Echo Mountain ski resort in Clear Creek County will open to the public Dec. 10, according to its website.

The small ski hill off Colorado 103 above Idaho Springs claims on its website to be “Denver’s closest year-round resort.”

It closed to public skiing in 2012 when Nora Pykkonen purchased the 226-acre ski hill for use as a ski-racing training facility for school-aged racers.

“By opening the mountain to the public, we hope to extend our hours of operation and broaden our educational opportunities,” the resort’s website reads. “But don’t worry, we are still offering the highest quality ski racing education in Colorado.”

Echo Mountain will continue to be the home of the Front Range Ski Club.

The latest resort map shows two intermediate-level ski runs and two beginner-level runs, as well as two terrain-based learning areas.

“Terrain based learning makes learning to ski or snowboard easier and more fun,” the website says.

The site advertises single day passes for $49 and beginner lessons for $79. A season pass will go up in price from $159 to $259 after Dec. 10.

Josie Klemaier: 303-954-2465, jklemaier@denverpost.com or twitter.com/JosieKlemaier