Colorado day trip Copper, Winter Park or Eldora?

We are headed out to Colorado spending several days at Steamboat with our Max pass. Plan on spending the first night in Denver as our flight gets in late then skiing either Copper, Winter Park or Eldora. Probably will end up not skiing a full day and with getting used to altitude and we are looking for a cruising day, this will be a weekday so crowds should not be a big factor. We have not been to any of the 3 areas.

Winter Park is directly on the way to Steamboat but seems like it may be a hassle to park and find a place to boot up from some online comments I have seen? not really enthused with walking long distances the first day at high altitude. Anyone been there for a day trip recently and can report?

Eldora is the biggest detour but looks like it may the least hassle as it seems to definitely be a day area.

Copper I am not sure about but so far seem to have gotten less snow than the others.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

xWeatherMan wrote

We are headed out to Colorado spending several days at Steamboat with our Max pass. Plan on spending the first night in Denver as our flight gets in late then skiing either Copper, Winter Park or Eldora. Probably will end up not skiing a full day and with getting used to altitude and we are looking for a cruising day, this will be a weekday so crowds should not be a big factor. We have not been to any of the 3 areas.

Winter Park is directly on the way to Steamboat but seems like it may be a hassle to park and find a place to boot up from some online comments I have seen? not really enthused with walking long distances the first day at high altitude. Anyone been there for a day trip recently and can report?

Eldora is the biggest detour but looks like it may the least hassle as it seems to definitely be a day area.

Copper I am not sure about but so far seem to have gotten less snow than the others.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

Eldora is lame, so, no.

Can't really address the Winter Park walking thing, since I haven't been there in a while.

Now, Copper is pretty quick and convenient skiing wise, although a bit out of your way on the way to Steamboat, but, not too far. All you have to do is go back east to Silverthorne, a few exits, and drive north from there to Steamboat. Just park in the free main lot at Copper, boot up, and take the shuttle to the base with the Super Bee lift. I love that lift for maximizing your day. A speedy six pack that offers cruisers right below it, and easy access to tougher stuff n either side. I've spent a few hours just skiing that lift, and was happy. You can access the American Flyer stuff over at the main base pretty easily, and get back quickly, but, there's a shuttle back to the parking lot from both the American Flyer main base and the Super Bee.
Also, if you're so inclined, you can park in a free lot or space along the Main Street in Frisco, and there is a bus that runs up and down that street pretty frequently that goes straight over to the two base chairlifts at Copper, again, free. That way, you'll be in Frisco on the way back for lunch, and then you're just one exit up the highway from the Silverthorne exit and the road to Steamboat. Easy.