Forest Service Seeks Comment on Colorado Ski Area Lift Project

The US Forest Service is seeking public comment on the planned replacement of Sunlight Mountain Resort, Colorado’s Primo lift. The lift, a 1960s-era double, is slated to be replaced by a modern quad that, according to Sunlight, will increase uphill capacity and ensure lift lines remain short.

Primo’s current capacity is 1,200 skiers per hour. If upgraded, it’ll ferry 1,500 skiers per hour uphill. “Before any work on the ground can begin, the Forest Service needs to complete an environmental review of this proposal,” said Aspen-Sopris District Ranger Kevin Warner. “Public comments about this proposal are a key part of the environmental review.”

The proposed Primo lift upgrade is primarily on public land, and Sunlight operates within the White River National Forest via special use permit. “What’s most helpful for me is that if people comment on the proposed action, specific facts, concerns, issues, or supporting reasons that we should consider,” Monte Lutterman, a Mountain Resorts permit administrator in the Aspen Sopris Ranger District, told The Aspen Times late last month regarding a public comment solicitation for a planned project at Aspen Snowmass.

So far, the Primo lift public comment period has generated one suggestion—the new lift should go all the way to the base of Sunlight. The lift’s current alignment puts it about one-third of the way up the ski area. A Forest Service press release noted that the new lift is set to be constructed within this pre-existing lift corridor and alignment. Minor changes to the upper and lower lift terminals are planned, too.

According to the Forest Service, comments received by October 17th, 2024, will be most helpful. If approved, work on the Primo lift would begin in the summer of 2025 alongside planned upgrades to the Segundo lift. The latter project has already been approved and involves replacing Segundo—the oldest operational lift in Colorado—with a triple. The two lift replacements mark Sunlight's largest investments ever.

“We are excited about the increased capacity and efficiency these new lifts will bring while also honoring the legacy of Segundo, a beloved fixture of our mountain for over 50 years,” a spokesperson for Sunlight noted in a press release. “Our goal is to offer an incredible and personalized experience, ensuring that while our infrastructure evolves, the essence of Sunlight remains unchanged.” To honor Segundo’s tenure ahead of its replacement, Sunlight will host special activities and promotions this coming winter.
Public comments regarding the Primo Lift can be submitted by clicking this link.

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