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Why You Should Visit Copper Mountain In The Summer

Colorado · August 18, 2019

Updated July 8, 2025

Copper Mountain has always been one of my favorite resorts to snowboard in the winter, but Copper Mountain in the summer is AMAZING!

Zip line at the end of the Wrecktangle obstacle course at Copper Mountain in the summer

The first summer Eli was big enough to try the Wrectangle, bumper boats, and the new Rocky Mountain Coaster, we went to check it out. We had so much fun on that first visit that we’ve been back many times since.

Ski resorts are just as much fun in the summer as 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

Copper Mountain's Burning stones plaza in the summer time

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 is also a great 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.

Disclosure- Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Lodging

There are lots of lodging options right in Copper Mountain’s village so everything will be within walking distance. You can usually find good deals in the summer.

Copper Springs Lodge has a great location and a nice sauna and hot tub.

Elk Run Condos are also in a great location with awesome views.

Because there are so many privately-owned condos in Copper Mountain, VRBO is a great website to find the perfect vacation rental.

Parking

Ten Mile Lot at Copper Mountain with a sign about free parking in the summer

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 great BBQ at Eagle BBQ. But you pay for the convenience of eating at Copper Mountain.

If you aren’t staying in Copper Mountain and 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. If you buy a day pass you will get 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. There are no names on the passes so they are completely transferrable.

Visit Copper Mountain’s website for current deals and prices.

You can also purchase each activity individually.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

Summer in Copper Mountain - Eli on the climbing wall inside the 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.

Boy inside the Wrecktangle ninja coiurse in Copper Mountain Colorado

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 Restrictions-

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. You can either hike around at the top or 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.

Scenic Chair Lift Rides/Mountain Bike Haul Restrictions

There are absolutely no age or weight restrictions to ride the chair lift to the top of Copper Mountain.

Rocky Mountain Coaster

The Rocky Mountain Coaster at Copper Mountain in the Summer

The Rocky Mountain Coaster is one of the fastest mountain coasters in the United States. It can reach a speed of up to 25 miles an hour!

Riding an individual roller coaster car through the beautiful Colorado forest is an epic experience. The top isn’t visible from where you start and the coaster seemed to keep going up and up and up.

It is a rush speeding down the mountain and around the hairpin turns. Each car has brakes so you can control how fast or slow you go on the way down.

Copper Mountain ski resort in Colorado in the summer

Rocky Mountain Coaster Restrictions

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 on west lake at copper mountain in the summer

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 Restrictions

No weight or height restrictions for the bumper boats.

Zip Line

The zip line takes you from one side of the lake to the other and through the water feature in the middle. We never had a chance to ride the zip line but it looked 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 Restrictions

No age limit but rider must weigh 50 pounds.

Other Available Copper Mountain Summer Activities

We didn’t try any of these activities but they all looked like fun and are worth mentioning.

Go-Karts

Copper Mountain sets up a great Go-Kart Track in the summer. They are really fast so kids are required to be 56 inches tall to drive. Kids need to be at least four years old to even ride as a passenger.

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.

Bungee Trampoline

Trampoline at Copper Mountain

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.

You must be at least 30 pounds and under 200 pounds to participate.

Bike Rentals

Bike rentals aren’t included in the activity pass at Copper Mountain, but they are available to rent. 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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We are a family of three who recently moved to the Big Island of Hawaii after living high in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado for many years. Ever since our son Eli was born, we have tried to take advantage of every opportunity to travel as a family. We’ve found spending time together without the distractions of day-to-day life to be invaluable. Here is …

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