Winter Park, Colorado
Winter Park is a home rule municipality in Grand County, Colorado, United States. The permanent population was 1,033 at the 2020 census, although with 2,850 housing units within the town limits the seasonal population can be much higher.
It is home to Winter Park Resort, a ski resort owned by the City of Denver and managed by Alterra Mountain Company. The town and resort are served by the Winter Park Express ski train run by Amtrak. The area also has cross-country skiing opportunities, including Devil's Thumb Ranch Resort & Spa. In the spring and summer, Winter Park is known for mountain biking, concerts, hiking, and fishing.
Geography
Winter Park is located in southeastern Grand County at the southern end of the Fraser Valley. It is bordered to the north by the town of Fraser. U.S. Route 40 passes through the town, leading south and east over Berthoud Pass to Denver and northwest to Granby.According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of.
Its elevation ranges from approximately above sea level, and is considered sub-alpine country. It is snow-covered for about six months a year. Although the town center is at about above sea level, Winter Park, using administrative boundaries as a measure, became the highest incorporated town in the United States after the July 2006 annexation of of Winter Park Resort to allow new on-mountain improvements. This claim is disputed since Winter Park has no residences above, while contiguous residential neighborhoods in Leadville, Colorado, extend to and in Alma, Colorado, to, and Alma's town center is at.
Climate
According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Winter Park has a subarctic climate, abbreviated "Dfc" on climate maps.Notable people
- Elizabeth McIntyre, freestyle skier, Olympic silver medalist; lives in Winter Park
- Ryan Max Riley, freestyle skier, US Champion, and humorist; lived in Winter Park
- Michelle Roark, freestyle skier, World Champion silver medalist and two-time Olympian; lived in Winter Park
- Ryan St. Onge, freestyle skier, World Champion and two-time Olympian; lived in Winter Park
Transportation
The Town of Winter Park provides local and regional bus service with The Lift bus system. The Lift provides fixed route and paratransit to Winter Park, CO, Fraser, CO, and Winter Park Resort. The system also provides commuter bus service to Granby, CO.Amtrak serves Winter Park via the Fraser-Winter Park station located in Fraser, CO. The California Zephyr and Winter Park Express both have twice daily stops at the station, one westbound and one eastbound.
Year round train service from Denver, CO to Granby, CO that will stop at the Fraser-Winter Park station is scheduled to begin service in November 2026.
Bustang Outrider is a state regional bus service providing twice daily service to Winter Park on the Craig-Denver line. The Morning run provides eastbound service to Idaho Springs, CO and Denver, CO. The afternoon/evening run provides westbound service to Steamboat Springs, CO, Craig, CO, and other intermediate stops.
Other transportation options include Home James Transportation and Grand Mountain Rides which have provided shared shuttle and private charter transportation.