Copper Mountain in Frisco, Colorado, USA

Painted in 2018

Copper Mountain, just outside of Frisco, Colorado is emblematic of what makes skiing in Colorado so great. It gets a lot of sun, a lot of snow, and it’s designed to be fun for any skier or snowboarder. Copper’s name reflects Colorado’s long mining history, and you can still catch glimpses of how that industry shaped these mountains from the slopes. But what really sets Copper apart is how well it utilizes its terrain. It doesn’t hurt that it’s one of the ten biggest ski resorts in Colorado by acreage, but Copper also has one of the easiest to navigate layouts of any mountain in the state. Start out at the West Village to get warmed up on easy beginner terrain, and then gradually work your way east for steeper runs and longer laps.

Copper also plays host to world-class racing and freestyle facilities, so don’t be surprised if you run into an olympian or two in the village. Jame Niehues originally painted his ski map of Copper Mountain in 2018, and it goes beyond chronicling just the runs of the ski resort. It also contains the beautiful mountain vistas that anyone who’s stood on top of Copper Mountain will be familiar with. No ski trip to Colorado is complete without a stop at Copper, and any collection of ski maps will benefit from the inclusion of this beautiful mountain.