Copper Mountain

Copper Mountain is a census-designated place (CDP) in Summit County, Colorado, United States. Its elevation is 9,695 feet (2,955 m).

It is located approximately 20 miles (32 km) north-northeast of Leadville in the White River National Forest. It was originally named “Wheeler” for a local judge and developer, and it has also been known as “Wheeler Station” in the past. The naming question was settled by a decision from the Board on Geographic Names, which ruled in favor of “Copper Mountain” in 1977.

Copper Mountain is a mountain and ski resort located in Summit County, Colorado, about 75 miles (120 km) west of Denver on Interstate 70. The resort has 2,465 acres (10.0 km2) of in-bounds terrain under lease from the U.S. Forest Service, White River National Forest, Dillon Ranger District. It is operated by Powdr Corporation.

The resort opened in November 1972 and was owned and operated by Intrawest until December 2009, when operations were sold to Powdr Corporation.

Copper Mountain hosted the World Cup tour in 1976 with four alpine ski races: slalom and giant slalom for both men and women. Copper was a late-season replacement for Heavenly Valley in California, which was low on snow. Rosi Mittermaier of West Germany won both women’s races and wrapped up the 1976 overall and slalom titles, and Copper named “Rosi’s Run” after her that same weekend.

The mountain is the starting point of the Colorado’s Copper Triangle, a road cycling circuit that has been the home of the annual Colorado Cyclist Copper Triangle Alpine Cycling Classic since 2005. This event benefits the Davis Phinney Foundation, an organization committed to improving the lives of those with Parkinson’s Disease.

In February, 2009, Woodward Camp opened a 20,000-square-foot (1,900 m2) indoor ski and snowboard training facility dedicated to terrain park and pipe progression.

The resort recently became an official U.S. Ski Team downhill training venue, beginning with the 2011–2012 season.