Monarch Mountain Reviews

We did the local favorite this was our second trip. Had a great time with our guide Collin . Lots of time in the snow with free time. We will definitely be back.

Before I proceed, just want to let other visitors know that they ran a 2-for-1 lift ticket deal if you present a Colorado Springs boarding pass. My friends and I flew in last month to Colorado Springs to visit our friends and go snowboarding, hiking, and rock climbing. We went to Breckenridge which was painfully expensive and crowded, so Monarch Mountain was quite a blessing for us. Two hours away from Co Springs with absolutely no traffic to and fro, it was one of the smoothest snowboarding days I've had in awhile. The parking lot was so close and you walked right up to the lifts right away.

By the time we got there it was already snowing hard and continued to snow all day. The pow conditions were EXCELLENT. Coming from the east coast, I was beyond delighted with the freshest, softest snow I've ever snowboarder on. My friends and I were in pow heaven!

The overall mountain/trails are excellent for beginners or those looking to hone in on their skiing/snowboarding craft. Since I'm more on the intermediate/advanced skill, I can see how one would get bored easily as the trails are not as long as other mountain resorts. Nonetheless we still had so much fun, save for the minor altitude sickness I experienced where i felt like I couldn't catch my breath! They were selling these powder packets at the small, limited-items cafeteria for altitude sickness and it really helped me.

Just a big note to keep in mind: their lift chairs have no safety bars in front, and while it didn't bother us too much, I can see how this would be a safety problem for many others, so just keep that in mind.

I really love this ski resort. It's small and simple yet a large enough area to not be bored. Plenty of easy runs for novice skiers like me. My 6 year old daughter also really enjoyed it! The cost is more reasonable than other resorts too. I can't wait to go back next year!

I got a season pass here a few years ago and did not have a single bad day! This hill is perfect for beginner to advanced skiers and has the best powder I've ever skied on! If you are looking for a great place to ski for a good price.....this is the place.

Monarch has something for everyone, and it is not over groomed. Staff is beyond friendly. Pick the right time and days and it is like your own private resort.

Chris, Sean and Keegan were awesome teachers. I took snowboarding lessons and even when I wanted to give up my instructors were supportive. I wanted to do 2 full day lessons and although on the second half of the second day (Christmas Day) the winds got close to 60 mph and there were power outages, Monarch Mountain issued me a refund for the second part of the day. I would recommend 2 full day lessons especially if you are a beginner like me.

We had a great weekend skiing Monarch. It wasn't too crowded. I wish there would be some more huts or lounges for a quick break but that's no big downturn. We also had slightly more icy spots and mashed potatoe snow than we had hoped for but that didn't stop us from enjoiying the day. Great ski area.

Was WAY busier than past trips, and yet, no lift lines (except on the bunny slope). Larger bar, cafeteria, and rental area. Way to keep up, guys!

This was a fantastic and affordable first ski trip for us. Dennis was our instructor on the mountain and could not have been more patient and kind! We went for the first week of March, which was off season and practically had the mountain to ourselves. Lots of fresh snow and powder. Great experience!
Stayed in Salida which is about a half hour drive. Town looks old and stale but is actually quite cute and nice! Had some great recommendations for food and shopping.

This was an interesting experience. It's a small mountain with limited parking, but nonetheless I liked it better than the bigger mountains. Monarch was truly a gem...great experience with great trails. I enjoyed very much. The food was kind of ok but no different than what I've eaten at other similar places.

I've skied over 40 places in Western North America and this place is up near the top. Friendly staff, diverse mountain. Loved the runs that were groomed on one side and left bumps on the other side. They do have some knuckle heads working in the rental department. (snow boarders who don't have a clue about ski boots should be a Liftee). Great scenery from the top looking West and South. Food was very good, and service was excellent in the lodge. Except for one employee in the rental area it was a smooth operation. One down side was the $5 charge for a locker!! Sorry when your getting more than $100 for me for the day you should just provide the locker.

I will NEVER go there after a very poor customer service experience. I was excited to go for the first time last season and when we were preparing to go we pulled out the 3 pack of tickets that we had purchased and realized they had already closed for the season and the tickets had expired. So I wrote to explain the situation and asked if they would permit us to use the tickets in the 15-16 season, and they refused. I wrote twice more asking if they would please do something to help us out for our loss, NO WAY! With so many other great options in Colorado, why would I want to go to a place that has such poor customer relations?

Great atmosphere with good skiing without the crowds. The wheather and conditions were good. Lack of any base village was the only negative but you are there for the skiing. Could use some updating to lifts.

I normally wouldve rated this way higher but my experience today was not too great. I’ve been skiing at Monarch since I was 6 years old, I moved away 4 years ago and just recently made my first visit back today. I am so disappointed, the mountain is not like it used to be, the home town ski area has totally lost its appeal. I went up Tumbelina for my first lift of the day, it had been years that I was even on the slopes so I was getting used to it again. Unsteady of the scanner lift operator kindly asking me to put my mask above my nose he said “ umm your mask needs to be above your nose right now.” I said okay sir, I was next with my brother to get on the lift about to put it above my nose and he said “I said RIGHT NOW” i completely understand the importance of the mask mandate and how we need to follow all of the regulations but he was not kind about it at all. I wasn’t even given a chance to pull it up.
Once I came back down I decided to go up the lift one more time. I made sure my mask was above my nose that time.. I didn’t want him to say it again. Then as I was skiing into the lift the same lift operator who was scanning our passes hit me on the arm saying “ your straps, get them off now”
I was in the middle of skiing into the lift, about ready to take them off. I feel he had no business in physically touching me.
I just let it go and did not go on that lift again.
The covid restrictions have been great to keep us all safe from this pandemic but I feel the employees at Monarch are taking this pandemic and making it a reason to not allow everyone to eat their own food in their lodge. You aren’t allow to eat it outside at the top of the lodge at the picnic tables, not even inside at the bottom areas. There is literally no place. So me and my family decided to go to our car to eat... that was the only other place. As we were on our way out we saw about 3 picnic tables outside the lower area and that was the only place you could eat the food you brought.
Next, I remember the staff used to be chill and kind. No one talks to you now. They seem like they got some problems going on and it’s really sad.

The great thing is the mountain is still home to me, I grew up here, the runs were great just like how it used to be. I enjoyed the day so much when I was on the runs. It was just the way they do things and the staff that was really disappointing.

Since we have been using this resort, they have made some nice improvements this year. Added public WIFI, new menu items and the gift shop has new improved stuff. The skiing is always great and they have removed some standing dead timber, opening up the runs in several areas. Nice improvement this year.

The good: Uncrowded ski resort with a laid-back atmosphere.

The bad: Slow lifts servicing mellow terrain.

Would I go back? Maybe. I won't go back by myself or with friends that are strong skiers. This would be a great place to take a date who isn't a strong skier.

All of the staff are friendly and even over the MLK day weekend, I never had to wait in a lift line. But, the lifts are slow and the runs are relatively short. I could see myself enjoying some good conversations on the lifts, but if I just wanted to knock out some quick runs this would not be my choice of resorts.

We are pretty inexperienced skiers, but had a fun day on the slopes. Everyone was friendly and helpful. There was plenty of space for beginners and a variety of runs. Beautiful scenery. Food in the café is good value. Husband still rubbish at skiing at the end of the day - but was amusing watching him fall over a lot!

This was our 1st time skiing in Colorado. My husband, daughter & I flew out to visit friends, who have been to Monarch several times. Since none of the kids had ever skied before (only snowboarded) & it had been quite some time for the adults as well, we booked a private lesson. James was FANTASTIC!! By the end of a 3hr lesson, my daughter had more confidence than I thought possible. She was the only one of 3 kids who had never done more than simple tubing & James had her zooming down the mountain in no time! All three kids picked up on his instructions easily. He taught the adults to ski with no poles, which was a 1st for all of us. The mountain is beautiful, the staff is helpful & friendly. Four adults & three kids, and we ALL agreed, we had an AMAZING time!! Pack a lunch...the food is expensive, but the experience is worth every penny.

I love Monarch Mountain... after going to some of the other resorts in Colorado and having to pay for parking and take a bus to get to the lift, this small-time resort is a breath of fresh air. You park for free, close enough to walk in your boots to the lifts. There's plenty of skiing for all levels, and the restaurant is really good and reasonably priced (but crowded since there's only one). Hot chocolate is excellent and only $2. Also, since Monarch is probably not one of the "cooler" places to ski, it seems like there are less teenage snowboarders barreling down and almost running you over... though we were there very early in the season, so it may be just that the resort in general was not crowded. Oh, I forgot the best part... lift tickets are pocket change compared to other resorts. Adult lift tickets are $46, and for the past two years they have had a deal where you get "buy one get one free" just for buying $10 worth of gas at a participating gas station (This year it's Shell). AND you can use those coupons 7 days a week, unlike the other participating resorts that limit you to Sunday thru Friday, or no weekends at all.

You can make it a day trip from Colorado Springs, but it's a long day. We have stayed at the Days Inn in Salida which is pretty nice.

We just returned from a 10 day trip to Monarch Mountain. We are a family of four with two boys that are 6 and 7 years old. We all had a wonderful time even though the snow was a little thin as this has been a fairly dry year so far in a lot of the West. Our boys loved it and the fact that it was uncrowded with short lines really helped them avoid getting tired or frustrated waiting to get on the chair. The people who worked there were all very friendly and helpful. The lift operators often would slow down the chair for my 6 year old or help him get to the red line to board the chair without being asked for assiatance.

Here are a few things to consider about Monarch:

It's a great family ski area that is not very big (five or so chair lifts) but has enough terrain to keep most happy. Our boys loved skiing the blue runs and were able to ski one or two black runs here this trip (this is their third season on skiis).

They have no snow making capability so you have to check the snow report and see what runs and lifts are open especially early season. A number of runs at the top where closed when we were there because of lack of snow.

It's relatively uncroweded even during the peak times of year like the Christmas week. We never had to wait in line for more than five minutes to get on the chair.

Most of the chairs are doubles except for one quad. If you have an odd number of people or young children, keep this in mind.

They installed a new "tube" recently that is a long magic carpet. Our boys liked riding up the tube more than they skiing down the bunny slope it services. It was kind of cool.

The mountain is not as challenging as other better known resorts in Colorado. If you are a major big mountain skier, this is probably not the resort for you.

They have two terrain parks that were both open when we were there. Not really for us so I can't comment on them other than to say that they didn't look as comprehensive (didn't see a half pipe, for example) as some other resorts we've visited.

The resort may not be as flashly as Aspen or Vail but it's still that wonderfully light Colorado snow at less than half the price.

We bought a season pass in October. They have pre-season rates and even though we live in California, it was still cheaper than buying tickets every day for 8 or 9 days. Also, the restaurants at the resort and many in town offer a 10% discount for pass holders.

The ski school takes kids that are at least 7 years old. They have a child care facility but no ski school for 6 and under.

I would give the resort four stars only because of its relatively small size and limited lifts. They make a lot with what they have, however. I would love to see a new chair or two in the coming seasons.

We rented skiis for the boys from Mountain Ski Haus in Poncha Springs off of highway 50 near the junction to Salida. Great service and price (kids' skiis were around $4 per day excluding boots with 10% off for pass holders).

They have started giving sled dog tours not far from the Mountain. We didn't have an opportunity to do this, but I bet it's a fun experience.

All in all, Monarch is a great mountain for young skiers that are learning or improving. Our family had a great time this past Christmas.

Monarch is a great place to ski (or snowboard I suppose if you're one of those weirdos) while you're in Colorado. The prices and crowds are MUCH better compared to any other ski resort I've been to. Some might say this is because of how small the ski area is- don't be fooled! There is still a lot of stuff to do. There are cool and challenging runs under the lifts, some great trees to explore, and there are also quite a few beginner slopes and some nice groomed ones to speed down! And there are 2 terrain parks! The staff is super friendly- it's a great place to learn how to ski, and although the food is overpriced like it is at all ski resorts, there is a big section for people with packed lunches to sit and eat. Monarch is a super fun place for experienced and beginner skiers/snowboarders.

The ski school at Monarch was excellent for my 7 year old. He left his class early because he wanted to try something "bigger".

Came back with family after 20 years! Husband learned to ski here and we thoroughly enjoyed the lack of crowds and laid back feel of staff and skiers. Jewel in the crown of the Collegiates

This was third time we have been to Monarch Mountain over the last 11 years. The first time the kids were teenagers and now they are in their twenties. It was good young and old. Lots of good memories.

We have been skiing at Monarch ski area for 5 years now, purchasing the season pass each year as well. They have the friendliest "lifties" and keep the slopes in great shape. It's not a mega resort, gets @ 280-350" of fresh snow every year - nothing artificial about this place and these are the reasons we love it! Parking is free and close up in a paved lot. There is a great lunch room for skiers that want to bring their own lunch. There are even plugs scattered around for those who want to bring a crock pot to heat up some soup or chili while skiing. There is also a full-service cafeteria for those who don't bring their own food. The slopes have a good mix of green, blue and blacks for all levels of skiers. We've been bringing our grandsons here since they were 3 and they love it here as well. Just wish they had a better children's ski program for younger children - that's the only improvement that I can suggest! Otherwise, Monarch is perfect!

A group of six of us spent a fantastic long weekend here. We were of differing levels and no matter how good or poor a skier you were, the people and the slopes were welcoming. There is no apres ski scene, no one is trying to impress you, the lift lines move quickly and there are plenty of runs for all abilities. We loved it!

I liked the local vibe. I wished that one of the best areas to ski on the mountain (in my opinion) involved hiking to get over to it. Drat! The grooming of runs was good, but a little better marking with fences, signs would have been nice. It would also add to the professionalism of a Ski Resort biz should be.

Family friendly ski area. We will be returning with our family next year. It was the first time our two boys had been skiing. They had the best ski instructors.

Fantastic smaller resort, but big enough for fun filled days. Great powder. Park and walk 150' to the lifts. Cheap lift tickets and rentals. Great covered magic carpet for beginners and kids. Salida has lots of nice restaurants too - Boathouse and Amicas shouldn't be missed.

On top of all this, no I-70 traffic! Takes a bit longer to get here than Copper or Breck, but worth it.

The pass through the mountains is a breathtaking and exhilarating experience. There is no way anything but a personal experience can define the mountains.

Monarch mountain is a small ski area located near monarch pass in south central Colorado near the town of Salida, it has a real family feel as well as a good "party vibe" in the bar/restaurant area, there are about five different lifts, which in my experience are not busy except at some weekends and holidays. I've never had to line up for a lift during the week! It is reasonably priced, with some deals you can ski as a couple for as little as approximately $84 (shell gas deal) during the week.

There is enough challenging terrain to suit the most discerning skier for a few days, the snow is all natural, the resort doesn't have a great height difference from top to bottom (2800ft?) so you can spend a bit more of your time on the lifts if you ski hard up and down!

All the staff are generally very nice and helpful, the wait staff in the good restaurant are cheery and always smiling, the food is good and reasonably priced, all in all a place worth taking time to visit.

My family and I just finished 3 great ski and snowboard days. As never-evers on a budget, we tried to do a lot of research to determine the best place for the best price. We did a full day lesson which was separated between skiers (my husband and I) and snowboarders (my 3 sons) as well as by age. Classes were small (8 in the morning and 4 in the afternoon) so I felt like we got plenty of individual attention which also allowed the instructor to gear the class towards our abilities. By the end of our last day, my kids were hitting the small terrain park and my husband and I felt like we had learned and practiced enough that we were at least comfortable with skiing. The scenery is amazing with many runs beginning at the Continental Divide. We also got to experience 60 degree weather as well as a full day of snow which made for an amazing experience. We can't wait to come back next year!

Skied today at Monarch ( 4/3/15) and only a couple of Blue runs were groomed, no blacks, and once you got off the groomed runs, it was as if you were skiing on a stainless steel ice rink. Not sure why the ownership and/or the owner can't spend a little more time grooming.

Having to spend $69 for a ticket, based on the terrible quality of grooming, Monarch should let you ski free, and encourage you to spend money instead on food and beverage.

Terrible Value for what they charge based on a purported 61" base. They tell you they get 350 inches a year, but the runs look like dirty soiled diapers on ice.

Best Family place to ski and snowboard. Staff always friendly, short lift lines , and easy to get to. We have been three years to Salida, Co for Spring break, its only a 30 minute drive to Monarch Mountain for a great day of skiing. If you need lessons, they have great instructors, and the ski school for kids is great. Several great choices to eat and Starbucks!

We went up for one day and ended up staying for the whole weekend. This is a great ski area with plenty of runs to keep you busy. The "bunny slope" was great with and enclosed magic carpet ride up to the top. It would be a great place to practice your first runs. The rest of the mountain was easy to get around, and the lines were short and sweet with friendly staff ready to help. The best part is the relaxed atmosphere, everyone I chatted with said they were having as great a time as we were.

when you purchase a season pass at Monarch, you get great skiing, exceptional service, friendly employees, We have had season passes for 6 yeas. we have had wonderful powder snow, tree skiing was great and no lift lines during the week. Also, with a season pass you get discounts at the resort and also in the town of Salida. Another plus, is all the resorts that have a reciprocal agreement with Monarch. For example, You can ski Loveland, cooper, Durango, and many other resorts just by showing your Monarch pass.

This was our first time skiing. My kids took the level 1 Junior lessons two days in a row and were totally skiing. I'd like to make a shout out to the best ski instructor Zach Meier for being so funny, kind and patient with my ornery little boy who gets frustrated way too easily. He was patient and didn't let it get to him and his instructing skills. The snow ball fight break was genius and hilarious. We all can't wait to go back and work on all the skills by boys' learned. Even though we were there for the busiest weekend so far, all the staff were kind and eager to help us new-comers.

We came here for Spring Break and stayed in a cabin near Maysville. The mountain was not far away so, it's great if you don't feel like staying at a specific resort and want to be on your own a little.

We are complete novice skiers and booked a private family lesson. Our instructor, Kammerin, was great. He was really patient with those of us who were slow learners. Yet he was also able to challenge our teen boys who were able to catch on much quicker. I would highly recommend a private lesson if you are new to this and would specifically request Kammerin.

As novices, we were able to go to the top of the mountain and take the green trails down with minimal difficulty. The scenery was gorgeous and no one broke any limbs. Be aware that there is no night skiing here so the lifts close at 4pm. Also, since there is no specific resort here, there is minimal shopping and dining is limited to a cafeteria, a bar, and a coffee shop.

My husband, 5-year-old son, and I skiied at Monarch on New Year's Day. It was a great experience.

We signed my son up for all day ski school and child care. He was able to go out in the morning for an hour and a half and again in the afternoon. During the morning, he was in a group, but in the afternoon he got a one on one lesson. We watched both lessons for a little bit, and they seemed to be really good. He had a great time during his day at Monarch and wanted to go back the following day.

The ski resort is easy to get to and the roads were completely clear. The resort opens at 9 and closes at 4. Even though it was busy when we got there, the equipment rental line moved quickly. The employees kept everything moving. There are 4 different lifts and many different options for ski runs. I never had to wait longer than a minute or two in the lift lines. The ski runs were not crowded, even though there were a good number of people at the mountain. I think because of the many different options. We ate lunch on the Mountain at the bar area, and the food was good and we were able to find seats even though it was crowded. My parents ate in the cafeteria and enjoyed their meal too.

The prices for everything were much lower than many other ski resorts. The lift tickets and equipment rental were $80 a person and the all day ski school and child care was $185.

Overall, the experience was very positive. I will definitely return to Monarch again because of the family-friendly atmosphere, ease of operation of the resort, and location.

We stayed at a Vacation Rental by Owner Property in Poncha Springs and we skiied 3 days at Monarch Mountain. The people were extremely friendly and the prices were reasonable. Also, since we skiied mostly during the week, it was not crowded at all. We put our 3 year old into the ski school and childcare for two days. She had fun skiiing for the first time and she still talks about wanting to ski again. Her instructor was Mr. Doug and she still remembers him. He took myself and my wife up the lift on the second day to show us how to teach our daughter. This was such a great thing for him to do and this is the kind of personal touch you will find with all of the employees working on the mountain. The childcare was great and our daughter had lots of fun.

We have skiied lots of places in Colorado and this place was really good for us. Not only is the price reasonable and the place not crowded, but the mountain is layed out well for us. My wife likes to ski green runs and I like to ski blues. It is easy to ride the lift up and ski down on different runs without feeling like you might lose your partner. Everything funnels back to the same general area.

Pros:
-Uncrowded, even on weekends
-Folks (both staff and customers) are generally friendlier in small resorts
-Good value on lift tickets compared to larger resorts
-A number of interesting (if short) intermediate ski runs, as well as some difficult expert runs

Cons:
-Ski lifts are old-school and slow (but lack of lift lines makes up for the slow chairs)
-If you're a pretty good skier you'll want to move on after several days (unless you proceed to tackle the off-piste Southbound and Mirkwood areas).

We took a morning off of work to avoid the weekend crowds and traffic - and it was really worth it! No lift lines, nearly all lifts open, and freshly-groomed slopes. We've been coming to Monarch Mountain every year for the past decade, and just love it. It's not a shopping, spa, movie, destination with skiing. It's a terrific ski place with a great restaurant, bar, and coffee shop. The staff is friendly and always helpful.

We skied all morning without a single wait for a lift chair, had lunch (cups of chili and the pork-belly tacos), and felt both exhausted (there was no time spent just standing in line) and refreshed (not being stuck in the office on a Tuesday does wonders).

We'll be back!

We have started trying to find the smaller, less crowded and less expensive mountains and if that’s what your looking for, Monarch is your place. Best snow I’ve ever found. Every turn was soft, no hard pack or icy spots. Terrain for all levels!! Ski school was great with my kids and about 1/3 the price of the big name resorts. No village or slope side lodging but when you can park 100 feet from the lifts, that just as good if not better than paying $800 night to schlep 300 yards with kids and equipment to get to a lift. If you love to ski and don’t care about all the glitz of the Aspen, Vail, etc, Monarch is a great choice! Also to note, we were there during the busiest time of the year/holidays, and the longest lift line we waited in was maybe 5 minutes.

Great skiing. Laid back environment. If you fly in through COS you can get 2 for 1 lift tickets with your boarding pass as proof.

We had never skiied Monarch - for that matter, we hadn't been downhill skiing in years. Monarch was a very comfortable place to re-start, and the seasons pass price for old folks made the deal.

We stuck with greens and the occasional blue in our four days there. Lines for the lower runs were longer, but waits were never longer than a couple of minutes, even during the Christmas holidays. There was enough challenge for us on the green trails and runs that we didn't feel the need to get too adventurous, but the groomed blues that we did were not beyond our skills. The staff were all friendly and helpful, and the lift attendants saw us enough that they remembered my name.

This is not a glitzy resort. The best places to stay are in Salida, about 20 minutes away, but the snow is good, the runs are just fine, and the prices are right. Now that we have seasons passes we will be there regularly.

Helpful staff, reasonably priced, free parking, quality rental equipment and minimal lift lines. This was our first time and we will be back. We learned that you can pack your own lunch and drinks and eat in the lower level! Parking is close to the lift and as mentioned, free! You can book your lift tickets the night before and save a few $$$. Likewise, you can reserve your rental equipment 48 hours in advance. If you do neither, no worries, there is plenty of time, staff and equipment once you get there.

Monarch Mountain is very reasonably priced for lift tickets and rentals compared to other ski resorts in Colorado, especially for children, and has plenty of capacity so there were no wait times on week days and only a couple of minutes wait on Saturday.

The staff were extremely friendly and helpful - thanks guys!

There are lots of great runs, with something for all kinds of skiiers. My children loved carving their own trails through forest.

We happened to hit Monarch on a powder day. Skiing 1-2 ft of powder is an experience I will never forget! There is a good variety of slopes. The employees were friendly and seemed happy to be there. The mountain feels very friendly. The cafeteria food was good, but expensive, so be prepared. They do have a picnic room at the bottom of the lodge if you bring your own food. The slopes are near the top of Monarch Pass, so be prepared for snowy roads. My phone only had a slight signal on the top of one ridge, and nothing at all the rest of the time. There is free wi-fi available at the lodge. Parking is close.

Our family of beginner level skiers from the south spent an amazing week skiing Monarch Mountain. Lots of beautiful views from an expansive amount of beginner terrain made this week so much fun! Every employee we encountered was incredibly friendly and super accommodating. We had some last minute reservation changes — our oldest decided to try snowboarding — and it was zero trouble to make changes. Last, but certainly not least, we had the best instructors this week — incredibly educated, met us at our level and provided personalized advice that made us each a better skier (thank you SO much, Rob, James and Beaver)!! Our youngest skier even skied black runs this week! This is an absolute hidden gem! Do yourself a favor and ski independent at Monarch — we will absolutely be back!

We loved Monarch. After a few seasons in Breckenridge, we came at the recommendation of Rob Prescott, the most amazing ski instructor. We enjoyed 3 full days of skiing with the family. Rob is able to focus on all ages, from our 3 year old to a private lesson with my husband. The mountain is beautiful with several nice long green runs, and plenty of blues that were great for my 4 kids. We can’t wait to go back.

Especially if you are over 69....because no one beats free.

Monarch is a great place to ski, because it's large enough to have enough terrain with enough variety that you can ski multiple days without getting bored, yet small enough that you needn't worry about getting lost or getting separated from your group. And it's a _ski_ area; no slope-side condos, not even overnight lodging within several miles. Free parking, and not too long of a hike from the lot to the lodge. Add in a spectacular view of the Rockies from atop the Continental Divide from a lift-served ridge (Panorama Lift) that even has a green route back down. Pretty good food. Very friendly and helpful staff in all departments.

And did I mention that if you're over 69, then you can't beat the price. But check out their rates (which vary from day to day) on line, and you'll find that even for youngsters the prices are more than reasonable.

We love to take the family here. Many Colorado Springs families ski at Monarch because it is not too far, it can have very good snow, and it does not have the commercial feel or crowds of the big resorts. On our last trip, though, we noticed that the former "Picnic Area" has now been converted to a "No Outside Food" area. After lugging our lunch up from the car, we still ate our picnic in protest, and were told by staff - very politely - not to do it again. Is this to squeeze more money out of visitors? We will need to tailgate at our car from now on, and so instead of getting a few extra burger sales, they will be losing out on hot chocolate and snack sales from us.

My family and I just returned from a great ski vacation to Monarch. I grew up skiing in Colorado, so I'm used to the more well-known ski resorts. I was unsure about Monarch since my husband, 12-year old son and 10-year old daughter had never skiied before but Monarch fit into our Colorado vacation plans so we decided to give it a try. What a nice surprise!! We had read and heard about the amazing ski school at Monarch and how friendly the instructors are - we were not let down! After a 2 hour lesson, my husband and kids were all skiing down green runs and hitting the blues by the 3rd day! We loved the fact that the crowds were few, the wait for lift lines not long, and the snow plentiful! Plenty of variety of runs for all ski levels with beautiful views. We all fell in love with Monarch!

The Child Care/Ski School for 3 - 6 year olds was AWESOME! Great staff and a great value. Highly recommend this place for starting kids out on a lifetime love of skiing.

My husband and two boys snowboarded and skied for two days straight! They had a blast. Everyone was very friendly. The hot chocolate was wonderful and we love shopping for gear in their store. The dinning areas were a very crowded but the hills made up for it because it felt like you were all alone (well almost!) This is definitely a place we'd go back to.

Great place for my 8 yr old grandson to take lessons and to ski. It was not crowded , no waits on any lift. the food at the gunpowder saloon was really great. Awesome value

If you are looking to just ski and avoid all of the resort-y stuff, head to Monarch. It's an unassuming place, but what do you really need to ski? There are virtually no lines which means more skiing than waiting!

Head to Shell for 10 gallons of gas to get the 1/2 off lift ticket deal!

First off, an absolutely beautiful place. Lodge, restaurant and ski runs all well kept.
The staff are the most fun and friendly people ever! You can tell everyone loves their jobs.
If you've never skied take the class, the instructors are fantastic. Great drinks and good food at the bar.
Fun, family atmosphere. Great times for everyone!

We skied with some friends who had never been to Monarch. They loved the small feel but were surprised by how much varied terrain the area offers.

Ok it's not the Alps. Runs are super short and only a few lifts but we had a blast. Slopes groomed nicely. Two small terrain parks. Would like to have tried off piste area. Nothing around here. Most stay in Salida.

I had not been skiing for 30 years and took private lessons with my teenage daughters. It was great. Rich was a top-notch instructor and very patient. I did a lot of research and the reviews are spot-on. This is a great place to avoid crowds and high prices.

This was by far my best experience skiing. They have slopes for all skill levels from beginners like my daughter, to challenging blacks and tree runs or my son and I. The longest we had to wait for a lift on a Saturday during spring break was only about 10 minutes, most of the time it was ski up and go. Its a great place for the family with the affordability also.

Great family ski resort. This place gets lots of snow. I wanted a nice affordable place for father and son ski trip, and Monarch was it. No big crowds on weekdays, and even on Presidents Day weekend only 5 min wait at lifts. Nice selection of groomed trails beginners and advanced. Rentals for equipment are under $20, and lift tickets are $52 adult, and $20 for kids,( one of the gas stations in town has a free kids ticket with fill up) not bad compared to the pirates out off I-70. They have no lodge here, but 20 mins. east in Salida are plenty of nice rooms. It was a 3 hour drive from Denver, but it was well worth it. Very little traffic coming and going. I definitely will come back next year.

Drove to Monarch, Colorado and rented a beautiful home that slept 20 people. Monarch is breathtaking and gorgeous. We took 4 wheelers, off road vehicles and climbed moutains. The views at the top were incredible. The weather was perfect, 45 degrees at night and 75 during the day. There is so much to see and do. It should be on everyone's to do list!!!

Lift exit ramps are narrow! Not conducive to snowboarding, this resort is geared toward skiing. Lift to run ratio is okay, not great. Lifts are slow - which wouldn't be a problem if there were long runs to make up for it but that's not the case. So if unless your entire group is skiing, I'd pass.

Did not ski on this trip, but the runs were busy and the snow looked really good. The accommodation are not as nice as some, but if you are more interested in ski ion or snowboarding, this just might be the spot for you. Easy drive from Colorado Springs.

Monarch has always held a special place in my heart. I learned and now am bringing others over 11 hours to learn how to ski.I almost don't want to to write this review to keep this ski area to myself.

As the ski industry gets more expensive monarch has remained on the affordable end. A great place to enjoy a mountain without crazy long lines, or giant megacomplexes, or crazy corporate markups.

The affordable price doesn't detract from the skiing. There are plenty of lifts, runs, snow, and beautiful views.

Very friendly and accommodating staff, we loved it. Never skied before, monarch mountain was a perfect place for first timers. Very close to Salida.

This is my 4th time to Monarch and I can't wait to get back. Love all the runs that have spectacular views of the mountains. The food is good and the rental equipment is always in good shape with a great selection for all skiers.

Enjoyed a day of skiing here (on a Sunday) - Friendly lift operators! Enjoyed a great spicy Bloody Mary in the bar. Not a huge mountain but nice!

First time here, and certainly not the last. We brought our 2 kiddos, 6 and 11 yrs old, who have never skied. They did a 2hr lesson together on day 1 with Gerald, who was great! The kiddos ended up on pretty different skill levels, so on Day 2 Gerald stayed with our 6yr old and Michael taught our 11yr old, who was far less confident. He was SO patient with her and we booked him specifically again (with both he and Gerald helping to ensure Michael got to be her teacher again) for a 3rd lesson. By the end of her 3rd lesson, he had her off the bunny hill and going down the mountain. This was a big deal for her, as she was pretty scared and didn't have much confidence, but he really helped turn that around! Both girls were able to go all the way to the top to see the views and ski down successfully by the end of our trip, which made us very happy. They also loved it and are asking to come back :) The people working at Monarch were very kind and they remembered us day to day and would ask the kids how it was going, and give them encouragement. We really liked the guy (Robert, maybe?) operating the caterpillar lift. Only had one somewhat unfriendly lift operator on the Panorama lift, but it was a busy day and maybe people were being difficult, but he was sure getting fussy with lots of people!
The mountain itself was great. Lots of fun greens and blues (we don't ski blacks). Lifts were quick enough, food was what we expect for ski resort food. We liked the shop a lot and found a good deal on some goggles and souvenirs. Overall, we really loved the mountain and the ease of parking, skiing, etc. We will for sure be back!

My husband and I did a 4-hour group lesson and had an awesome time! Our instructor was fantastic and really pushed us in the afternoon when it was just the three of us. Well worth the money for us skiing newbies. We went only a day after they opened, but we were really impressed with everything we saw. We'll definitely be back in the future.

We had in tow 3 teenagers & 1 adult new to skiing. We had heard that Monarch is a great place to explore and really sink your skis into skiing. The drive up is an easy one, compared to some mountains. The prices are extremely reasonable too.

The slopes are wide, and it was not too crowded which allowed our beginners to feel safe at falling and not getting in the way. When they did, everyone was so kind and will to make sure you are okay.

The slopes were fun and there were a lot of options. I would recommend Monarch to any families or beginners looking for fun in the snow.

Fantastic place for families. Went on a Friday, not crowded at all. This is an excellent place to go if you don't want to tackle the I-70 ski places. I would say it is a small to medium size ski mountain, but it has good variety. My kids learned to ski here and this is where they like to go when given the option. Nice area to eat bag lunches, inside and out. Employees are great and the lift tickets are very reasonable.

It was the last weekend for slopes and I never been to Monarch before. I found that they used an escalator for the bunny hill which was new to me because I never heard of a ski resort having one so yeah

Monarch mountain resort is a smaller mountain with no lines, amazing conditions & of course some great prices all around! Definitely worth the drive!

Amazing ski resort with little to no lines. Love the price, love the people and the employees are super friendly. We don't have a negative thing to say. We'll be back all winter!

I'd always ski'd at the big mountains in summit county and hadn't thought much about the "secondary" mountains in CO. But when I wanted to take my kids skiing and started pricing not just lift tickets but ski lessons for beginners, Monarch quickly rose to the top. Had a great experience as a regular skier and from what I saw of the ski lessons offered. Great snow. Great scenery from up top. Fun location. Friendly staff. The runs are a bit shorter than some places. Obviously not as big as Breck or Keystone, but for the price (especially for a family of 4), what's not to like? I'll be back, and look forward to doing so.

We skied all day and hardly had to wait for a lift. Super friendly staff.

No complaints, except the cafeteria is pretty pricey.

Best to get there early if you plan to rent skis or want a locker (costs $5 w/credit card). It gets busy quickly and becomes fairly confusing.

I took my family to this resort three years in a row, only because it was the closest to where my family lived. I spent thousands each year.

Then, during our third visit, the ski patrol gave me and my family a hard time, getting up in my face with ridiculous machismo and threatening to revoke our paid passes, simply because we took an innocent little detour through an unroped, unsigned, well-worn path that went around a small stand of trees. We were skiing and kids will be kids. There did not appear to be any danger involved in it. Not only were others doing it, but while I was being harassed by the jerk staff, more people went down the same way, and they couldn't seem to control the situation. That didn't make them apologize for the poor signage. They just kept harassing me and threatening me.

It completely ruined my mood and those of my young relatives who were enjoying their time on the slopes up until that point.

I made a followup complaint with the owners, but the prick who harassed me somehow got to be the one who handled his own oversight, and he was still 100% unapologetic. UNBELIEVABLE.

Needless to say my family and I have never been back to Monarch and cannot recommend it for anyone with family who like to enjoy themselves while skiing.

Also... everything is spaced far apart and you can't reach everything important on skis. Plus there are no shuttles. If you need to eat or return skis, there's a lot of walking involved.

Our visit was before the date options provided.

You feel like family here. I have skied since I was 14 and can't possibley count the number of times I have skied this wonderful mountain.

This is all very old-style: slow lifts, relatively inexpensive tickets. I was bothered a bit by food prices: a small portion of soup for $7, mediocre hamburgers for $10 - but then again, you may just skip that. There isn't too much steep terrain for experts (unless it was just snowing heavily - I wasn't that lucky) but there's plenty of very nice tree skiing holding the freshies much longer. A nice alternative to corporate bandits of main-stream Colorado skiing. And Salida, the town at the bottom of the hill, is just lovely.

Terrible customer service. 1 lift was running but they still charged full price. When I brought this up to customer service they just lied and said all the runs were running and they already had my money so there was nothing I could do. I know the cheap prices are a draw, but NOT WORTH IT!

Do not go to Monarch. I have been going to Monarch for 35 years and have always considered it to be the best. But it’s very disappointing now. The staff is rude and obnoxious. The Lodge Facilities stink. Do yourself a favor and go somewhere else...

What a great day we had at Monarch, people were super nice and helpful. Lift lines were super short, snow was good. Price is reasonable and there is a challenge for all skiers and snowboarders. We stopped in the diner and had some tamales and they were delicious as well. Z the young lady at the bar was outstanding, I will miss her smile it was infectious. Great day highly recommend this resort. New hotel coming soon.

My husband and I decided to head up for a different kind of new years celebration this year, and we are so glad we did! This was our first trip to this mountain in our ten years or so of snowboarding. It's far enough away from Denver that it's not a single day trip, which means that there's no I70 traffic to deal with. ..a major plus! The mountain staff were all really friendly, there were almost no lines for the lifts, and the trails were perfection. We're already planning our next trip up there. Love, love, love! The best part was the torch run and the fireworks show after dark. It was the coolest news years celebration I can remember.

Skiing conditions and staff were great but I'm dinging them because their wifi was basically nonexistent. I think any ski resort needs to have decent wifi, at least around the day lodge area. To pay over $1,000 for two people for two days (pass, equipment, and group lessons for two: yes peak prices because it's Christmas week) and not be able to do basic internet is a little ridiculous.

Very rude lift ops, rude workers in retail store and the parking attendant smoking pot. I would not bring my family here ever!

We have skied at Monarch every year for the past several years and think Monarch is perfect for our family. The runs are challenging for those who need a challenge but it is also a great place to take a beginner for the first time. We are all a family of skiers but our kids all learned easily at the Monarch ski school. The mountain is small enough that I don't worry about my oldest kids getting lost when they go out on their own. Monarch is an affordable option for family skiing. The facilities are perhaps a bit more basic than some of the bigger mountains but they are quite good. Each year we are happy to see improvements and expansions to the lodge area and restaurants. We are thrilled that the parking lot is now paved. It makes for cleaner boots for the ride home.

Came here in early December and the mountain was empty and the snow was awesome. If you go during the week, lines are down and the parking lot is open. Weekends always jump up the populace. If the snow is good, deff go. You'll have a blast. Nicely kept secret

We were on vacation and thought we would head to Breckenridge but then a huge storm came and we needed to find closer option. We decided to give Monarch a try and were glad that we did. Great mountain, absolutely no lift lines while we where there and with the storm tons of fresh powder. Great smaller mountain option to get a lot of boarding / skiing in. Rentals staff very friendly and attentive. I highly recommend Monarch.

We had a great time boarding on Monarch mountain. I love the small feel of it, the chairlifts are older, no gondola here. The people we dealt with were all great. Good day!

It has been said that it's what Monarch doesn't have that makes it special: no buses to take you from parking lot to base area, no shopping mall to walk through on the way to the lift, no condos, no high-priced lift tickets, no pretense. Just park, grab your gear and walk a couple hundred feet to the ticket window, click in to your skis, and get on one of three base area lifts. There is also a terrific beginners area with a "magic carpet" lift that is enclosed! It is long and gentle enough that my 5 year old learned to ski unassisted.
There is only 1,100 feet of vertical, but it is quality. On a recent 13" powder day, I discovered it was possible to jam 4 thigh-burning runs in an hour- top to bottom. And even though it is on the Continental Divide, almost all of the area is below tree line, so the storm skiing is great in the trees, and you avoid the high winds of, say, Loveland Pass. If you start feeling like the area is too small, then shoulder your skis and take the 15-20 minute hike to Mirkwood Bowl. This area is within the ski area, with a "cat-track" leading back from the bottom. We found the goods here: untracked, thigh deep pow. Elation Ridge lives up to its' name.
The lodge is small, but there is a big fireplace. The deck is nice on sunny days. And, if you can believe it, the prices at their all-purpose souvenir/ski store are not marked up.
All of the locals that I spoke to were friendly and down to earth. There is none of the smug "local" attitude that one finds in places like Crested Butte.
The only thing I missed was one of those neat Monarch butterfly stickers- they were sold out.

We back-country skied Monarch pass which has incredible views just past the resort. There is a 800 ft climb to the pass, but it's not too steep or risky. It is an absolutely gorgeous 4 miles ski

I enjoyed my visit to Monarch Mountain. I have traveled west to ski for thirty years. This was my first visit to Monarch. What did I love? The abundance of natural snow (82in base), beauty of the mountains, friendly staff, affordable lift tickets, close parking to the ticket booth and lifts, no wait at lifts, and lastly an array of runs ranging in difficulty. I can not give a reason not to ski at Monarch Mountain.

Small enough to keep track of everyone. They don't charge for parking (like most of the Colorado resorts do now). We love coming here because we can stay off of I-70!! It feels like skiing in Colorado back 30 or 40 years ago!

I love this place. It ain't very big and there aren't the endless drops like the big resorts. But I've had more better perfect powder days here than anywhere. it can be pretty damned cold because the wind does whip over the pass, but that's because the big weather systems come right through here. An added plus-you can eat lunch in the bar for less than the cost of your lift ticket! What a concept.
This place is old timey, and it appears not much has changed in the last several decades. Never been in traffic on my way to Monarch, never been in traffic on my way home. All those extra hours spent...skiing!

We went up the monarch pass with our jeep and we'd do it all over any day! You'll get above the tree line and see some awesome stuff

This is a great, small ski area. It is a good place to learn how to ski and keep track of groups. We put our youngest in a lesson. The ski school was very organized and effectively sorted a plethora of students and got them on the mountain. The caterpillar to the bunny slope is uncomfortable to use but provides a way up the small practice hill for people in lessons. There is enough variety on the slopes to satisfy skiers of all levels. The parking lot is paved and well maintained. Ski rental and ticket prices are reasonable. We went during Spring Break, so there were a lot of church groups and families, but the lines, if any, moved very quickly. The staff was kind and helpful. My only negative is that if you pack in a lunch, you are forced to eat in the basement or outside and not in their cafeteria area. They did have free wi-fi, which is helpful since there is little to no service.

"Monarch Mountain is where the locals go". That's what all the neighbors said when we first moved to Colorado Springs in 2013. As we're wrapping up our 2nd ski season since moving here, we are pleased to say that even as our sons grow older and express interest in larger resorts, we will continue to consider Monarch our "home mountain."

Our sons took ski lessons at Monarch, and over these two seasons, they have become very comfortable with the terrain and can now ski everything except for the Mirkwood Bowls with confidence. My husband and I are comfortable letting our sons take the lifts on their own and we can just tell them "meet us at the lodge at noon for lunch" and not be as worried as we would be at the larger resorts we've visited, such as Copper and Loveland.

The lodge is full of non-skiing parents who have no problem driving 2-3 hours for their kids to enjoy skiing. The mountain is small and friendly enough.

Despite its small size, the lifts travel at a decent speed and there are trails for folks of all skill sets. You can't beat the price, either. Even walking up to the window to buy a lift ticket, you'd still pay half of what Breckenridge or Winter Park would cost if you didn't plan in advance.

If you do plan in advance, there are some amazing deals, such as BOGO when you buy gas at Colorado Shell stations. Check out Entertainment Book coupons and Liftopia deals too.

If you know you're getting a season pass, be sure to pick them up before July 31st for the best prices. We were pleased that our family of 4's lift tickets totaled less than $800.

Keep in mind that there is NO lodging on site, the nearest lodging is Monarch Mountain Lodge about 5-8 minutes away (we haven't stayed there yet). There is a cafeteria and full service restaurant on site, plus two bars featuring local microbrews such as Elevation, Eddyline and Amicas beers. The picnic room is awesome -- there are ample storage shelves and outlets so you can bring a crock pot of green chili and make everyone around you jealous! Our family never had to wait for a table in the picnic room.

Even though Monarch is a tad further away than the "I-70" resorts such as Copper and Keystone, the lack of traffic keeping to the southern mountains is worth the extra miles and reduced stress.

Monarch Mountain provided a wide array of skiing terrain to suit all levels of skiers. We spent most of our time on the blues and blacks. The snow was good and many of the slopes were groomed daily. Locals told us this was the most crowded they had ever experienced, which could have been due to more snow and better prices that other resorts in the area. The views from the top are similar to Keystone and Copper Mountain, however, the only dining options are at the base. The Sidewinder Saloon served very good burgers and bar food as well as a wide variety of local brews.

This drive on the 50 is gorgeous. Less traffic and great vistas. The gift shop and tram ride to the top is a must. $10 for adults. Takes about 10 minutes. Great views at the top. Spend some time up there and you could hike down instead of taking tram back. Either way beautiful!
Will I Go Back? Yes!! Want to go up in the Fall!

I liked this area! My husband and I had a season pass at Loveland and they gave us two free days at monarch, so we made a weekend of it. Staff was friendly and the slopes were fun!!

No bells and whistles, just pure Colorado fun! Definitely a local spot, good snow and fun runs.

As others have mentioned, I think a lot of what makes Monarch great is what it doesn't have - no terrible parking situation, no shuttles, no huge lift lines, no people smoking in line, no expensive lift tickets, no condo-consumerism land, no giant outlet/retail areas, no traffic congestion driving to/from, and barely anyone on the slopes! We went on a Monday (admittedly, better than a weekend). The two kids had ski and snowboard lessons (both said their instructors were just ok, but they ARE teenagers, so everything sucks at that age). They only had 1 or 2 other students each in their class. That NEVER happens at the big resorts. Several times, my wife and I were the only ones on the entire slope. Pretty awesome. Freshly groomed slopes meant FAST fun conditions, and they still have good snow (although, at 55F, it was melting fast!). Definitely worth going, and we'll go back.

For a Saturday in the Colorado Rockies, I was impressed at the lack of people on the mountain. A hidden gem for sure! Bonus: Didn't have to sit with the herd on I-70 coming home!

I had so much fun here. I really enjoied this mountain as a beginning skier because there are several green runs that I could take throughout the mountain. It was also a great place for my experienced husband who enjoied the double diamonds.

Went with a group of 5 total, the snow was great. Many different trails to choose from. There was something for everyone to do... eat, drink, shop, relax, ski, snowboard...etc. best of all, it is so reasonably priced.

It was a beautiful day to learn to ski. The staff was very friendly and helpful with making sure we had the proper fitting gear. The drive up the mountain was as awsome as the skiing.

For our first ski trip to Colorado, we picked Monarch for the following reasons; distance to other attactions (snomobiling), past reviews, cost, how busy the resort is, and the beauty of the drive from Denver.

Monarch was a perfect first choice! The check in was the fastest we have ever experienced, as we were skiing with in 10 minutes of arrival. The employees were extremely nice, and helpful. and the slopes, though shorter than other resorts, were challenging enough for long enough. but the best part was the fact we could ski down and get right on the lift with no wait. We did around 30 runs during the day.

Great place, great snow, great people. and the restaurant had great food!

We visited Monarch Mountain for the first time this spring and it was wonderful. After skiing the I-70 ski areas Monarch was a welcome change. It's easy to get to Monarch from Denver on highway 285 and there was no traffic so it's actually a shorter drive that to Summit County. Monarch was really fun its not the biggest mountain but there was plenty of variety for all of us; great beginner runs and some super advanced runs with great snow in Mirkwood Basin. The snow was the best we've skied all season maybe because its all natural snow, at monarch they don't make any snow. We had lunch in their Sidewinder Saloon and it was not only excellent food and fast service it was down right cheap for what you got. Overall Monarch made a great impression on all of us and we'll be back. I even heard that they have a season pass that is good at 18 different areas; we're going to check it out.

We went since we got a free ticket and 3 for $99 deal at a local ski shop's promotion. It made the drive from Amarillo worth it. Customer service was top notch from the parking lot to slop side. I enjoyed some of the longer swooping groomers as well as some of the bumps. It was great mountain to enjoy some easy going spring skiing.

We went up on Valentines Day to see what Monarch is all about. Wife won a season pass in a contest, so we advanced our timeline on this bucket list to do item. We wandered around the nice lodge and observed everyone on the slopes, in the bars, lodge and apparel shop. We decided to purchase some items as we signed up for ski lessons the following Tuesday. At each location, equipment shop, Ski Rental Window, and Ticket Desk we were greeted with a warm friendly staff at each step. Equipment sales did not recommend the top of the line, knowing that we were beginners, and set us up nicely. The rental and lesson windows were very helpful telling us what to expect, how to dress...etc....things that might bother a seasoned skiier. We will be retuning often as we live locally to this place. Parking was paved and easy access to the lodge or if you are ready....straight to the slopes. Everything in one place. Looked like good food, areas to relax and recover and helpful staff. Staff even recommended a local ski shop in Salida when they did not have our size in stock.

Love this place. I have been coming here for the past few years because I HATE spending hours on I-70 stuck in traffic and then having to shell out almost $200 for lift tickets in Summit county. Monarch is affordable and has good beginner runs all the way up to double diamond expert runs. There is something for every skill level. The best part is NO LONG lift lines which equates to a full day of skiing.

Smaller resort with a “bigger feel” - fun experience! Lift lines were almost nonexistent and terrain was good considering the lack of snow we have had. Very reasonably priced for what you pay for many other ski resorts. It was appropriate for a “just learning” teenager, an intermediate aunt and an advanced snowboarding college kid. Thankfully, Covid restrictions didn’t ruin too much of a normal ski experience!

What a great time we had at Monarch ski area, this last Saturday. Busy day for them, but lift lines were still short to non existent. Snow was fantastic, snowed the entire day. Staff was patient and helpful with the new people.

Although a little bit of a haul from Texas, this ski area worth the journey. Very friendly staff that have been there for years evidently . Close-in parking is a quick jump to the action. The busy season (post xmas) still no lines for lifts. Kids enjoyed snowboard lessons despite one instructor we thought didn't do a great job. All in all, it's all there and very do-able. Some "cafeteria" pricing seemed excessive $8 for a bowl of chili? But it WAS homemade .another con is the drive from local cute town Salida as no hotel on premise. Great town though

Skiing at Monarch was great - low key and good slopes for the family - especially to learn.

I have to give a shout out to Rob Prescott, our ski instructor - Rob was a fantastic teacher and genuinely nice guy. We hired Rob for family lessons after being negligent in our duties as CO parents to teach our kids to ski.

Rob was able to relate to everyone in the family (2 adults, 4 kids of middle school and high school age), to help quickly teach ski skills by referencing their favorite sport - whether it be mountain biking, skateboarding, dancing, etc. He helped some conquer fear and others finesse skills as they quickly ramped up the learning curve.

By the end of the day everyone was having fun skiing Monarch! We highly recommend Rob; especially for family and group lessons.

Monarch is a great place to go to get wonderful Colorado skiing without breaking the bank. The snow was in great shape despite relatively warm conditions across the state.

While I wouldn't recommend spending a week at Monarch due to its relatively small size, it is a great place to spend a day or a weekend exploring and the views from the top of the Panorama lift are really incredible.

My son's family lives in Colorado Springs, so we selected Monarch Mountain to ski. (We stayed overnight in Salida). The mountain got fresh snow three days earlier, and although we were skiing on Saturday, I was surprised at the relatively short lift lines and relatively few skiiers on the slopes, having skied at the usual spots west of Denver with long lift lines and crowded slopes. We had hoped to have the two 4-year old children in a ski school or snow play group, and even went through the computer check in procedure, only to find out that they were full. My son hadn't thought to preregister them beforehand. Fortunately, we had planned a snow play day the next day with the family. So Sunday we bought two platters from WalMart in Salida and rented snow shoes for the four adults. There is a trail about a mile beyond Monarch Mountain for cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and hiking.

This is a great place for locals. It is affordable and laid back with good runs and park. Starbucks inside, love to hit up the store for gear, especially end of season sales! Pub Pub Pub!!! Free butterfly stickers! I've used their child care once, it's affordable if you are only paying for one for a short time, my daughter was tired and I wanted to play! I wish the surrounding area was more accommodating for staying longer, we like to do family trips once a season for several days but theres just no where to stay. So we always go to Copper and stay in Frisco!

Until yesterday, I can safely say I have never had a bad day of skiing at Monarch. Yesterday, however was blistery and cold! The morning was amazing. Even though there were a ton of people there, we were able to get on the lifts very quickly and the mountains weren't dangerously busy. There are enough greens for my taste that are still fun, but don't terrify me, and there are enough blues and blacks for those who like the more adventurous slopes. My biggest suggestion is to check on the wind. The morning, as I said, was perfect. There was no wind, and the it was cold enough that when you got hot skiing, it felt refreshing. After lunch, however, the wind came in, and it was FREEZING!! You'd get to the top of the mountain and the snow would be blowing in your face, and my finger tips hurt so much, when just two days before they were warm and toasty in the same gloves! Now Monarch has no control over the weather, so just check before, and you will have an AMAZING time! Good for family, friends, and teens alike! Fun place to go!

Our first trip to monarch was fantastic. It was probably more crowded than usual as it was MLK weekend. But there was still plenty of room to have a great time, and the lift lines were nonexistent. Similar to most other reviewers, we found the staff to be super friendly and helpful. The scenery really cannot be beat -- so many 14ers towering around the area. And did I mention lift ticket prices half that of the major Colorado resorts?

I skied by myself that Day. it seems that everyone wants to snowboard. I’m 60 and my first experience was 30 years ago at A Basin, Monarch has a beautiful and fulfilling Panorama at the Peak.. I Had a great time and a great face burn.. LOTS OF SUN THAT DAY..Imshould have known, whenI heard 2 hound people,say, when they walked by. ( You Know I should have brought My sunscreen)

Our experience at Monarch Mountain lived up to everything we had read. .no crowds. ..great snow. .friendly people! ! Everything we were looking for in a ski vacation! I'm done with the large resorts, the lift lines, and the crowds! ! We were even here during spring break, and still didn't encounter any crowds. We will be back! !

Monarch is the best: snow, parking, skiing, facilities...value! The expansion of the lodge is amazing.

I’ve been snowboarding I think 7 times. I definitely needed some help. So I got a lesson. Riley was an awesome instructor. I really mean that. He was very calm and made learning fun. I was having issues craving on my toe side, in about an hour he had me craving both ways! I would not have enjoyed my trip snowboarding as much if wasn’t for the awesome lesson! Also, the ‘bunny hill’ here was a nice size, which made learning a lot easier.

About the mountain, this is my first time snowboarding in Colorado. My husband and I loved it. While we didn’t have “powder” the snow was still soft and there was a great variety in runs. If you’re advance you can get great deep powder in-between the trees. We had friends just go to a bigger mountain in CO, they stated how they waited & waited for the ski lift. I never waited here at Monarch! All the staff was very pleasant and I never encountered a super serious athlete that made me a learner feel uncomfortable. We would love to come back.

Also, the coffee shop hot cocoa with whip cream was soooo delicious, go treat yourself and get one! Thanks Monarch for an awesome time!!!

It has all the levels and beautiful views from various levels.
It is kids friendly with a nice bunny slope.

There are ski schools for beginners as well as intermediate levels.

The lifts take you to various jump off points.

I have been coming to this resort since I was a kid and now bring my own children. I have never had anything but positive things to say about this resort until this past weekend. Since the mask mandate the staff have become extremely rude. I got yelled at, not asked in a nice way, but literally YELLED at for not having my nose covered. Another time with another staff member my husband didn't have his mask on right as he entered the line and the staff was so extremely rude and unprofessional. On another occasion I watched a staff member YELL at a father as he was trying to help his kid off of the magic carpet. Of all lifts if you are going to have to be kind and understanding it needs to be at the beginner lifts. The dad was clearly struggling and rather then helping him and his child off of the lift he YELLED at him to move out of the way.

I understand that there is a mask mandate and we need to abide by it. However, not giving any ounce of grace and not asking in a kind manner was extremely uncalled for. I have worked in the customer service industry for many years, I know that it's hard to deal with people all day every day, but it needs to be better. There needs to be some sort of repremand for this kind of behavior. I would expect this from one of the big mountains which is why I choose not to bring my family there but this is a FAMILY resort.

Please do something to teach your staff proper customer service and how to deal with the mask mandate in a proper and kind manner.

We're expert skiers and have skied some of the best resorts of the world. Last week we skied with friends at Monarch for the first time. What a great place! The runs were decent, the snow was superb, and the personnel were Colorado friendly. Oh, and senior rates make it the best barghain in Colorado. We'll be back. Did mention we had no lift lines all day?

Monarch is a hidden gem in Colorado. It is a great ski resort that is not very crowded nor expensive. There are all levels of skiing, no lift lines and a good restaurant/bar. Try the nachos - you will not be disappointed.

This is my third time to Monarch Mountain. I was here 20 years ago! And came back in Dec 2020 and again in March 2021. The mountain is beautiful and the views of the Continental Divide are amazing. Great greens & blues (not a black run skier). The staff are super helpful & friendly. They do follow distancing & have mandatory mask guidelines, especially in the lines. Parking is free. Tailgating is allowed. Dogs allowed too, but must be leashed. Cafeteria is open & bar upstairs offers a nice break from the cold. Gift shop inside is super quaint & cute. Salida is also such a great town, great hikes up to the Salida top. Craft breweries. Deer walk around everywhere in Salida & they have the right of way. Salida & Monarch are low key destinations. Leave your name brands at home, wear comfy clothes & meet the locals. Enjoy!!

Loved it here. Small but amazing tree runs and great snow. Super quiet as its so far out from all the big resorts and that's a huge plus for when you want to get around! All pretty much runs to one base but there's lots of off piste to cover so kept our interest as a group of advanced boarders. Two great parks, small/med and large with lots of variety. Friendly staff and free secure parking too

Endless CO blue skies, majestic mountain views, perfectly groomed trails, challenges for every level, fast lifts, friendly staff, great food, fairly priced - colorfully amazing.

Nice variety of runs (although short) with great views and no lines during pre-thanksgiving vacation. Some of the chairlifts are dated and have only one speed. (Fast) These lifts are not marked and your kids need to be at least level 4 to use them.* There is a slower bunny hill lift and conveyer belt for level 3 and lower.

We've been to Monarch Mountain the past 3 Spring Breaks and are headed back this year. The snow is great, the lift lines are short especially if you are used to going to the big resorts over Texas Spring Break dates Typically, we would have 3 or 4 people in front of us. There are not big resorts at the bottom of the mountain, but that's the charm of the place.
Totally family friendly, my kids know the trails and can take off to enjoy.
The cafeteria is on the bottom floor and has basic choices. In the years we have visited, they have improved the cafeteria area and food choices.
Our kids have done ski school, which was very good. You can buy discounted lift tickets online the night before. We always just rent our equipment for the day and then pick up the next day so we don't have to haul it around.

My family found Monarch about a dozen years ago. I have skied it of and on ever since. We recently retired/relocated to the Arkansas River Valley and having Monarch just 45 minutes away was a big part of the reason. The area has a great layout, with runs funneling back easily to a variety of lifts. It's tough to get lost; easy to stay together. For seniors like us there are plenty of blue cruisers, but there is plenty of challenge for the younger, more adventurous folks as well. The staff are all friendly and the newly updated day lodge is awesome. Colorado skiing "like it used to be." That's a good thing!

We love Monarch! This is a great ski mountain not too far from Colorado Springs. They rarely have much in the way of lift lines, always great snow and lots of sun. My daughter learned to ski here. Great place for kids to learn to ski and do their own thing since you all pretty much meet up at the same place at the end of a run. Good food in at the pub and wonderful staff.

I love Monarch Mountain! A trip I look forward to every year. The atmosphere is awesome, the mountain is so much fun, and offers a variety of foods (as well as offering an area to bring lunch from home). The only dislike is the new menu in the main restaurant/bar. They tried to add modern cuisine or something and my family was all dissatisfied with our food except my daugher who stuck with a classic bbq pork sandwich...food envy for me, with my turkey panini (a mistake make once). All in all, the mountain is awesome and we are fans!

After spending the weekend at Monarch, I will never go back to Vail and Breckenridge. The lift prices were reasonable and we never had to wait in line--even on Presidents Day weekend. The food at the lodge is reasonably priced, with hydration stations. There is enough terrain to satisfy novice and expert skiers alike.

Beautiful 40 degree day in February.
View were amazing.
No waits on the chairlifts.
Nice rides down.
Great way to start snowboarding in the Rockies.

I love the staff-culture at Monarch Mountain! It was my daughters 1st time skiing and she started getting frustrated with her rental boots. Out of nowhere, a guy from rentals department jumped in to assess the problem. He had this amazing personal demeanor about him. He relived her anxiety and mine too. The level of personalized service we had received, had left me super impressed. It was beyond. As we progressed onto the slopes, the staff always gave us high-five, smiles and words of encouragement too. It’s just was an amazing family friendly place to ski. My daughter now loves skiing. Honestly, I think it’s all because of the staff at Monarch Mountain. Thank you Monarch Staff.

This mountain is an excellent place for families who are teaching their children to ski or snowboard.

We hit Monarch midweek on a combo fly fishing/snowboarding trip based in Salida and had a great time. Nothing fancy but it's nice to buy a reasonably priced lift ticket, park close to the base for free and have virtually no wait on the lifts. In my opinion older, slower 2 person chairs with no lines are better than high speed quads with 100 people in line. 10 inches of fresh powder was also a nice perk and we were able to find untracked runs all the way up to lunchtime.

We had our first time snowboarding there. Awesome group lessons. They are really organized with their rental equipment, lockers, etc. Super smooth experience. Excellent price too! Will definitely come back.

This was our 1st time to Monarch. The people there are the nicest and most helpful you will find at any resort. We have been to many other places but heard Monarch was a great place for fresh powder and for a family. This was the 1st time for our 5yr old daughter & 7yr old son. We put our 5yr old in a 2hr private lesson and our son in a 2.5hr group lesson. The instructors were fabulous and they both learned so much. You will not be disappointed at Monarch. My husband had plenty of blue and blacks to keep him challenged and the rest of us enjoyed the easier blue and greens. There were hardly any lines at the lifts. The lodge was nice and my teen daughters enjoyed the Starbucks inside. The cafeteria style line offered a delicious assortment of food. Look to spend around $10 or more per person. The pizza was delicious. I saw many with their own food, even though the signs said not to. Next time we will bring snacks and drinks in, but I know we will eat their food and spend plenty at Starbucks. Lol. The gift shop was nice and has a large selection of any ski items you might need at a reasonable price. I would highly recommend Monarch ski mountain. I can't say enough about how friendly everyone there is. From the parking attendants to the rental personnel; you won't find a more helpful group of people. Monarch will now be our only ski destination.

Of all the skiing resorts in Colorado, this is the most inexpensive - and well suited for all ages and levels. My other half and I were first time skiiers, so we opted for a lesson. Our instructor, Gerald, had us running the greens in under 2 hours! He was so patient and entertaining throughout the lesson. The equipment we rented was top notch and every employee we encountered shared a smile and good energy. We loved it so much, we went back the next day! We never waited more than 2 minutes to get on a lift and most trails we seemingly had to ourselves, even on a Sunday during the snow! (Yes, it snowed all day on Sunday, in March!!!) Great mountain for all - I will return for many years to come.

This was our first trip to Monarch and loved it! The runs are wide open and not crowded, even when the ski area is at its busiest. All natural snow, no snow-makers, which is really nice.

The only downside to our trip was my daughter's experience at the ski-school. She only skies once/year and I placed her in a low class with assurances that she would be moved up once they could assess her abilities. However, that never happened and she had barely skied at all by the time I had to pick her up. We skied the rest of the day together, sticking to easy greens that she could handle. If we visit Monarch again, I won't waste time or money on ski school.

we really had a great time cat skiing at Monarch. The guides were really professional and I felt very safe in the back country. I had some equipment issues and they were there to support me. It was an amazing day with 17 " of new snow. They kept finding us fresh powder to ski all day!!!

We went the first weekend in December. We were warned Monarch can be cold and breezy but being from the east coast it was NO problem at all. What a great find. The lift lines were virtually non existent. The slopes uncrowded. It was non-stop skiing from the time our boots and skis went on to the time we left. Save $10 for lift ticket by purchasing online the day before you plan to go.

One of the top resorts to ski and the price is half of the others. This is a lets have fun place, not competitive atmosphere. Its great for families, friends. Note; you may get worn out on a half day pass, doing a run every 5-10 min because lines are rare. This yr the snow is excellent, there is none better. The people are friendly and appreciative. Theres 3 or more eating areas for breaks. 2 yrs ago they put in a people mover for the kids hill and theres 5 chairlifts. The mountain boasts of something for everyone, there is plenty of blacks with moguls, which i dont prefer. Most like the blue to green. Its purely amazing views at the top, dont miss it!
Heres the deal: the old folks get to ski free, kids are cheap and adults can get deals if they are savvy. Reduced adults can get a BOGO, or internet discount. Make sure to get the details online for that. I chose to do the 1/2 day pass=$50. Its really plenty of great skiing if you can do a run every 10 min.That starts at 1230p

My husband and I had skied Monarch Mountain 18 years ago and wanted to bring our children to experience it. It is the same as I remembered. Everyone always has a smile on their face and they are eager to help! We rented our skis/equipment from them that way we didn't have to haul it back and forth each day. For families with young children, you know what I am talking about. It was only my kids second time skiing so we put them in a half-day group ski school. My daughter had only one other child with her in her lesson. My two sons each had their own instructor. By noon on their first day my kids were skiing better than us! It is the perfect place to ski for families. No long waits, actually hardly any waiting at all, to get on the lifts. The employees working the lifts were great too. They were patient with my youngest son and myself when getting on the lifts. We basically had the trails to ourselves and were perfect for our family. It snowed three inches while were there. It was beautiful as always. We packed our lunch for the three days we were there. However, they have plenty of food and snacks to get if you want. We had some excellent nachos that were ample enough to feed our family of 5. They were so good we got them again the next day! Great family oriented place to take your family if you do not get to ski much. We will definitely be going back!

This is a great ‘small’ mountain experience with terrain for all skiers. A great place for the whole family and those looking to get off-trail alike. Can’t wait to get back!

I went skiing twice in 3 months to Monarch Mountain! This place is great! Went the first time with my family, before Christmas, and it was NEVER crowded. The slopes were groomed very well, and there was a very good base. In fact, Monarch was rated the deepest base of all ski resorts in Colorado at the time! We loved it then. This was my second time to have been skiing at Monarch, and it did not disappoint.

The second time was just this past weekend, when I made a 4 day trip with my best friend. This was an early birthday present we gave ourselves :-) The Saturday that we went skiing was VERY busy. We got to the lot (3/4 mile from the lot) about 9:15, and got a parking spot, but was almost near the entrance. We had no idea it would be that busy. The slopes were great again, and there was even more powder this time around. The lift lines were a lot busier than in December, but we managed to get some great runs in that day. Sunday was far better and less crowded. It reminded me of the December visit.

If anyone is looking for a great little mountain with a good blend of greens, blues and blacks...this is a gem! You won't regret it! All the staff were extremely courteous and the facilities for dining were excellent as well. The only wish I had was that there were more lockers at Monarch.

Monarch is always a local favourite when staying in Salida - usually enjoys a good covering of snow, often with fresh powder and have yet to encounter too much ice. Very friendly local staff complete the package with smiles in abundance, Thoroughly recommend the family friendly atmosphere on the mountain.

Beat the crowds, improve your skills on smaller, but still challenging runs. Avoid Christmas/New Year holiday when the place is overrun with Texans (no offense).

As a visitor to this region and having never heard of Monarch Ski mountain, I was delighted to see such a great "little" mountain for family entertainment. I had only visited the Breckenridge area before so it was a pleasant surprise! No lines, very kid friendly and affordable as well. Twenty inches of snow fell yesterday on Monarch...there should be plenty of good skiing and snowboarding for the rest of this season!

Great little mountain with the nicest and most laid-back people. We had a great time even though there was no fresh powder. Prices were great on lift tickets and rentals (which are located at the base of the mountain where you enter. It was all very convenient.

Great ski vacation! Friendly staff. Great childcare and ski lessons for little ones. Small and local feel!

Amazing! Some great slopes! Not Breckenridge but plenty to do and you can ride for miles. Prices are fair - definitely will be back!

I really appreciate the measures taken to protect guests form the current ongoing pandemic are well organized but the Ski Area has lost its appeal as a “hometown ski area”.
In years past, employees were helpful and friendly. This is not so anymore.
The Ski Area appears to be using the restrictions of the pandemic to enforce their own agenda of supporting their on mountain food outlets, of which are very expensive, as the only means of eating instead of being openly appreciative of skiers spending their hard earned money on lift tickets while trying to save some money by bringing their own “sack lunches”...
“Sack lunches” are so discouraged by the Monarch Ski Area and their staff, that they are now placing tables out in the parking lot in order for Skiers to enjoy their family time together by eating “sack lunches” together, amongst the visiting cars.
All the while, food purchased onsight can be consumed wherever the purchaser pleases...
They have tried to enforce this policy in years past but have only now been able to sink their teeth into enforcing it, due to pandemic social distancing.
I’ve purchased season passes for me and my kids for nearly a decade but due to current policies up on the mountain, I’ll hold off doing so until such policies relax towards family and group outings

My husband and I had never done any winter sports, so we tacked on a day or two to a business trip to explore Colorado a bit. We decided we leave CO without snowboarding, and chose Monarch on a whim due to location. Being honest, I was a little nervous about it because I always perceived skiing (and resorts) to be stuffy and snobbish. I cannot speak to other ski resorts and mountains, but Monarch was absolutely not that way. The staff was friendly and courteous, and the other guests were just as welcoming and friendly. We took snowboard lessons from Nick, who is an excellent teacher, and we were off to the slopes to try out our newly learned skills in no time. When I fell, someone (a fellow skiier or boarder) would stop to check that I was ok....it was great. If you wiped out they waited to see if you were ok and that you were laughing about it before they did. I would go back to Monarch and I would definitely recommend it to others.

Lockers filled up quickly, so I recommend getting there early to grab one. The big ones are $7...not bad. The rental equipment was in great shape.

Enjoyed our skiing trip to Monarch a lot. Great kids area and instructors. Unfortunately, their daycare cannot take kids under 3 but we found a great daycare in town.

We have been here twice, both times right before Christmas. We loved the small town feel of the mountain. We have been to other, bigger lodges, but it felt like we were rushed by the people on the mountain. This was a great family experience. This was also my first time to ski and it was such a blast! I actually felt like I could go on the mountain alone and not get lost.

If you want a nice place to go skiing and avoid the crazy crowds then Monarch Mountain is your place. We have taken our youth group from church several times and gone once as a family. All visits were during spring break and we all had a wonderful time. Never waited more than 10-15 minutes in line for a ski lift. Probably better for beginning and medium skilled skiers - not a ton of black sloops - but certainly some. Since most people i talk to have never heard of it that sort of tells you the crowd it gets - not the uppity snooty conceded type. And Salida/Buena Vista are super cute little towns to stay in nearby. Fun area in the summer as well.

We stayed in Salida because we were going to Monarch Mountain to ski. Monarch Mountain is everything the websites say. It was perfect for our weekend getaway.

Monarch is an excellent ski area off the beaten path and for an exceptionally reasonable price. In 2014 we set to find and follow the powder and we hit Monarch after 3+ days totaling more than 40" of new snow. The mountain has steeps, trees, ample terrain and good facilities for the family. If you are looking for a good mountain, reasonable prices and new place to ski, try Monarch.

This was a great find. Being that it is a "GEMS" resort, it is a smaller resort where the locals go. Our family of 4 ( kids 8, 9 ) had our very first ever lesson. Tony Martinez was our assigned instructor and he was great. He was very knowledgeable and most of all patient and offered plenty of encouragement. He had us on the lifts and skiing the green runs within 2.5 hours. Since we went in April, the last week the resort was open there were no waits on the lifts at all. It almost felt like we had the place to ourselves, even on the weekend. The staff ( and local skiers ) were very friendly and helpful. The rental prices are fair and the lift tickets much more affordable than the tourist ski resorts like Vail, Aspen, Breckenridge, ect.... We were fortunate to have snow on our trip and the skiing was great. Lodging can be found on HWY 50, but mostly in Salida. I would definitely recommend this resort to all, but especially for beginners.

If you want to ski while in the Colorado Springs area this is a great spot. It is a quick turn around trip, I think 2.5 hours max. My daughter and I took lessons. You can rent just about everything you need. It is affordable and fun!

We took our 9 year old skiing for only the 2nd time (this was our 1st time at Monarch) and we had a great time! The "bunny hill" was long enough that our daughter could work up the courage and speed to really get a feel for turning and stopping. The staff in the lodge were super helpful with fitting her for the right size skis, boots and helmet. This was also great for my husband and me as we are very novice skiers and the green runs were perfect for us! Definitely cannot wait to go back!

It was the first time for my husband and I to go to Monarch and we were pleasantly surprised to see this little gem in the mountains.
We drove from Denver for about 3 hours and arrived by mid morning.

LODGE
The slopes are served by the lodge, which is a group of three buildings - Ski patrol, Main Lodge and Rentals Tent. You will find you standard lodge amenities: food court, restrooms, retail store, etc. Everything is centrally located, clean and very well kept up. Staff seemed to be very courteous and nice. Every level had hydration stations, nice advertisement and community posters, screens for the slope updates and other important information to get your day started. The entire place has very nice homey feeling to it.

CHAIRLIFTS
It was midweek so we had the mountain to almost ourselves. The location seemed to be planned right and I can imagine they handle people on a busy day just fine. Even though they do not have a high speed chairlift; we got a lot of skiing done. The mountain is in a shape of a bowl and it is very easy to navigate. Sitting on a chairlift you can easily plan your next runs as it is visible from everywhere. Very convenient!

SLOPES
The double diamond slopes were ropes off but we still had plenty of challenging terrain to explore. They do great job grooming. Some runs had nice moguls. I saw a sign for the NeverSummer Terrain park but we never went there to check it out.

FOOD
One of the best après ski I have had in a while. This is where you will have a hard time spending a big buck – everything is very affordable. Each of us had a bowl of hearty soup and a sandwich, which was made to order and served to us. We paid under $6 per person!!! Not your typical ski resort prices.

To add a few points:
Ski resort takes its share in recycling which was very nice to notice.
This place is definitely remote which adds a nice feeling to it. It is very quiet there!
It is not your Vail or Aspen. The prices definitely reflect that. $56 for a lift ticket, plus we had out partner resort discount of 50% – I am IN!!!

This was our first time skiing. My daughter wanted to go dog sledding and skiing for her birthday, so Salida was a perfect choice. We did the half day lesson, and were all skiing on our own in the afternoon. My 7 year old and 13 year old really enjoyed it, and we all want to go back. We stayed on the little hill... Oh! The lift is really different and neat - the girls enjoyed it a lot.

I was horrified to see that there are no safety bars on the ski lifts. You are dangling up in the air looking 50 feet down (some places) with nothing to hold on to in front of you. If you fall it would probably be fatal. This was my scariest day in any ski resort.

We've been going to Monarch for years. Its a longer drive than the tourist venue (Vail, Breckenridge, Copper...) and there a no hotels slopeside. However, the snow is always plenty. Runs for everyone (green, blue, black and expert) with lots of tree skiing available.

My son and I went snowboarding yesterday at Monarch Mountain Ski Resort and had a wonderful time. It was my 1st time there. I loved parking in a parking lot right in front of the lodge, etc., the lodge was fully equipped with a store/coffee/sitting area upstairs, nice, clean restrooms and a restaurant-bar on the next floor down, and then a very large cafeteria and large sitting and table area on the bottom floor. The food was tasty, but pricey ($10 for a hamburger). There's a great variety of ski/snowboarding runs - many blues, green, and double blacks, etc. Loved it! The only drawback was that their wi-fi was very poor - I was only able to connect occasionally during the day.

I heard about how easy going and fun this hill was and found it to be just that. Very reasonable lift rates and a very good selection of ski terrain. No lines during the week and the parking is pretty close, depending on when you get up there. no new snow and that was the sad part. all packed out. but I got a good workout on the sweepers. I might add that the day pass for a person over 62 is $45 during the week!

This is a fantastic, smaller ski resort that delivers big time fun. Every time I have been here we got dumped on with fresh powder. It is "tucked away" in a less traveled part of Colorado but that adds to the charm and limits the crowds. It is definitely a locals’ type vibe here and the resort runs like a mom-and-pop operation: friendly. We drove from Colorado Springs just because of the wonderful experiences we've had here. I also like that their prices aren't prohibitively expensive for a group or family. Check out their website before buying lift tickets because they offer a multitude of various discounts.

I went here for my first time ever skiing and I'm very happy with my experience! All the staff was super friendly and very helpful. The lodge was a nice, clean place to come in to get warm and take a break (Although the cafeteria food was a bit pricey). I had a wonderful time and it was a gorgeous day! Thank you Monarch Mountain!

Monarch Mountain is a jewel in Colorado! The skiing and snow is as good as anywhere or better, the staff is friendly, food at the lodge is great, and the nearby accomodations down the mountain in Maysville at Creekside Chalets are perfect. First time we’ve been to Monarch and we will definitely return. Couldn’t have been a better or more affordable holiday trip for the fam. Loved it!

Monarch is a ski area everyone should visit. I luckily hit it on a beautiful sunny powder day. First run I hiked out and found nearly knee deep powder. As an expert skier, I found fun stashes in the trees and great, steep bump runs. This place is so cool because there is no great rush - great family ski area without the big resort tourists.

My husband and I enjoyed a beautiful day of Spring skiing in late March. We arrived around 0830 and enjoyed coffee and breakfast burritos in the lodge. After breakfast, we enjoyed an excellent ski day! No lift lines, fresh powder, plenty of sunshine - and best of all, very few people! This is also one of the more affordable resorts in the state.

I grew up skiing on this mountain, and it hasn't changed much since then. This is a much better option for those who want to ski for skiing's sake, and not just go to a brand-name resort for status and social media posts.

The terrain is fantastic and the conditions (mid-March) were epic! Two blue bird days in a row with views for miles. Super friendly staff all over the mountain and plenty of space to spread out. Terrain for skiers and boarders of all levels and multiple lifts keep the lines down. Some awesome hike-to terrain to get off the beaten path as well. If you aren't a fan of larger resorts but want to ski in the great state of Colorado, head on over to Monarch. You won't be disappointed!

Small mountain but unlimited paths available if you are willing to cut through the trees!!! Just take the creek bed off to the left of the family ski area and have a blast!

We loved snowboarding and skiing here. It's not large which means it's also not as busy as other resorts. We were happy with our experience!

This ski area is great for excellent runs and now chair lift waiting. Have been coming here for 25+ years and it just keeps improving. The rental ski equipment is excellent and the staff is very friendly. If you are looking for friend or family fun with minimal cost this area is great.

Monarch is a great mountain for winter sports. There is a low key sense of friendliness that is seldom seen at ski resorts. We hope Monarch can retain the atmosphere so enjoyed by many folks.

What a gorgeous drive. Such beautiful scenery. We are not skiers but if we were, we would definitely go there. There is a gift shop at the peak that has great souvenirs.

This was our first experience with skiing in a BIG mountain setting (I realize Monarch is not big to most peoples standards) and I can't express how fun it was, how beautiful it was and how nice the Monarch folks were. It is a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for families who don't have a lot of experience with mountain skiing. We plan to go back soon.

My family and I spent last weekend at Monarch. This was the first time we skied at Monarch. It is definitely a lot smaller than many of the I70 resorts, but still skis bigger than it's 800 acres. I personally love the laid back "non mega resort" feel in a ski hill. Monarch has that. All of the employees were friendly and helpful. If you want to take your family on an inexpensive ski trip, this is the place for you. If you want to avoid the crowds (and traffic), this is the place for you. If you care more about skiing than how you look or having expensive restaurants and shops, this is the place for you. If you want the classic ski town experience, I suggest you look elsewhere. If you need 2000 or more acres to ski, you probably want to go somewhere else. If you want something close to Denver, stick to I70.
My kids and I had a lot of fun tree skiing and got lucky with a little fresh snow which really made the day that much better. One of the things that I really like about Monarch is that all of the trails empty back down at the base (just one base on this mountain). When skiing with kids this is nice in case we get separated.
We take our motorhome up to the mountain with us. It is really nice because there is an RV park (nothing special) just 10 miles away from Monarch. Even in snow, it only took about 15 minutes to get back and forth. They have bus/RV parking (no overnight parking) that is right at the edge of one of the runs which is pretty cool.
This is our first winter in Colorado so my family and I decided to ski several resorts and decide on which one we would get a season pass for for next winter. Other resorts have better terrain, or at least more of it, but the atmosphere, price, lack of crowds, and convenience won us over. I plan on going back this weekend and am going to get a season pass next season.

Something new! Our first and hoping to get back but closed early spring. He trails are unique and doable for beginners. This resort is a place to be if you just want to ski/snowboard. No fancy shopping center, just a place to shred, take a quick bite to eat, pee, and shred the slopes again.

We visited Monarch Mountain in June 2025 and travelled up to the peak in the cable car: it was an amazing experience.

Judging from the reactions of some of lovely Americans we met I don’t think that they appreciate what an incredible sight is at the top.

We don't have a Continental Divide in Britain which is only 300 miles wide.

At Monarch Mountain you can literally see tiny lakes beginning their journey to the south Arkansas river and finally the Gulf of Mexico and within sight, other water beginning its long trek to the Pacific.

It’s truly breathtaking.

Turn right out of the cable car station and you can stand right on the tip of a spur with the show laid out beneath you.

Don’t forget to place a stone on the cairn and say thanks to whatever you pray to for this miracle of nature.

In the store below are courteous, welcoming staff (Hi Adam) and a nice café.

Tucked away in a corner is the actual 400 Husqvarna Steve McQueen used in the iconic 1971 film ‘On Any Sunday’ – worth a trip to Monarch Mountain just to see this.

Absolutely a must do site, and sight, in the area.

My husband grew up coming here and wanted it to be the first experience our kids had to skiing. They are 10, 9 and 6. They took ski school one day and private lessons the next and both were exceptional. Monarch is the perfect size- not too small that you get sick of the same runs, but not huge either! It was the week after Xmas so their busiest time and waiting for the lift was at max 5 minutes. The employees are enthusiastic and friendly. We had a great first ski experience with our kids!

This year was my daughters first “Mountain Christmas” and she was dying to try snowboarding. I called 4 weeks ahead of time and talked to Jill. She set me up with a private “Half-Day” (2.5 Hours) snowboarding lesson for just me and the kiddo. We had a fantastic time!

Our instructor was “J-Rob” and he was fantastic! He was super laid-back and had a great sense of humor. He showed us the basics on how to control the board and went over the proper ways to fall. Then we went to the top of the “Beginner” hill and went down one at a time while J-Rob walked (and sometimes ran) along side us. Toward the end of our lesson, we were starting to go down the hill on our own. J-Rob was very motivating and patient.

The process on picking up your rental equipment was extremely easy also. The locations are labeled and all located within one building. The process was quick and simple.

There is also a resturant on site. The choices are limited, but the food was good and decently priced. The gift shop is loaded with souvenirs and cold weather gear in case you forgot something. I HIGHLY recommend that you bring a full face covering mask, goggles, good gloves and warm socks. Rentals include Boots, Board (or ski’s) and helmet.

Lastly, just 2 miles further up the road is a road-side rest/snack bar at the Monarch Pass on the Continental Divide. A cool photo op to add to your ski trip.

Overall, my daughter and I had an amazing time and when we are back in the area, we’ll definitely return to try Skiing next time.

My husband and I travelled to Salida with four international students from China. All but my husband were new to skiing. We signed up for Ski School and were glad that we did! Our instructor, Tom, was very patient and knowledgable but a little slow with his instruction (he would be perfect for younger ages, but lost our older kid's attention at times). All of the staff on the mountain was very friendly and helpful! I am absolutely terrified of heights. I didn't even venture off the bunny slope until my second day skiing. The second day, I tried the lift and got pretty comfortable in the Rookie green slope. After that, I was talked into trying the Panorama by my husband because of the amazing view--which is quite an impressive view. I agreed, but as soon as I got off the lift, lost my nerve. I wanted to be able to ski, but was so scared of the height. One of the ski patrol guys offered me a courtesy ride and said that I could ski down if I wanted to. He was very patient and encouraging with me as I inched my way down. I made it to the bottom after closing. The staff was still very friendly and helped us get our equipment checked back in.

We ski at Monarch a couple of weekends per year. If you like the small ski resort feel, then you'll love Monarch. Only ever a short walk from the parking lot to the lodge, short lift lines, and diverse terrain. Great bar for apres skiing (or a quick bite at lunch).

Living in Colorado, I would consider myself a ski snob. On powder days (which we always seem lucky to hit at Monarch!) there is great tree skiing, bump skiing, etc and always short lift lines - or none at all.

If you want a break from the more expensive Ski areas - give Monarch a try.

Monarch usually has very reliable snow, of very high quality. The runs are short, but, most are quite good no matter your skill level. The truly adventurous can access the hike to terrain which provides a legit backcountry style experience on steep slopes. If you're an expert skier though avoid this place during Christmas week or holiday weekends as it gets overrun with flatlanders who clog everything up.

This was a great place to take my boys skiing for the first time. The ski school did a great job and my boys had a blast. I never waited more than 30 seconds to get on a lift so it was ideal for me. I'm an average skier who sticks mostly to the greens and blues. There wasn't a ton of variety with these runs but it was definitely good enough for someone like me.

Monarch has been our family favorite for 18 years. It is a safe and friendly place for everyone to enjoy the mountain. The new improvements to the lodge are great. It has managed to keep the family friendly atmosphere with many more years of fun to come.

This is the second time we travel there all the way from Cancun just to enjoy their skiing areas. We enjoyed good 8 days of skiing.
I give them 4 stars just because I think they should do a better job clearing the snow from the carpark or at least have people ready to help you if in trouble. A few cars, ours included, got stuck in the snow in the carpark area. Luckily some young skiiers came to our rescue and helped us push our car out after almost an hour of trying to get out ourselves.

When we lived in the area, we learned to ski here and went there often. Now we live out of state and have tried other resorts in Minnesota, New York Vermont and Aspen and Vail amongst some. This is still out favorite. It's small, and well maintained. It isn't overly commercialized, yet, and one doesn't need a map to find where they're going. A great resort for beginners and advance alike, at least that's our feelings. As far as we're concerned, the larger resorts have more mountain and trails to ski, but you also have to pay more to use them. Why do that when Monarch has all you need in a beautiful and accessible area? We usually spend the entire day, renting our equipment on the spot. Ski and snowboard lessons are available in group or individual settings. We took both our ski and snowboard lessons here and highly recommend the instructors.

This was our first trip to Monarch Mountain. We were pleasantly surprised at the quality of the facilities for one of the smaller resorts. There was only one lodge but it is three levels and has everything you could want. The snow was amazing and the kids area was setup as well as anywhere we have been. The magic carpet is covered and it keeps you warm going up to the bunny hill. The bunny hill is great for beginners and is longer so you have more time to practice. Inside the lodge they have shops so you can buy ski equipment if you forgot anything. They have multiple places to eat inside the main lodge and lockers so you can store stuff you don't need while you are skiing. My 8 year old went from not getting off a short bunny hill last time to sking on the big hill. "The chair lift is scary at frist but when you are done it is so fun and amazing!!", she told me so proud of herself They also have have private lessons that are reasonably priced. We found that a half day was perfect for us and only $136 for our family of 4. We well come back again to Monarch for sure.

Monarch is not the place to go and be "seen with the beautiful people." Go to Aspen or Vail for that. Monarch offers a range of terrain for people that enjoy skiing in an uncrowded environment.
We were there on closing day and it was more like mid-winter. It was snowing and the lift lines were non-existent.
When you pull in the parking lot off highway 50, you think the place is enormous. You are looking at most of the lift served terrain in a 270 degree view surrounding you. While the vertical drop is a modest 1162', some of the runs, like Ramble On and Little Mo are quite long considering this.
There is a lot more guided cat skiing on the back side in Mirkwood Basin for those seeking adventure.
Monarch is a friendly and "affordable" alternative to the Mega Resort groups.
Don't miss it. While it's small. You'd miss a lot of fun.

I am amazed by the kindness, patience, and skill that our ski instructor had with our 8 year old daughter. If you are looking for an instructor, request Rob Prescott. He had my first-time skiing daughter down the green slopes in a couple hours with no worries and lots of techniques in her pocket. It was like magic! Yes...Rob is magic! We will be back again and will only request lessons with this kind man. Thank you Rob!

Good snow and interesting terrain. Even the Ds were easy, but it made for a relaxing and fun day, rather than an athletic event.

So thrilled we decided to take the Tram up to the top of Monarch Mountain. 380 degrees of pure beauty! We went early as it can get windy in the afternoons. Hike down the 2.6 mile trail to get an even better experience. Easy downhill hike.

This was the first time my wife and I went skiing. I cannot think of a better place. The snow is tremendous and there is PLENTY of elbow room. The area is very scenic and all of the staff are incredibly helpful. It is also reasonably priced. Our instructor, Mike, was fantastic and we hope he is available for us next time. We had low expectations as we were beginners, but we were able to enjoy ourselves and build a good foundation of knowledge and skills with Mike's help. The low key nature of the place coupled with great powder is right up our alley. The restaurant is also good. Don't miss out!

This place was ok, I was expecting more snow but unfortunately the base was only at 26". Still it was a nice time spent. Hasn't gone snowboarding in ages. I would definitely recommend the lessons if you're new to it or haven't done so in year like I did. Decently priced for the day excursion.

We decided to go to Monarch for our first ski trip. We moved to Colorado last spring and were new at skiing. We enjoy making day trips out west; however 70 can be a nightmare with traffic as people from Colorado know. Most of the major (and more popular) ski resorts are on 70. My son and I both took lessons. My instructor, Lee, was awesome. I learned so much from her in 2.5 hours. For $99, I had a lesson, rental equipment, and a lift ticket. My son is 11 and wanted to learn snowboarding - his instructor, CW, was great! The mountain was beautiful and it was not too crowded on a Saturday (however, it gets more crowded January - March). If you purchase your lift ticket online, you save more money and your ticket is good for the season. It took about 2 hrs and 40 minutes to get there (we live in Centennial). The people there were very nice and it seems like a lot of locals go here. We will definitely be back!

We drove from Houston as friends of ours had been there twice and were not disappointed by anything. Good snow cover, cheap prices for lift tickets and even in spring break virtually no lines for the lifts which all made for a very enjoyable week. Even the prices for food and drink were very reasonable given that you are miles from anywhere and they could have taken the opportunity to charge a little extra they have not done so. Way better than some of the better known Colorado areas.

I have visited this resort on three separate occasions this year but I do not plan to return.
I am a beginner, having only taken up this sport in mid-season last year. That being said I was eager for this season to open. On my first day this year I visited this resort. Since I have only been skiing for a short time I opted to take a private lesson to refresh myself on my newly learned skills. I found my instructor to be competent and encouraging. However, the 90 minute lesson I paid for ended up being about 10 minutes short. He said he wanted to allow plenty of time for the post session wrap up, but even after that was finished we were 10 minutes shy of 90. I didn’t complain, but last year at another resort the entire time of the lesson was spent skiing, and the post session wrap up came afterward. Still, I got what I needed and wouldn’t be complaining if that was the only negative.
The following day I returned to Monarch to continue practicing. As I was sitting near the lockers I noticed several other guests asking the young man behind the photography counter for help with the lockers (That counter is located adjacent to the locker area). He always responded that they should just read and follow the directions (as it happened, at one of the keypads the directions were covered with a taped up announcement of some sort). He grew increasingly short with each person who asked him. I do understand that he probably didn’t see that as his job (after all, he was a photographer), but to the customer he’s an employee of Monarch and should be welcoming and helpful. Again, he wasn’t rude to me personally, but I certainly noticed. Later that day I as I was standing in line at a lift I observed the lift operator and the ticket scanner in a heated argument in which one perceived the other as being disrespectful to him. Guests don’t need to see this.
Finally, yesterday (December 13, 2015) I returned with my sister, who though she is in her 60’s is also pretty much a beginner. This visit was my christmas gift to her. Sadly, we had three more negative experiences. The operators of several lifts were overtly impatient and rude to us. Also had a problem with her rental skis. When we returned them to the rental desk for help we were told that it was just a buildup of snow in her bindings. The thing is I wasn’t having any problems with mine and neither were any of our four friends who were also skiing with us. The staff had her put the skis on in the shop and of course they worked fine on the hard floor, just not in the actual snow. I think they should have adjusted the bindings or given her another pair of skis. They did neither.
Let me reiterate that I really like their facility. They have a wide variety of green slopes that I would really be happy developing my skills on. And many of the staff members (probably even the majority) were extremely helpful. But it is unfortunate that they also have so many who do not seem to value the customers. This is not an inexpensive sport. I don’t think I’m particularly thin-skinned, and have never had a problem at the few other resorts I’ve visited, but I will not spend my money where I’m treated this way.

Rude and dishonest staff. On Day 1 we experienced a long wait on the mountain behind an entire family that had renewed their RFID passes online at the Monarch site. After a long delay of their RFID passes not working, the Monarch lift attendant advised us not to renew our passes online if we didn’t want problems on the mountain. We followed his advice and went to ticket office in person to renew. The staff was very rude and charged an extra $80 to renew at window. When we told we were instructed to do so by their staff, they told us lift operators don’t know what they are talking about. Consider Cooper instead of you want an honest and pleasant staff.

This was our first time to ski for three of our four family members and we were really pleased with the entire experience – the mountain, rentals, lockers, lodge, tubing and food. But what really stood out for me was the incredible service we received from the staff during a busy spring break time. I especially want to give a shout out to Natalie & Barbara. Natalie worked in the rental area and spent a great deal of time with me when my ski boots weren’t fitting. She was patient and worked with me until I had some decent fitting boots. Barbara gave my son & I a private full-day lesson. She is a wonderful, patient and experienced teacher. The group lessons worked for our other son, who’s natural athletic. Thank you guys & Ski Independent!

Some of the best powder sking in Colorado on a regular basis, great backcountry sking with their SnowCat service.

I must first admit that I am a little reluctant to write about Monarch as it seems to be such a great secret-NO LINES, great runs, excellent employees. Complaints? a few-all lifts are open chair, food and beverage prices are typical big resort prices, rentals are pricey at $24. Still does not detract from great day of skiing.

I learned to ski at Monarch way back in 1979 or 80. I've since returned to this little gem around 5 or 6 times with my family. I taught my own son and daughter on these slopes and am planning a trip this spring break. The beauty of the place is that it's on the great divide and it's a high mountain natural snow area. It gets some of the best snow in the state, and is way less crowded and expensive than the I-70 corridor mega mountain resorts. The ONLY issue is that the resort has no on site lodging so you have to make a bit of a trek up the mountain and this can be difficult but pretty easy due to the snow plows on snowy days. The area also offers great small towns like Salidia and Buena Vista as well as Mt. Princeton Hot Springs which IMHO is the best Hot Springs in Colorado. I recommend for a great one or two day ski trip, more than that and you really need a bigger mountain.

Once again positives are...
low prices
great snow
great place to learn
friendly staff and good inexpensive food
beautiful views of 14ers
uncrowded expect on holidays and spring break

So head out to Monarch for an old time ski experience without the frills and fluff that make the other resorts so expensive.

We were disappointed with the amount of snow, but weather was great and runs were ok. Not as long as I am used too. Chair lifts are a fast pick-up so be ready.

Monarch is one of those resorts with more of an authentic old school ski experience. I love it. Slow chairs, and not a huge epicenter at the base- which is honestly refreshing. Plenty of great terrain. Typical cafeteria food, etc. Parking is super convenient. Lots of out of control skiers/riders on the beginner terrain. Went with my 6 year old who loved it.

The Skiing at Monarch was great, my partner and I signed up for the beginners 2.5hr lesson on the first day and the 2nd day ski 2.5hr lesson on our 2nd day on the mountain (we only came for two days). I had done a weeks skiing previously (three years ago) and my partner had done a 1 hr indoor ski lesson previously. We were treated so well by our instructor Mike who couldn't help us more. The beginner slope uses a escalator so really easy and the slope is very manageable. As I wasn't feeling so comfortable skiing on my own I was still able to go up on the lifts and all the staff were all to eager to help and the green runs are all over the mountain so you can use most lifts (ask before you get on and you will be pointed in the run direction). My partner learnt to ski in the two days (going from level 0 to 3 so able to get down all green slopes competently) and I progressed incredibly well really working on my parallel. We couldn't have asked for anything more. Booking a morning lesson gives you an all day ski pass to all lifts. It was fantastic value. We took packed lunches for lunch so I cant comment on cost of food but sitting in the sun on the terrace was fantastic. Ok its not as big as the major resorts there is only one lodge and restuarant and nothing at the top of the mountain but for great skiing at a low cost it was great for a two day pit stop during our America trip.

Eh, it was just an old-school ski area. The lifts were all old and SLOW. Did I mention the lifts ran slow? The terrain parks had potential, but were in need of some maintenance. Otherwise, if the snow comes, you can't go wrong with any mountain can you?

Everyone at Monarch was so friendly, patient, and helpful. I highly recommend the half day ski lesson if you have zero experience. It was a very informative class. Other instructors on the bunny slope even gave advice to help you learn to ski. Be cautious when driving to Monarch mountain while it snows. We are from Texas and had the most anxiety ridden drive from Colorado Springs. It was worth the drive though!

The snow is just different. Longest lift line was two minutes. Parking was easy. I think its a great value but not a destination resort. Not having to return to Denver on I-70 on Sunday night priceless

Free was very patient with my grandchildren. They had a great day! By the end if the day they knew how to snowboard!!

We went to Monarch for a family ski lesson. Our instructor Tom was outstanding. The mountain was not overcrowded like some of the larger resorts and large enough for all to enjoy the trails. We llook forward to skiing out there again next season.

Loved everything about the ski resort. People are great. The only issue was not enough seating in upper levels.

What more can I say about this place? Little too many Texans for my liking (JK had a great conversation with a guy from Dallas), but the powder is phenomenal! You can always find it in the trees if you can't find a run that works for you!

Lifts are a little slow, but more than enjoyable with the views. Don't forget to say hi to your liftees! They might just help you up after you fall off the chair lift!

This is a great place for beginners! It is less crowded then most places so it is easier to get up on the hills. The bunny hill is longer then most so you can have more time to practice before having to go up again. The bunny hill has a magic carpet that is enclosed so if it is snowing it is easier to go up. The lifts are smooth and have several hills to ski down. Inside the main lodge they have several floors with several places to eat. My family and I loved the Gunbarrel Cafeteria pizza. They also have lockers so you can store the stuff you don't want to take out to ski with you. The large lockers are eight dollars per day, we fit three backpacks in the large locker! We will surely come back again.

Best prices around and the staff was very friendly from the ski lift check in to fitting to bunny slope and "lift" workers. I was very impressed with the staff I met at each station. We ate at the restaurant on site and the BLT I got was huge and price was really reasonable considering you are "stuck" at the resort if you decide to stay long. Not much to eat on the way up there. I have not been skiing for some time, but the beginner slope offered lots of room and not too steep of a hill to get my self back on track. The ride up to that slope is like a conveyor belt that can stop without notice, but you can usually hear the ring before it cranks up again. I did one green slope too and it merges with another one, but signs tell you this and when to slow down. Lots of young kids tearing up the slopes on ski's and snow boards. I really enjoyed watching them ski with no fear. I opted out of lessons, but an instructor did give me one quick verbal tip that helped. Also the parents with children had them under control and were really nice about making sure the kids were watching for traffic. Most of them were skiing better than adults anyway.

All the reviews on this place were spot on! We wanted to visit a place away from all the crowds and this place was perfect!
Prices for equipment and instructors were reasonable and the instructors are awesome! Ms. Terry was very helpful and caring with our little ones!
Compared to Keystone this place is not busy at all! No lines at lift plenty of room to ski and all employees are extremely nice and helpful. The only knock on this place is the food and drinks are extremely expensive but they do have an area for people that bring their own meals.
We had an excellent and unforgettable time here and we will definitely be back!!

Recently scheduled a retreat for over 50 people at Monarch. Greg had our equipment ready for us when we arrived in the group room. Phil took time to walk the first-timers through each step of the process to getting on the slopes and was patient with all of the questions! The staff was very friendly and helpful and made changes quickly to accommodate our group. Had an amazing first time skiing and can't wait to come back next year! Thank you!!

Even though it was the holiday season, the lines were short, every worker had a smile and helpful attitude, the powder was awesome as were the views! Our family can't wait to go back. Thanks Monarch for a great family experience!

My husband and I have been Skiing for years, but we've only gone Skiing previously in the NC Mountains. Which is beautiful, were NC natives, but the views and runs at Monarch are amazing! The snow is fresh and plentiful. It was reasonable as a family to Ski here. Particularly factoring in Ski School for both our kids (who have never gone Skiing).

We booked everything in advance. Including Ski School which we would recommend, because it fills up quickly. If your interested, they had a Child Care center (can't share rates) we didn't utilize. It goes up to age 5. What a great option if needed. Our 7 and 10 year old children did really well with Ski School. My husband and I both thought it was money well spent. It provided a basis to begin feeling comfortable Skiing. And allowed for some time for Dad and Mom to go on Slopes/ runs together that we couldn't do with the kids.

I was impressed with the number of runs/ Slopes they had to offer. I thought it was gorgeous and incredible. We had a fantastic time and are looking forward to our trip!

What a beautiful mountain! We went snowboarding at the end of december and the sunny days made it feel like Spring riding!! Everyone is super friendly and helpful here and the prices are reasonable. We brought our own lunch, but stayed for a beer after riding all day and were not disappointed with our bill. Drinks are reasonable and they offer several local and familiar brews! Best of all, trails go from easy to challenging for all levels of experience! We had a blast!!

We did the 2 hr snowmobile your because we had never done it before. We wished we would have done the all day tour. It was so much fun and very affordable. The guide was knowledgeable and the sights were breathtaking. We will be back to do this again!

Everything about our visit was awesome. No lines or crowds, parking was easy and the tickets are comparatively inexpensive. We would definitely visit again.

We took two of our children who had never skied before. The Caterpillar "ski belt" was perfect for them. I have to tell you from the time we picked up our rentals to the time we returned them, The Employees at Monarch Mountain are AMAZING. Always smiling and willing to help. My kids had a great time skiing and we ended up at the top of the mountain by the end of the day :-) We will definatley be back.

Monarch Mountain Ski Resort is a well-operated, small, family-oriented resort. It has terrific instructors, patient and knowledgable, who can get a novice safely down the mountain and enjoying the experience with a half-a-day lesson. The runs are not as long as some other resorts, but the lifts are fast and the lift lines short.

My husband, 7 year old daughter and I just returned from a fun, affordable, family ski vacation at Monarch Mountain. We read several reviews of the mountain beforehand and decided to take a chance on this unknown place. It was certainly worth the trip. We flew to Denver from NYC. The drive was about 3 hours from Denver International Airport to Salida. The route was very pretty. We also discovered that you can get to Monarch several different ways....just in case weather is a factor.

We stayed in Salida which is about 18 miles from the mountain. The mountain does not have any lodging. We stayed at the Salida Super 8. We decided on this motel because they offered ski packages. The accomodations were average at best. However, the Holiday Inn Express and Comfort Inn looked newer and nicer. We also noticed some luxury cabins on our drive to the mountain. They looked cute. We will consider this for next trip. I think the website is www.riversuites.com to get info on the cabins.

One word of advice would be to rent equiptment beforehand at an independent location. The lines at the mountain were very, very long. We met one family who waited 2.5 hours to get their skiis. We even missed our lessons the first day out because we were waiting on the lines so long. The ski package from the Super 8 let us reserve rentals ahead of time. However, we still had to wait on a huge line for people with "reservations" and we got to the front, they did not have our reservation.

All in all, a GREAT trip. We plan to do it again next year. Have fun!

High Speed Chairs, No Lines, Warm Weather. Staff was very friendly and helpful, whether at the lifts or behind the counter in the Chalet/Lodge. Loved the time on the slopes.

We signed up our 2 girls for the ski school ages 9 & 10, we were very disappointed and had security concerns after observing the lessons. We expressed our concerns in a survey that we received and had a voicemail from management that they were unable to issue a refund and did not address any of the concerns that we had. After 45mins of our girls “attending the class” we were observing nearby, we decided it was time to step in and pull them from the class and ski with us. No instructor was keeping track of the kids or even acknowledging they were missing 2 girls. Another instructor “Gerald” not with our girls group, did come over after our oldest daughter was crying as she had been left in the snow unable to remove her skies and stand up for more than 5 mins. As that we the reason that we decided to intervene and Gerald did ask if we needed assistance. We took Gerald’s offer to take our youngest daughter up the magic carpet to the top and ski down with her for her first time. She got it pretty quickly and our oldest was still upset so we told him thank you and took our girls with us. “ the voicemail from management after my complaint via survey” said there were 2 instructors and 3 girls per instructor. Gerald was not one of them and supposedly our girls were not with the same instructor. The rest of the group had went in for what we o er heard to get hot chocolate but no head count was done and you would think if you had 3 girls and missing one in each group that you would notice! The girls were wearing a red tag on thier clothing as to who to release them to at the end of the class, no check was ever made and no one checked to see if our girls were just left in the snow somewhere! We told Gerald which he never told the assigned instructors because we watched and they were inside the building at that point. At 12:00 when the class was supposed to end, my husband went inside of the lessons text to ask if we needed to sign them out or notify anyone that we had our girls and he was told no, there was no procedure for that and none checked to even see where our girls were. They attended what was about 45 mins of the 2 hour lesson but as we observed they were unsupervised. They management that called me back said that we were a few minutes late to the lesson and they were having to divide the group of 4 kids into now 6 kids up making 2 groups of 3 but I left them with an instructor in the tent when we arrived and the others were still in the tent but he was blaming that on their negligence! He did not even address our security concerns which were much more alarming than the lack of ski education that we signed up to receive. They refused us a refund on the ski lessons which were 120.00 per kid. We dropped over 900.00 for 2 adults and 2 kids that day at Monarch. The snow tubing was a big hit on property but do not waste your money on ski school because your kid is not safe there!

Their motto of finding your friends and losing the crowds is TRUE! If money is an option this is the resort for you. Although it is a little more difficult to get to, it is very family friendly and the crowds are minimal.

We had a great day at Monarch Mountain for our first time ever skiing! The lines for the lifts were nice and short and the staff was very friendly and helpful to our first time group!

Skied at Monarch last Friday, 12/09/16. One of the few blue groomers, Snowburn, had multiple grape fruit size rocks lying atop the surface and rocks partially submerged but partially visible. Picked up several and tossed in the trees, but not sure why Monarch ski patrol can't spend 15 minutes to pick them up, and keep their customers and skis happy!!
Maybe Monarch is trying to increasing business for ski tunes.
Likewise a black run called Mirage, had multiple knee crushing rocks that were not marked, and could mash potato a tele skiers knee. In fact a local blew out his knee the past weekend hitting said rocks. Not sure why the owner, Bob Pennies, doesn't mark these obstacles with bamboo. Resort seems more interested in having you fill out liability waiver then upkeep of the slopes.

This is one of the best local mountains in Colorado. Great Snow, terrain, and fun. If you haven't skied here, you are missing out!

Great place for a stage of the US Pro Cycling Challenge! Lots of people rode their bikes in from Silida. That would be fun day trip during the summer months! Nice winter ski and summer hiking we were told. Maybe we should come back. It sure is a beautiful area and an easy drive from CO Springs.

We have skied numerous mountains in New Mexico and Colorado...from the mega-resorts, to the small 'unknowns'. Monarch, undoubtably, has become one of our favorites.

Simply put, great powder! There was a nice variety of blues and blacks to keep us busy for five days. And, the mountain is small enough that we felt comfortable allowing our kids (age 12 and 9) to take a few 'end of day' runs by themselves, as everything flows to a single base area. Lift ticket prices were very reaonable ($46 on line for an adult), and the drive up the mountain was quick and easy...about 20 minutes. We stayed in Poncha Springs.

The staff was all very friendly as advertised. And the food prices and bar prices were very reasonable, with Happy Hour starting around 3:00 PM. We packed our lunch and easily found seating area to eat each day during Spring Break, which can be difficult elsewhere. A 'must'...try the cheese fries at the bar, and if you like Bloody Marys, they make killer ones!

The only 'down' was that my son and I wanted to hike over to Mirkwood Basin for some of the double blacks/extreme skiing. It's not an easy walk, and after trying to lug our skies up hill for about 20 minutes, we gave up. But that certainly won't prevent us from going back!

Nice ski resort with very friendly employees willing and able to help.
I made a mistake when booking my lift ticket online (selected the wrong date), when I got there I went to the counter and they fixed it in a flash. In and out of the ticket area in less than 5 min.
The lockers are nice too, you don't have to pay every time you access it. You pay a very reasonable flat rate for the day.
All the skiers I encounter were nice and prudent.
If you want to ski / snowboard, this is the place to be but if you are looking for fancy boutiques / restaurants you'll be better off in Aspen or Vail.

There may be larger, swankier megaresorts up the road, but give Monarch a try. We just finished up a tour of some of the less well-known CO ski areas and Monarch was one of our favorites. Lift tickets are cheap (relatively speaking) and can get even cheaper with Shell stations (outside of Chaffee county) often offering 2-for-1 coupons with fill-ups. We forgot this fact and paid full-price (still for less than a single day ticket at the large Eagle and Summit county areas). It had snowed hard 2-3 days before and there were still fresh tracks to be found in the trees and with a little hiking. We waited in zero lift lines all day. Possible downside being that all the lifts are slower fixed line chairs. Still, we managed to get 15 runs or so in 3 hours. We didn't spend much time in the lodge, but it was clean and well kept and right at the base, so no hiking or the like to get in for your apres ski beer and burger. If you're sick of shelling out a ton of cash for lift tickets at the big name places and don't mind a little slower lift ride, give Monarch (and the other smaller areas) a try. You will be surprised.

This is the best ski resort for us... we live about an hour and 20 minutes from Monarch... we get season passes (senior citizen rate) and go weekdays.... no lift lines, friendly staff, good snow, challenging runs for us old folks and the young adventurous types.
The views from the top of Monarch Mountain are spectacular. There is even a Starbuck's in the lodge.

What can i say about this place, I grew up here! Now my son is learning to ski here too. Friendly staff, great lessons and no lift lines. From beginner to expert the ski school can accommodate. If you get a chance, do a private expert with DC, he is it! He was on the cover of SKI Magazine. Only one negative about this area is you feel like you are on the lift more than you are skiing. I heard they are opening up the area next year...... Should be complete. Price point isn't bad and they are always running discounts so check it out

Monarch lives up to its reputation as a family friendly ski area that is less crowded than its more familiar (and expensive) cousins to the north. Visited for the first time on a pleasant January Saturday and lift lines were virtually non-existent all day; the longest wait was about 2 minutes at the peak hours. There is a variety of terrain for all abilities. A short walk from parking to the lift lines is a bonus. Monarch gets different weather patterns than the Summit County resorts, so often the skiing can be better at Monarch. Well worth the drive.

Caveats: I've only been to three ski resorts since moving to Colorado, and I am not a black diamond skier. But I do love to ski and Monarch was a great place to do it! Get your lift ticket in advance online and you can save some $. We rented our equipment there and everyone was super friendly and helpful. It was a Saturday and there was plenty of snow, yet there was virtually no line for the lifts! And for an intermediate level skier (especially one who grew up on tiny man made hills in the midwest) the blue square hills are more than challenging enough!

My young nephews were there as well, and the bunny slopes were great for them. Much better, in fact, than others I've seen--a good size, but just a gentle and smooth slope. While the caterpillar is a pretty cool way to get up.

Staff are helpful. It seems like all of the visitors are friendly. Short lines for lifts. Something for everyone on the slopes. Good food in the restaurant. It was the least expensive ski destination we have found in Colorado.

The day I visited this ski hill, it was very crowded, and I had to park in one of the upper level parking lots on the mountain. I had planned to take the shuttle down to the base area, but the parking attendant informed me that I could ski from the parking lot to the base. The snow conditions, and skiing were great. The moguls were nice and juicy, and the blue and black runs were fun with lots of meandering, and variations in the pitch angle. My only complaint is that the breezeway lift was way too windy, and the cafeteria is in poor condition, and in need of updating. I had planned to eat in the cafeteria, but it looked too junky to hang out there for more than ten minutes or so.

This was my second time skiing and I paid for a beginner lesson. The 2 hour lesson was perfect and really helped me improve. I had a great time on the slopes and the staff were all friendly and kind. I am excited to go back soon!

Monarch Mountain is another hidden gem of a skiing area in Colorado. Not too expensive, not on the main drag, with fresh snow Monarch can provide some solid skiing for a half day. Worth a drive to ski; if with family, with s couple days.

Monarch mountain is not as busy as other ski resorts. There are ski and snowboarding lessons for all ages. The slopes are great whether your a beginner or go on powdery, tree laden slopes for advanced skiing. Enjoy the lodge for a break and coffee or hot chocolate and more. The staff at Monarch are superb. We wouldn't want to go anywhere else.

We just came back from the long MLK weekend at Monarch skiing with friends and I am continually amazed at what a great family experience this is. This is our second season of skiing at Monarch and as a Vermont native it reminds me of skiing at Mad River Glen (not the terrain). The skiing this past trip was fabulous (5-6") of fresh powder on both Saturday and Sunday, but as always, affordable for the whole family, no long lines, and plenty of terrain to keep everyone occupied. We made fresh tracks well into the morning, had fun in the trees and great hot cocoa breaks in the lodge (it was 11 degrees). We enjoy staying in Salida and then just having a quick drive to the mountain. We rent our gear, which is easily stored overnight, and the staff in the rental area is just great. Most importantly, you just can't beat the price when you have a family of four.

Wonderful resort in Salida, CO. Great place for skiers of all levels. Super friendly staff. Would easily ski here again when in the area!!

The gf and I went to Monarch for our first ever ski trip. We both took day long lessons, but she took skiing while I took snowboarding. We chose Monarch from Tripadvisor forum suggestions. When we went (spring break) it was alittle busy, but not busy enough to have to wait more than a minute or two for ski lifts. I highly suggest taking the full day lesson, during the morning we were both in groups of 8-10 people, but on the second half of the day, when the half day lessons left, the classes shrank to only 2 people. Which was great, its like paying for a group lesson and getting a private lesson! Will be going back next season and dedicating several days to snowboarding. Make sure to drink lots of water, and wear layers you can strip off. I wore too many layers and ended up dehydrating very quickly from all the sweating.

The mountain is great, with a wide variety of trail options. The staff was excellent, and had the best attitude the entire time I was there. The only downside were the uncorfortable chair lifts. I ski a lot, and these were the worst chairs I have ever ridden. Lots of pressure on the hamstrings, and not enough padding on the chai.

From were my family and I stayed, it was like a 5 minute drive to Monarch. They have a store called Monarch Crest. They have a tram ride that goes to the tippy top of the mountain. It is a very beautiful place and this time when we go we are going to have a picnic in the tip-top of the mountains. There are a lot of marmots and chipmonks on the mountain.

A great place to learn how to ski for beginners or challenge your skills as an intermediate skier. At the top of the mountain is the most beautiful place for mountain ranges topped with snow. It is evident that God's creation is at its finest. The price is definitely right to take the whole family and even better if you can find a group of twenty or more. Can't wait to go back!

Really enjoyed the all natural snow. Plenty of terrain for all skill levels, including hike-able terrain.

Our church group has enjoyed Monarch Mountain for many years now. We head up there each Presidents Day weekend for three days of fun in the snow. The group sales folks are awesome to deal with and have always taken great care of our group. Their mountain is a great mix of greens, blues and blacks. Fun for all abilities.

This year we were particularly excited to experience the recent expansion of the lodge. Lots of great and useful space for the public to eat and relax.

We can't wait to go back in 2014.

A "secret" of the locals, what this ski area lacks in the way of resort attractions and lodging it makes up for in less crowded runs, and plenty of accessible ski areas.

It's a scenic drive from Colorado Springs through some beautiful mountain passes and very easy to go from car to lift...just minutes, no bus required!

Monarch offered us a simple and safe break from the craziness of this year, just what our family needed! Kids took great private lessons, and we all enjoyed the fresh powder. We visited during early season, but the mt did not feel busy or crowded, allowing us to keep a safe distance from others. Safety measures were clearly communicated and upheld by management and staff. We will definitely be back! Loved the area and the slopes.

Monarch Mountain is on of the southern ski areas of Colorado and one of the last to be all natural - no snow making. This gem is often times filled with locals, the runs are short but if you have the chance give it a shot, for families it keeps everyone close - however, the are better lesson packages elsewhere. Don't pay full price for a lift ticket, there are countless deals to be had to keep it very affordable - Shell Gas runs a 2-for-1 promo, you need gas to get there, right?

My daughter was sick on the 1st day of skiing last week and just couldn't make it to ski school. All of the staff were very kind and quick to find answers and make adjustments to meet our needs. We made it to ski school the 2nd day and the instructor Tony was fantanstic! He was so kind and patient with my recovering daughter. By the end of the 1/2 of instruction she was ready and able to go on her own. the lodge and desk were crowded but the lifts and slopes were not. Lots of greens with lots of interesting views and challenges. A great place to go for 1st timers and experts as well in our group. We will go back.

I've skied a lot of the big resorts, and some of my kids have worked at them. Those resorts have their advantages. But they've gotten insanely expensive and crowded, and the vibe has become hectic and pushy. Monarch, by comparison, is much less expensive, not crowded, and the atmosphere is more relaxed, civlized and down to earth.

My daughter and I spent Christmas Day on the slopes at Monarch. I was telemark skiing, and she was snowboarding. (BTW, I saw only one other telemark skier all day). We got there early and were able to park in the front row, within easy walking distance of the facilities. Oh, and parking is free (many of the big resorts now charge you big bucks just to park). We bought our tickets online the night before and scanned the symbol they sent us via email. So at the resort, all we had to do was hold up our smart phone to the kiosk, and it gave us our electronic (RFID) cards with our lift tickets loaded on them. Total time at the kiosk: about 10 seconds. Nice! Also nice was that the senior rate begins when you turn 62. Woo hoo!

The lodge facilities are modest, but in decent shape. There were signs on the doors that said "please wear a mask!" Good. But I was disappointed that only about 25 percent of the folks inside were wearing masks to protect against covid.

Once on the snow, we liked the lifts. They aren't super fast, but are in good shape. The lifties were very courteous, professional and pleasant. The runs were in great shape. Nice variety. Snow was good, and views were excellent.

We enjoyed a very pleasant day. The clientele was generally respectful and well behaved. We didn't encounter any inebriated or stoned people. No smoking in the lift lines or on the lifts. Pretty evenly divided between skiers and snowboarders.

The drive up to the resort was fine: a fairly small road, but not too steep, and not a whole lot of traffic.

Monarch is a nice area to ski. It gets the most snow in the state, after Wolf Creek Pass. It is farther away from Denver and Colorado Springs, and so it's not as crowded as some of the other ski areas.

You can view the snow report at http://www.skimonarch.com/SnowReport.asp

The URL for the area is http://www.skimonarch.com