Copper Mountain has always been one of my favorite resorts to snowboard in the winter but I just discovered that Copper Mountain in the summer is AMAZING. In the past, I’ve visited Copper Mountain in the summer for concerts and festivals. Most weekends all summer something is going on at Copper Mountain. But, this summer Eli is finally old enough to try the Wrectangle, bumper boats, and the new Rocky Mountain Coaster, so we went to check it out. We had so much fun on our first visit that we’ve already been back a second time this summer.
Ski resorts are just as much fun in the summer as they are in the winter. If you are planning a summer vacation to Summit County, read about all of the fabulous free activities in Summit County in the summer.
Copper Mountain In The Summer
There is so much to do at Copper Mountain in the summer. You could easily spend a weekend and fill every minute with fun. Copper Mountain could also be a perfect day-trip from Denver. It only takes an hour and a half to drive from Denver to Copper Mountain and it’s a beautiful drive.
Keep in mind that traffic on I-70 always backs up going west out of Denver on Friday evening and heading east back to Denver on Sunday afternoon.
Lodging
There are lots of lodging options right in Copper Mountain from hotels to condos. You can usually find good deals in the summer. The nearest town to Copper Mountain is Frisco and you’ll find many different hotel options there as well.
Parking
The Ten Mile Lot is right next to the main village and parking is free in the summer. If you are visiting on the weekend the lot could be full. In that case, park in the huge free dirt parking lot just off the highway. There is a free shuttle from the parking lot to the main village.
Dining Options
If you eat at any of the restaurants in Copper Mountain, you will be paying a premium. That’s not to say that there aren’t any options. Downhill Dukes and Ten Mile Tavern both have great outdoor seating. You can also get street tacos at Mahi’s Street Tacos or pizza from Gustino’s. But, you pay for the convenience of eating at Copper Mountain.
If you are staying in Copper Mountain or heading back to Denver I would recommend driving the seven miles to Frisco for dinner. Hacienda Real is my favorite Mexican food in Summit County. Pepino’s is by far the best Pizza in Frisco and they also have delicious subs and gyros. 5th Avenue Grill is pricy but the food is delicious.
Copper Mountain Summer Activities
Copper Mountain has summer activities for every age. From kids to adults, everyone will have a good time. For the summer of 2019 Copper Mountain offers a buy one get one free day pass for only $79. This includes unlimited chair lift rides, lake activities, and the climbing wall. You also get to go one time on the Wrecktangle, Rocky Mountain Coaster, Go Cart Track, Zip Line, and Bungee Trampoline. You can buy the passes online.
There are no names on the passes so they are completely transferrable. We met up with a grandma and her eight-year-old grandson while waiting in line for the coaster and she told us that she bought the buy one get one free day pass and let her grandson use her pass to Wrecktangle, Zipline, and Bungee Trampoline twice.
You can also purchase each activity individually. I’ll list online and ticket booth individual activity prices after each activity description. The Copper Mountain website states that you need to purchase the tickets online at least a day in advance to get the online discount but we used our phone to buy a ticket right before heading to redeem it at the ticket office and it worked just fine.
Wrecktangle
The main reason we went to Copper Mountain this summer was to check out the Wrecktangle. Eli has watched American Ninja Warrior a few times and I told him there was a Ninja Warrior course at Copper Mountain. He was dying to try it out.
The Wrecktangle consists of ten obstacles including a cargo net, climbing wall, balance beam with swinging obstacles, and suspended rings. My favorite obstacle was the zip line at the end of the course.
The employees were so helpful! They gave us pointers and would do the obstacles themselves to show us how it’s done.
The Wrecktangle is so much fun, but it is challenging! The three of us completed every obstacle and Eli was dying to do it again but I had to pass because my arms were so tired.
Wrecktangle Price and Restrictions
Two times through the Wrecktangle is $13 if you buy online or $15 at the ticket booth.
Kids need to be over five years old, taller than 36 inches, and over 40 pounds to use the Wrecktangle
Scenic Chair Lift Ride/Bike Haul
If you are visiting Copper Mountain in the Summer a ride up the chair lift can’t be missed. The views from the top of Copper Mountain are stunning. This is the perfect activity for all ages and fitness levels. If you want to hike around at the top you can or you can just look around and enjoy the view.
There is also the option to take your mountain bike up the lift and ride down. I’m not into mountain biking but if you are I imagine this would be a lot of fun.
If you are thinking there’s no way you would take a young child on a chair lift fifty feet up in the air with no straps to hold them in that is totally understandable. You can always go to nearby Keystone resort and ride an enclosed gondola to the top. It’s actually free on Friday afternoons all summer long. Read all about it in this post. You get the same experience but no worries for your child’s safety.
Scenic Chair Lift Rides/Mountain Bike Haul Prices and Restrictions
There are absolutely no age or weight restrictions to ride the chair lift to the top of Copper Mountain. The price for one scenic ride is $13 online and $15 at the ticket booth. You also have the option of lunch at the top included for $23. For unlimited bike haul lift rides for the entire day, it is $23 online and $25 at the ticket booth.
Rocky Mountain Coaster
The Rocky Mountain Coaster opened in 2018 and it had been on my family’s bucket list since then. I’d never been on an Alpine Slide and wasn’t sure what to expect. The Rocky Mountain Coaster was so much fun! You can’t see the top from where you start so I wasn’t sure how long the ride would be. I was surprised to keep going up and up and up. Each car has brakes so you can control how fast or slow you go on the way down. It is such a rush speeding down the mountain and around the hairpin turns. We all loved it!
Rocky Mountain Coaster Price and Restrictions
One ride is $20 if you book online and $25 at the window. Kids ride free with a paying adult.
Kids need to be nine years old and 52 inches tall to drive their own car and three years old or 36 inches to ride with an adult.
Bumper Boats
Bumper boats are the perfect activity for a warm summer day in the mountains. The boats have a small motor and aren’t on a track so you can go wherever you want on the lake. It’s like driving a remote control car. The boats have a rubber bumper all around them and you can bump the other boaters if you can get close enough. Every boat is also equipped with a squirt gun so if someone gets close enough to bump you, they are close enough for you get them wet.
Tip – Most summer days in the Colorado mountains start with blue skies. The storms usually roll in after noon. You will want to do the bumper boats first for the best chance of good weather.
Bumper Boats Price and Restrictions
No weight or height restrictions for the bumper boats and kids under 4 years old are free. If you purchase the bumper boat online it is $13 and $15 at the ticket booth.
Zip Line
The zip line takes you from one side of the lake to the other and through the water feature in the middle. There is no age limit to ride the zip line but you have to be 50 pounds. Eli doesn’t weigh enough to ride it so none of us tried it out. It did look like a lot of fun. There were people constantly using it when we were on the lake. The Copper Mountain Website says it is a two-person zip line but I never saw more than one person go at a time.
Zip Line Price and Restrictions
No age limit but must weigh 50 pounds. One ride is $13 online and $15 at the ticket booth.
Other Available Copper Mountain Summer Activities
We didn’t try any of these activities but they all looked like fun and are definitely worth mentioning.
Go Carts
Copper Mountain sets up a wonderful Go Cart Track in the summer. They are really fast so kids are required to be 56 inches tall to drive (Eli didn’t want to try them because he couldn’t drive). Kids need to be at least four years old to even ride as a passenger. I’m sure we’ll be back to try these out when Eli is tall enough to drive.
One ride is $13 if you buy online and $15 if you buy at the ticket booth.
Climbing Wall
Copper Mountain has what they claim to be the highest outdoor climbing wall in Colorado. The employees will outfit you with ropes and harnesses for your climb and direct you to a route that fits your climbing abilities.
Kids under 4 are free so it might be worth it to check it out if you have little ones who are interested in climbing. The price for everyone else for one climb is $13 online and $15 at the ticket booth.
Bungee Trampoline
The Bungee trampolines are so much fun for both kids and adults. You are strapped into a harness connected to two bungee cords that allow you to jump incredibly high. We’ve tried these before just not at Copper Mountain.
You must be at least 30 pounds and under 200 pounds to participate. The cost is $13 online and $15 at the ticket booth.
Bike Rentals
Bike rentals aren’t included in the activity pass at Copper Mountain but you can rent them there. There is an amazing bike path passing through Copper Mountain. You can ride all the way to Vail in one direction or Frisco in the other. Both ways are beautiful but also difficult with a steep uphill one way.
Conclusion
Whether you are planning a weekend getaway or just stopping for a few hours, Copper Mountain in the Summer is well worth a visit.
Have you been to Copper Mountain in the summer? If so, feel free to leave a comment. I’d love to hear about your experience.
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