Mountain Layout—Skiing

If you use lifts as meeting places, pay attention to the American Eagle and American Flyer chairs. If you're meeting someone at the top of one of those chairs, be very specific: They start in the same general area but unload on different peaks.

Here is a larger, more detailed version of the Front Side trail map and the Back Bowls trail map.

EXPANDED TRAIL MAP & CHILDREN'S TRAIL MAP

Expert, Advanced: Copper's mountains are lofty with Union Peak reaching 12,313 feet, Tucker Mountain 12,337 feet and Copper Peak 12,441 feet. And there, in the high Alpine terrain, lie the double-black-diamond bowls. There's a lot to explore. We especially enjoyed the gnarly Tucker's hike-to glades and chutes and the Enchanted Forest's untouched powder. Extra added attraction: Jump in one of the snowcats for laps to the top of Tucker on a first-come, first-served basis. It's free (yes, you read that right). If you survive Spaulding Bowl, you can choose from several very worthy runs to the bottom of the Resolution chair where there's seldom a wait. The consistently good snow in Union Bowl under the Sierra lift gets even better when you hike to the top of the cirque. Not always so with Copper Bowl on the backside of Union Peak. Its slopes are south-facing so ask around before you dive in. It could be either ugly or divine. The Super Bee six-pack accesses all terrain on the East Village side, including the relentless bumps on Far East, Too Much and Triple Treat under the Alpine lift. On a powder day, these runs are a real hoot! Be ready for the long trek out if the Alpine double lift isn't running. From the top of Super Bee you can slide down any of three short-but-sweet runs that parallel the Excelerator quad. Brennan's Grin will bring a smile to the face of any serious bump skier. [TOP]

Intermediate: Exit to the right of the American Flyer quad and zip down American Flyer, The Moz and Windsong, all wide groomed runs under the Timberline Express lift. After fresh snow, Copperfields gives a good challenge with perfectly placed, soft bumps. If you like trees, there are many places here to jump in, but be wary that some are thick. A stash of delightful unmarked woods under the American Flyer can be reached by taking High Point and bearing left before the steep pitch. It has nicely spaced trees all the way to Timberline Express. Darting down any of the runs under the American Eagle quad will peg the fun meter, but beware that Main Vein and Bouncer seem to be the busiest. Off the Super Bee chair, try Andy's Encore, a worthy intermediate highway. Collage is also on this side of the mountain and has a few fun steep pitches. Or duck off Collage into 17 Glade—the farther right you go, the more open it gets. To avoid lifts at the area's base, take Excelerator on the upper mountain for a quick set of laps. Trails such as Ptarmigan are wide, consistent runs back to the chair. The bowls at Copper all offer "easier" ways down and it will make your visit memorable. But think before you go. It's best if you're able to handle advanced terrain and conditions. Union Bowl is the ideal option because you'll find intermediate terrain and snow here is consistently good. The Spaulding Bowl dumps out into the Resolution area, which has steep and relentless bump runs down to the lift—if you don't like moguls, you won't have fun here. Copper Bowl can get nasty with weather. And you need to be careful about windblown areas in any of the bowls. [TOP]

Beginner, First-timer: From the Village hop on the high-speed American Flyer (don't confuse it with the American Eagle) and make your way over to the runs at Union Creek. Most of this whole side of the mountain consists of sweeping runs, perfect for the experienced beginner. For long runs to the bottom, from the American Flyer take Coppertone, an easy cruise. From both American Flyer and the High Point lifts, work your way to the Timberline Express quad chair, ride to the top and ski the delightful Soliloquy to Roundabout to the bottom. You also can take the Rendezvous lift up top and enjoy the views while cruising Wheeler Creek and Union Park. Picnic tables provide plenty of opportunities to rest and check out the scenery. Avoid the Sierra lift here—it serves only blacks and blues. Copper Mountain is a first-timer's dream mountain. The learning and beginner terrain is naturally separated from the gonzo's terrain on the other side. The Village at Copper and Union Creek both have areas served by moving carpets for those first few times on snow. Once you're comfortable on your gear, the Kokomo chair in the Union Creek area serves a super gentle, isolated area. When you have these runs conquered, the next step is the nearby Lumberjack lift, another chair with only beginner runs beneath it. [TOP]