Keystone Resort Vacation Rentals: Mountain House Vs River Run Base Areas
Keystone Resort, Colorado is home to world-class ski terrain, incredible food, affordable cat skiing, three mountain peaks, and is one of the few resorts in Colorado that offers night skiing, making it one of the days of longer skis, offering visitors A bang for their buck. It’s also home to Kidtopia, a festival where kids can have loads of fun, taking part in fun activities designed just for them, including visiting and playing in a huge snow fort on top of the mountain! Not to mention the countless other winter activities to enjoy including snow tubing, ice skating, fine dining, sleigh rides, live music, festivals and more!
So you’ve made the decision to visit Keystone this winter, now for the hard part, where to stay? Keystone is a small town, about 3 miles long sitting in a valley at the bottom of a mountain. The mountain itself is made up of three separate peaks that align from north to south; Dercum, North Peak and the Outback, each offering its own unique terrain and features. Dercum Mountain is the furthest peak to the north and its front offers the only two access points to the entire mountain, River Run and Mountain House.
Of the two base areas, River Run is the newer of the two and is known as the main town, where both the Summit Express gondola and chair van take you to the top of Dercum Mountain. This town features a pedestrian-only walking area with many cute boutiques, ski rental shops, cafes, and restaurants. There is an outside night ski check near the gondola and restrooms and lockers inside the season pass and ticket office. The only thing this base area is really missing is a central ‘Ski Lodge’, but making up for it are plenty of restaurants within walking distance of the slopes. The Kickapoo Tavern is a fun place for lunch or an Apres ski beer, with a large outdoor patio that overlooks the slopes. Some fun features of the town of River Run are the Dercum Square outdoor ice rink, the various statues throughout town, the many unique shops, and an outdoor fire pit, which is perfect for warming up on a cold day. There are a bevy of River Run lodging options within Gondola yards including Springs, Jackpine, Arapahoe, Black Bear, Silver Mill, Dakota, Buffalo, Expedition Station and Red Hawk Lodge. The two true ski-in/ski-out properties in Keystone are Lone Eagle and the Woods, which are actually just across the Snake River Bridge, just past the gondola and then up the slopes a few yards from the village.
Both bases are home to ski schools, skier services and rental shops. Mountain House has a great beginner area with a magic carpet and chair lift. You can find similar terrain for beginners at the mid-mountain gondola stop and at the top near Schoolmarm. While you won’t find the pedestrian “mall” area here with the same shopping and dining options as River Run, you’ll find the Mountain House to be a true ski resort base area complete with a lodge with indoor lockers, a cafe, a bar , ski supply store and restrooms; meet the needs of any skier. You’ll also find a lift ticket office here at the base near the two ski lifts, Peru and Argentina. The Peru Lift takes you to the top of Area 51, along with some green and blue runs, and you can return to the River Run Base area in just one run or hop on the fast mid-mountain Montezuma lift to head to the top.
Lodging prices at Mountain House tend to be a bit lower than the River, while offering most of the same amenities. Chateaux Dumont properties are very popular and unique, most boasting a private hot tub with a slope-side view! Slopeside condos are another great option at Mountain House, and they’re just steps from the elevators. There are quite a few properties here that are within walking distance of the mountain at a fraction of the cost. If you feel the need to go through the main town, ski or take a shuttle!
There are also many accommodation options outside of the two main villages. Settler’s Creek in East Keystone is one of the newest and most popular housing developments for the community and features beautiful multi-story townhomes with garages and gorgeous views of the surrounding mountains. At the center of the neighborhood is ‘Minnie’s Cabin,’ a central recreational gathering place, complete with an outdoor pool, hot tub, pool table, grill, and gathering area for gatherings and barbecues.
Keystone Resort offers a free resort shuttle that will take you anywhere you need to go within Keystone and most lodging complexes have the shuttle. Most trips to the slopes from anywhere in Keystone are 10 minutes or less! There is also a free countywide transit system known as Summit Stage that makes it very easy to get around in the high country without a car. The Denver International Airport is only 90 minutes away and there are numerous transportation companies that will take you to and from the airport.
If you’re willing to stay outside of Keystone’s main villages, you can often find better deals and prices on your lodging. Make sure you choose a property management company that allows you to choose the exact property you stay in so you know what to expect and can plan your trip in advance. If you have a large group, ask your property manager about renting a private home. Wherever you stay in Keystone, you’ll find it easy to find everything you’re looking for and more!