Keystone Resort Vacation Rentals: Mountain House Vs River Run Base Areas
Keystone Resort, Colorado is home to world-class ski terrain, amazing restaurants, affordable cat skiing, three mountain peaks, and is one of the few resorts in Colorado that offers night skiing, making it one of the longer ski days, offering visitors a great bang for their buck. It’s also home to Kidtopia, a festival where kids can have a blast, taking part in fun activities designed just for them, including visiting and playing in a huge mountaintop snow fort! Not to mention the countless other winter activities to enjoy such as 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, located in a valley at the foot of the mountain. The mountain itself is made up of three separate peaks that align from north to south; Dercum, North Peak and Outback, each with their own unique terrain and features. Dercum Mountain is the farthest peak to the north and its front portion 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 village, where both the gondola and the Summit Express chairlift pick you up and take you to the top of Dercum Mountain. This town has a pedestrian-only walking area with lots of cute boutiques, ski rental shops, cafes, and restaurants. There is an outdoor night ski check near the gondola and restrooms and lockers inside the season pass and ticketing office. The only thing this base area really lacks is a central ‘ski lodge’, but it’s made up for by plenty of restaurants within easy reach of the slopes. The Kickapoo Tavern is a fun place to grab lunch or an après ski beer, with a great outdoor patio overlooking the slopes. Some fun features of River Run Village are the outdoor ice rink at Dercum Square, the various statues throughout the village, the many unique shops, and an outdoor gas fire pit, which is perfect for warming up on a day cold. There are a bevy of River Run lodging options that are within a few feet of the gondola, 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 Timbers, which are actually just across the Snake River Bridge, just past the gondola and then up the slopes just a few feet from the Village.
Both bases house ski schools, ski 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 and summit gondola stop near the Schoolmarm. Although you won’t find the pedestrian “mall” area here with the same shopping and dining options as River Run, you will find the Mountain House to be a true ski resort base area complete with a lodge with indoor lockers, a cafe, a bar , ski shop and bathrooms; satisfying the needs of any skier. You will also find a lift ticket office here at the base near the two chairlifts, 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 up.
Accommodation prices at Mountain House tend to be a bit lower than at River Run, while offering most of the same amenities. Chateaux DuMont properties are very popular and unique, most featuring a private hot tub overlooking the hillside! 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 just a short drive up the mountain at a fraction of the cost. If you feel the need to go through the main town, just ski or take a shuttle!
There are also many accommodation options outside of the two main towns. Settler’s Creek in East Keystone is one of the newest and most popular housing developments in 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 heated pool, hot tub, pool table, grill, and gathering area for hosting 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 countywide free transit system known as Summit Stage that makes it very easy to get around in the high country without a car. Denver International Airport is only 90 minutes away and there are numerous shuttle companies that will take you to and from the airport.
If you’re willing to stay outside of the main Keystone towns, you can often find better deals and prices on your lodging. Be sure to choose a property management company that allows you to choose the exact property you’ll be staying at 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.