About Sunlight Mountain

OUR HISTORY

The Early Days

Sunlight Mountain was officially founded in 1966 by a group of local enthusiasts and investors who wanted to create a family-friendly, accessible ski area near Glenwood Springs, Colorado.

The early days of Sunlight began operation on a mixture of private and national forest land, and relied heavily on local volunteer work. Before the official beginning of the resort, skiers in the early 20th century in Glenwood Springs used simple skis and snowshoes to enjoy the surrounding area in the winter.

As nationwide interest in skiing exploded in the 30s and 40s, the demand for accessible skiing hit the entire state, and in turn, Sunlight was founded. When Sunlight first opened, the mountain consisted of only 1 lift and a few runs.

Throughout the decades, more trails and lifts were added to the mountain.

OUR MISSION

Sunlight is more than a resort; it’s a community. We value connection, communication, and a fun, authentic vibe that makes everyone feel at home. Together, we take ownership, support one another, and deliver experiences that make every day on the mountain meaningful.

The Trail Ahead

Our Future

Sunlight provides over 740 acres and 77 runs of skiing for all skill levels of skiers and riders.

Along with being a family-owned, family-friendly and affordable resort, Sunlight also offers the third steepest run and the most expert terrain by percentage of any ski resort in the entire state of Colorado.

In the summer of 2025, Sunlight underwent the biggest investment in the resort’s history: removing the two iconic centerpole chairlifts and replacing them with modern chairlifts. This milestone significantly improved the skier experience from a standpoint of safety, comfortability, and accessibility.

However, shiny new lifts will not deter the original vision and mission of Sunlight: to provide an experience that is consistent with what skiing “used to be” amidst a day and age of corporatization and money-grabbing.

We are committed to providing big mountain skiing with small mountain vibes for anyone who can’t justify the massive price tags of the mega-resorts.

Would you like to learn more about Sunlight’s history? If so, click here!