or heading to dinner nearby at Tavernetta or Mercantile Dining & Provision before your early train departure the next morning.

Wake up early and keep the morning simple. Grab coffee and breakfast in or around Union Station before boarding the Winter Park Express Ski Train, which typically departs early on Thursday through Sunday mornings during ski season. This is one of the most unique and enjoyable ways to reach a ski destination in the U.S., and it’s a big part of what makes this trip feel so special.

One important note: This train often sells out well in advance, especially on peak winter weekends and holiday periods, so this is absolutely a trip that benefits from early planning. Once on board, settle in and enjoy the ride through the Rockies without having to think about traffic, weather, or winter driving.

When you arrive, choose the version of this trip that best fits your travel style. If your priority is maximizing time on the slopes, Zephyr Mountain Lodge is the most convenient option. If you want the trip to feel like more than just a ski base, Devil’s Thumb Ranch is the property I’d be most excited to recommend. Located outside of Fraser, it offers a much fuller winter experience with beautiful accommodations, great dining, a spa, hot tubs, Nordic trails, and a wide range of winter activities—making it a particularly strong fit for couples, families, or mixed-interest groups where not everyone wants to ski every day.

Make today your first full day on the mountain. Winter Park is beloved by Colorado locals for good reason: It’s approachable, unpretentious, and has a good mix of terrain for different skill levels. It doesn’t feel quite as polished or luxury-forward as places like Aspen or Beaver Creek, but that’s part of the appeal. It’s a more laid-back mountain with strong skiing and a less performative vibe.

If you’re staying at Zephyr, you’ll have the easiest possible access to the slopes. If you’re staying at Devil’s Thumb Ranch, this is a good day to head over for skiing and then return to something a little more peaceful and elevated at the end of the day. Après can be as casual or cozy as you want, whether that means drinks in the village, dinner in town, or a quieter evening back at the ranch.

One of the reasons I like this trip so much is that it doesn’t have to revolve entirely around downhill skiing to feel worthwhile. Winter Park is great for skiers, but this itinerary also works really well for couples, families, or mixed-interest groups where not everyone wants to spend every day on the mountain.

If you’re staying at Devil’s Thumb Ranch, this is where the property really earns its place in the itinerary. It’s not just a place to sleep—it’s a destination in its own right. Depending on the season and availability, you could spend the day enjoying the ranch’s Nordic skiing and snowshoe trails, fat tire biking, spa time, sleigh rides, ice skating, or simply slowing down and enjoying the setting. If you stay on property for dinner, Ranch House Restaurant is worth prioritizing for a more special meal, while Heck’s Tavern is a great, more casual option for lunch or a cozy dinner by the fire.

Use your final full day in the mountains however feels most exciting to you. For some travelers, that means squeezing in one last ski day and making the most of the terrain. For others, this is the perfect day to keep things slower and soak up the setting—coffee with a view, a walk in the snow, a long lunch, and one more cozy dinner before heading back to Denver.

This is also a good reminder that a successful winter trip doesn’t have to be nonstop or overly ambitious. A trip like this is best when it feels intentional, not overfilled.

Enjoy a slower morning before making your way back to the station for your return ride on the Winter Park Express. The train back to Denver is such a satisfying way to wrap the trip—scenic, easy, and a nice contrast to the usual end-of-trip scramble that comes with mountain departures.

Once back in Denver, check into The Crawford Hotel again for one last night. It makes the departure day much easier and gives you a chance to end the trip on a polished, comfortable note. If you skipped it on the front end, this is a great night for dinner at Tavernetta or a more casual but still excellent meal at Mercantile before heading home the next day.

Take the A-Line back to Denver International Airport and head home without the usual rental car return, gas stop, or mountain drive. That ease is a huge part of what makes this itinerary so appealing, especially for travelers who want a Colorado winter trip that feels distinctive, beautiful, and genuinely manageable.