Buttermilk Ski Area

[ Annual snowfall: 200 inches | Lifts: 9 | Base elevation: 7,870 ft. | Summit elevation: 9,900 ft./3,018 m; Vertical rise: 2,030 ft. | Terrain: 470 acres | Number of trails: 44 | Miles/km of trails: 21 miles/34 km | Longest run: 3 miles/4.83 km | Types of trails: easiest: 35%, more difficult: 39%, most difficult: 26%, expert: 0% | Lift capacity: 7,500 riders/hour | Uncrowded slopes: On average, 4 people per acre ]

Buttermilk is the smallest of the four ski areas. Before the X Games came to town, it had a reputation as a beginner's mountain. While it is still a great mountain for learning, it now has a 5 terrain parks and a superpipe for the more adventurous boarders and skiers. West Buttermilk has nice green (easy) runs. The east side of the mountain known as Tiehack has a mix of intermediate and advanced cruisers. The Cliffhouse restaurant on the top has great views of the 14,018 ft Pyramid Peak. It is a popular mountain for the uphill crowd. Pedestrians travel uphill on everything from running shoes to telemark gear.