The easiest slopes are wide and gentle and are split down the middle with an aspen glade called The Enchanted Forest that is riddled with child-size trails. The eastern trails are harder, with steep moguled runs and, to the far east, Sunlight Extreme. It provides Colorado s steepest inbounds skiing, with one ledge that is twice as steep as the average U.S. expert slope. Snowboarders have access to all Sunlight slopes, but a new snowboard park east of the base lodge has quarter-turns, camel bumps, rail slides and other obstacles. The center has two warming huts, rental and instruction services.
Trails are exceptionally wide, with a skating lane in the middle.
A rustic backcountry cabin is available for overnight use. The White River National Forest Office in Glenwood has information and maps on other backcountry skiing, 945-2421. The sheer, spectacular walls of Glenwood Canyon make for incredible scenery but difficult access to the surrounding national forest. The White River National Forest Office in Glenwood Springs, 945-2521, has information and maps on backcountry skiing near Sunlight. The trail to the Shrine Mountain Inn follows the road from Vail Pass to the summit of Shrine Pass, then turns southwest into the woods, following a trail .3 mile to the inn.