Copper vs. Breckenridge: An Exhaustive Comparison 

There’s always new stuff to find at breck but copper you can really chill at your favorite area for a good chunk of the day and have a blast. Also you avoid the terrible chokepoints that brek has…

Breck and Copper are cool but they both come with hassles. I spent most of my last pre/core/post season at A-Basin and Keystone. Can't wait for a few more months to pass!

Never been to Breck. Went to Copper a few times last year. Early season was a madhouse with only the central base lifts open. When I went back later in the year it was AWESOME. Would 100 percent go back next year. Terrain for literally anything you want. Would love to hit up Breck at some point soon! (I have been skiing Monarch and Loveland the last couple years)

Very good comparison. Colorado locals tend to hate on Breck because it’s more of a tourist vacation spot. But if you have a group looking for things to do outside of skiing and a party scene then Breck is the winner. They both offer great skiing!

I've never waited more than 10 minutes at a Copper lift, and that was during a holiday. Most times, there are no wait times for lifts at Copper.

these videos are always the greatest...thank you PeakRankings

Skied both, Copper is my favorite of the two. More consistent, Breckenridge goes, flat, intermediate, steep. Both good though 👍

I think the main competition is ikon vs epic especially in Colorado with all of the mountain in the area

Breck is for people who prioritize the apres. Or for those who visit on a weekday. Weekends at Breck are terribly crowded. The choke points are truly awful. Copper is almost exclusively about the skiing. And, it's very easy to get away, and stay away, from the crowds, even on a high season Saturday.

I'm going to Copper this December. I think I picked right. Breck seems like it has better steeps and double blacks (which I like), but Copper just seems like an overall better pick for me.

As a Front Range day skier, Winter Park ski coach, and 80 day a year skier ... there is absolutely no doubt that more locals prefer Copper. Breck has a massive draw for lower ski ability tourists as the tourist friendly town is what out of state visitors think they want. So, the mountain can get unfortunately dangerously crowded. That said, I have had some incredible days at Breck. Copper terrain is naturally segmented by ability level and if you know where you are going and can ski at a high level, it is possible to get away from the crowds.

Ski both, decide for yourselves.😊

Honestly think the biggest difference is that breck is bigger and more crowded and has really bad chokepoints while copper is smaller and has really only 1 or 2 places that get crowded

The natural insulation of different levels of skiers at copper cannot be overstated. The fact that there is a base led to by basically all blacks, one led to by basically all blues and one led to by basically all greens helps everyone avoid having experts flying by beginners at the bottom of every run, which experts and beginners can appreciate

11:11 Anything that's served by the T-Bar can be reached by skiing down Alpine Alley from the top of Imperial.

I can't believe the new Lift Ticket prices everywhere.

Used to be a Breck guy but that mountain has just lost its soul since Vail Resorts really took over and changed things. Have switched to going to Copper and its a great mountain. I dont think the expert terrain is as challenging as Breck's but I love the natural insulation. If you are an expert and you go to Breck, my big pro-tip is lap E-Chair, especially on a powder day. You will never do the same run twice and it usually doesn't get as crowded since people prioritize the high-alpine experience. Breck is a fantastic town though, haven't been anywhere better

You should make a Washington vs Oregon video

Hi @peakrankings I have some cool ideas for future comparisons: Park City vs. Deer Valley Solitude vs. Brighton Telluride vs. Steamboat Mammoth vs. Palisades Okemo vs. Killington Vail vs. Beaver Creek

I have been to both equally and love there hardest runs, Breckenridge has much better learning terrain even though people don’t say it. And 60% of the time I’m in the trees what seems like miles from civilization so I love Breck, I would say Breck is better but why argue when as long as your having fun your are in the best plave

I really like Breck's base 9 for beginners but navigating between 8 and 9 as a beginner is very problematic. You basically have to choose where you plan to ski for the day or take lengthy transfers outside the resort. The biggest issue is getting from 9 to 8 on all greens, but 8 to 9 is doable. I also really love the Lower Four O'Clock ski-back trail vs taking the gondola back - but this is really only applicable if you do a Peak 8 day. There is still one section of that trail that is slightly beyond my skill level since half is a modestly step narrow cruiser and the other half often has bumps - it's hard to terrace that part with folks zooming by you. Base 9's learning area is a lot better than Base 8 as well - and there is a reasonable progression from the bunny (nearly flat), learning, and true green slopes on Base 9. Base 8 is a decent transition with harder greens, then back to 9 for easier blues. The bunny/learning area at Base 8 requires a long walk from the gondola. I've already bought an Epic pass for this coming season (Breck + Keystone) but I may do a day or so at Copper to try them out - mainly because I like the ability segregation concept. I'm hoping to upskill my ability to do blues with confidence by the end of the upcoming season.

I think the two resorts should merge and form one Megaresort (like when Whistler and Blackcomb merged). Breck has a better village and apres, so Copper should just use their base facilities. Call it Coppenridge?

Totally agree with you, Copper is better than Breck ... especially after my last Breck trip ...

I prefer Breckenridge, but copper is rock solid

Bit of a weird question; what are the overnight parking polices? Like a little sprinter camper van? Or are there any RV parks nearby?

How do you break ties when resorts have the same cumulative score?

I love everything you said except navigation, copper you can literally get to any of the three bases, from one lift off any of those bases. its gotta be one of the easiest mountains to get around

I haven't skied summit county in about 10 years but I always preferred copper.

I renamed Breckenridge to Breaking Wind.. It seams like it is always windy at the top and often they close the top because of the wind..

Stay cheaper in Dillon, drive to Copper is 15 minutes and parking is free. Shuttles are available. Even better, Copper has easy drop-off areas. Copper has alwasy been cool to allow dropoff cars to wait in parking area. Also, Copper employees countless volunteers who many kinds of help including protein bars. Its not uncommon for coppper to have free hot chocolate on cold days at the mid mountount restauraunts.

Copper Mountain is the best!! Its Chill.

make a ( og) ski bum vs ( new ) gaper video please

Brecks terrain blows Coppers out of the water. Breck is seriously underrated.

For me, Breck doesn't hold a candle to Copper in terms of skiing quality. Breck feels like a beginner's mountain compared to Center Village and East Village Copper. Whereas blue squares at Copper can often feel steeper than usual, the black diamonds at Breck can be (especially at Peak 10) easier than a blue square! I am sure it gets more challenging the higher up you go, but as the video highlights, the above-treeline areas up at Breck are frequently closed down due to wind, fog or some other adverse conditions. The town of Breckenridge has much more character and better culture, so your choice will depend on what you want to get out of your ski experience. If you just want a reliably advanced, leg-burning skiing/riding experience and don't mind a somewhat manufactured-feeling set of base villages, Copper is your choice. If, however, you seek a more comprehensive ski "culture" experience and would not mind having to ski less challenging terrain, Breck is the better choice for you.

Coppers layout rides more like keystone then it does Breck.

congratulations: you got a like for an in-depth review, and you weren't annoying. Breckenridge was too family oriented, full of beginner kids. Copper was much better and enjoyable skiing for adult skiers. Of course this was back in the last century?

Copper all day. Breck is way too crowded.

Copper sucks go to breck

the middle class killed the ski bum