Apres Ski in Beaver Creek
Beaver Creek pedestrian friendly ski resort is replete with heated sidewalks and covered escalators, so there’s no need not worry about slippery or icy steps and walkways. The main Beaver Creek Village, Bachelor Gulch and Arrowhead are connected by a complimentary shuttle as well as by ski lifts.
Beaver Creek Villages
Getting to and from each of Beaver Creek’s three unique on-mountain villages is easy via the ski lifts and trails or the complimentary shuttle bus.
One of the nicest features of Beaver Creek is the “Dial-A-Ride” service. No matter where you stay, complimentary direct shuttle service is only a phone call away, meaning you’ll need neither a car nor a designated driver.
Beaver Creek Village
The main village area, the Beaver Creek Village, provides the most lodging, dining and shopping options.
All accommodations are ski-in, ski-out or just a short walk to the slopes. Connecting trails and skier paths provide quick access. Be forewarned that some properties are ski-out via traverses which can be quite flat, but even the flattest traverse is just a few minutes walk to something steeper.
The Beaver Creek Village also contains the Nordic Center, ski and snowboard rental, ski storage and customer service facilities. There’s also an outdoor ice rink, an arts center and day care facilities. The two main ski lifts servicing the Beaver Creek village are the Centennial Express #6 and the Strawberry Park Express #12 chairlifts. If you are in the Village Plaza, be sure to look out for Helmut Fricker, Beaver Creek’s ‘mascot’ who makes occasional appearances, complete with alpenhorn and lederhosen!
Bachelor Gulch Village
Bachelor Gulch is Beaver Creek’s second village.
Anchored around the ultra-luxurious Ritz-Carlton hotel, the Bachelor Gulch village boasts multi-million dollar vacation rental homes. The Bachelor Gulch Express #16 chairlift provides convenient ski-in, ski-out access to lodging properties. Full equipment rental and customer service is provided in the Beaver Creek Sports store located in the Ritz-Carlton.
Arrowhead Village
The final village area, Arrowhead Village, contains private homes and ski condominium rental properties.
The ski terrain is accessible from the Arrowbahn Express #17 chairlift and there is a retail store and ticketing available at the Arrowhead Base area. The Broken Arrow Restaurant, with its outdoor patio and bar, is a wonderful location to meet for lunch and quieter than the other village areas.
Riverfront in Avon
Though not technically a village, the Riverfront in Avon has become a popular choice among visitors due to a new express gondola that connects it to the resort. Many new luxury hotels await visitors along the riverfront. Most hotels offer evening shuttles to the village, but “Dial-A-Ride” service is not available to the Riverfront lodging properties.
Apres-Ski Bars & Restaurants in Beaver Creek
Beaver Creek does not have the kind of nightlife found in Vail. The bars close by 12:30 am and anyone seeking a late night out head should head to Avon (2 miles/3.2 km) or Vail (10 miles/16 km). But there are 24 restaurants and 10 bars in Beaver Creek village itself.
Photo credit: Vail Resorts
Coyote Cafe hails itself as Beaver Creek’s first bar, is a local favorite and the most popular place for apres ski drinks and also offers a choice of Mexican dishes and salads. The 8100 Mountainside Bar & Grill, located in the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek, is also popular and offers guests the opportunity to sample local microbrews, local wines, and spirits in a relaxed, yet lively setting.
Beaver Creek Village offers 21 dining options, ranging from pastry at Dough, crepes at Beaver Crepes to contemporary Italian Cuisine at Toscanini, Japanese sushi at the Foxnut Slopeside Sushi, sandwiches at Flying Pig and hand-tossed pizza at the Blue Moose Pizza restaurant. For finer dining options, try the Beaver Creek Chophouse or the Grouse Mountain Grill. Both feature extraordinary and renowned wine lists as well as locally-inspired cuisine. Reservations are recommended for both.
Buffalo Bar at the Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch, provides casual lunch and evening dining and Spago is an elegant exhibition dining experience by celebrity Chef Wolfgang Puck. Some mountain restaurants also offer fine dining experiences on-the-mountain in the evenings and the sleigh-ride from the Ritz Carlton Bachelor Gulch to dine at Beano’s Cabin or Zach’s Cabin is highly recommended for an unforgettable evening.
Beano’s Cabin offers 5-star fine dining on-mountain among the aspens at the base of Larkspur Bowl on Beaver Creek Mountain with spectacular views of Grouse Mountain. Reservations are essential. Tel: +1 970 949 9090
Beaver Creek Chophouse in the Beaver Creek Lodge serves Colorado beef, steaks and fresh Maine lobsters complemented by a comprehensive selection of wine. Tel: +1 970 845 0555
8100 Mountainside Bar & Grill is the Park Hyatt Hotel’s family restaurant serving three meals daily with an outdoor terrace for dining with a spectacular views, weather permitting Tel: +1 970 949 1234 ext 51
Blue Moose Pizzeria is located on the main village plaza across from the ice rink and is a local’s favorite serving great food at great prices including New York style pizza. Tel: +1 970 845 8666
Coyote Cafe next to Beaver Creek’s main ticket office serves Mexican food, burgers, sandwiches and salads. The first bar in Beaver Creek Resort, the Coyote is still a local’s favorite place to eat and drink. Tel: +1 970 949 5001
D’Oro in the Charter Hotel and offers some of the best Italian food in Beaver Creek. Popular with locals, D’Oro is owned by the award-winning Ti Amo restaurant in Eagle Vail. Tel: +1 970 949 7197
Dusty Boot Steakhouse & Saloon in St. James Place offers family-friendly dining including top-notch burgers, seafood and Mexican food cooking, and Mondo Margaritas and appetizers for apres ski. Tel: +1 970 748 1146
Foxnut Asian Fusion & Sushi in Beaver Creek Village is open daily from 11am for lunch and dinner offers an eclectic mix of small and large Asian dishes as well as Sushi. Tel: +1 970 845 0700
Park Hyatt’s Cafe in the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort and Spa is recommended for breakfast or a quick snack at lunch time and for espresso or cappuccino and donuts, pastries, salads, sandwiches, Tel: +1 970 949 1234
Golden Eagle Inn in Beaver Creek Village is open daily for lunch and dinner from 11:30am – 10:00pm for creative American cuisine and a casual dining experience in an elegant setting. Tel: +1 970 949 1940
Grouse Mountain Grill in the Pine Lodges hotel is a stylish American grill for fine meat and fresh fish dishes, an award winning wine list, cozy fireplace and panoramic views. Reservations are recommended. Tel: +1 970 949 0600
La Cantina at the Beaver Creek Lodge is a convenient walk-in eatery for affordable grab-and-go burritos, wraps, snacks, and drinks. Tel: +1 970 845 6371
McCoy’s Cafe in Village Hall at the base of the Centennial Chairlift is popular for breakfast, ski-in lunches and lively for apres ski. Tel: +1 970 949 1234
Mirabelle Restaurant is a restored farm house near Beaver Creek serving classic French cuisine prepared by chef (and owner) Daniel Joly. Reservations are recommended. Tel: +1 970 949 7728
The Osprey Lounge at The Osprey offers a selection of colorful and tasty tapas dishes and carefully chosen wines in an atmosphere that defines “mountain chic”. Tel: +1 970 754 7392
Red Tail Camp on Beaver Creek Mountain near the base of chairlifts 9, 10 and 11 has sunny decks offering grill specialties and a full bar service in winter only from 11:00am- 3:00pm. Tel: +1 970 754 5530
The Rendezvous Club at the Beaver Creek Golf Club feels like a private club but is open to the public daily from 11:00am – 8:00pm for lunch or early evening drinks and appetizers. Tel: +1 970 754 5760
Rimini is one of the newest additions to Beaver Creek’s food and dining scene and is the place to go for gelato, hot chocolates and pastries. Tel: +1 970 949 6156
Rocks Modern Grill in Beaver Creek Lodge is an upscale, but casual family-friendly restaurant offering American food with other cultural influences. Tel: +1 970 845 1730
SaddleRidge at the base of Beaver Creek Mountain east is a secluded premier restaurant with a western ambiance serving excellent steak, seafood and wild game dishes. Reservations are essential. Tel: +1 970 845 5450
Spago at the exclusive Ritz Carlton Bachelor Gulch is a modern upscale restaurant serving innovative California cuisine and Colorado specialties. Reservations are recommended. Tel: +1 970 343 1555
Splendido at the beautiful Chateau is recommended for fine Rocky Mountain dining with French Provencal and Italian influences, open evenings only from 6:00-10:00pm. Reservations are essential. Tel: +1 970 845 8808
Starbucks in Beaver Creek Village is located one escalator below the Centennial Lift and a convenient place to grab a coffee and fresh baked pastries and cookies before riding the lift. Tel: +1 970 845 6245
Toscanini is open evenings only for fine casual Italian dining, complemented by views of the plaza and Beaver Creek’s popular ice skating rink, and with an extensive kids menu. Tel: +1 970 845 5590
Zach’s Cabin, a luxurious log cabin in Bachelor Gulch, is open to the public for dinner on Wednesdays and Sundays and offers delicious pacific-rim cuisine. Ski in or ride a snowcat to get to this intimate cabin. Tel: +1 970 845 6575
Other Activities in Beaver Creek
Beaver’s Creek’s first-class amenities and service also include numerous other activities for skiers and non-skiers alike including cross-country skiing, telemark, snowshoeing, snowtubing, ice-skating, spa and wellness treatments and numerous high-end stores for retail therapy.
A snowshoe excursion leaves the village (photo credit: Vail Resorts)
Beaver Creek Nordic Sports Center
McCoy Park’s provides even more opportunities to enjoy the outdoors and to be on the mountain, especially for snowsports enthusiasts seeking an alternative to alpine skiing. Secluded and scenic, McCoy Park is a vast plateau at 9,840 feet (2,999 m) elevation offering 20 miles (32 km) of snowshoeing and cross-country skiing and snowshoe terrain. The Nordic Sports Center is located at the base of the Strawberry Park Express #12 chairlift and provides all the necessary equipment. The trails are start from the top of the Strawberry Park Express Lift. Introductory and private lessons are offered daily, as well as nature tours. Moonlight Tours are also offered by reservation only and from 6:30-8:30 pm and complimentary family snowshoe tours are also available. For more details contact the Nordic Sports Center, Tel: +1 (970) 754-5313.
Snowtubing on the Hay Maker Tubing
Another fun activity for the entire family is snowtubing on the Hay Maker Tubing located by the Buckaroo Express Gondola at the base area in Beaver Creek Village. The tubing hill is open from mid-December until early April and from early afternoon until approximately 7 pm. The thrilling four-lane ride drops 400 feet and is fun for adults and children more than 36 inches (1 m) tall. For more details contact Hay Maker Tubing Hill, Tel: +1 (970) 754-5368
Beaver Creek Loves Kids
Each year, Beaver Creek also runs an event “Beaver Creek Loves Kids” in which Beaver Creek offers events, programs, and specials for families with children. Including ice skating lessons, kids apres-ski zone, kids movie nights and more. The Beaver Creeks Loves Kids events takes place between end February and mid-March and is a great opportunity to experience all that Beaver Creek has to offer families.
Spa & Wellness in Beaver Creek
There are three spas in Beaver Creek: the Allegria Spa at the Park Hyatt, the Bachelor Gulch Spa at the Ritz-Carlton and Spa Struck located in the The Charter hotel in Beaver Creek. The Allegria Spa is a perfect retreat for both Mom and her ‘girls’ as girls aged 5-12 can be pampered at Prima Donna with nail polishes, hair braiding, and craft projects. Note that during the ski season, the Bachelor Gulch Spa is restricted to guests of the Ritz-Carlton, and Bachelor Gulch Club members.
Shopping in Beaver Creek
There’s good shopping, great shopping and there’s Beaver Creek shopping which is in a league of its own among North American ski resorts. There are over 50 retail stores among the three villages ranging from sportswear, wines, fashion boutiques, jewellery to fine art. Examples include Beaver Creek General Store for all the family, Beaver Creek Sports which offers a great selection of ski gear including demo equipment from beginner to expert, Gorsuch for stylish skiing and mountain apparel and the amazing Pismo Gallery for “do not touch” contemporary glass art with stunning pieces by Chihuly, Kuhn, Tagliapietra, Powell and Perkins, and price tags up to around $250,000.