The 8 Best Family-Friendly Ski Resorts in Colorado
Top Colorado Family Ski Resorts
As a Colorado native, I’ve had the chance to explore the best family-friendly ski resorts in the state. Growing up here, I had the opportunity to ski all over this great state. The Colorado Rockies stand out as a haven for exceptional skiing. Taking your kids on a ski vacation in Colorado presents a wonderful opportunity, with an abundance of offerings to explore during the winter season. In this blog post, we will explore my top six favorite ski resorts in the state that are also family-friendly, ensuring you have the best vacation with your kids.
1. Vail Ski Resort
Vail Resorts stands out as a premier ski destination in the Rocky Mountains, offering an inviting atmosphere for families. My favorite part about Vail is its European ambiance, with charming chalets and cobblestone streets. Recognized for its family-friendly environment in Colorado, Vail is not only a picturesque destination but also a haven for those seeking a memorable skiing experience.
One note though about Vail, is it’s large! For beginners and for families just unfamiliar with the terrain this may be overwhelming.
Vail has epic skiing sprawled across 5,317 acres and stands as one of the world’s largest mountains and Colorado’s grandest. Being pretty accessible from Denver, it’s a great option for families. It’s just about an hour and 40-minute drive, but consider a weekday visit to steer clear of weekend traffic. A bonus, if you want to mountain hop, there are several resorts near Vail, Copper Mountain, and Beaver Creek are great options for family skiing as well.
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Family Ski Lessons
Vail Resorts provides numerous opportunities for families to learn and enjoy skiing together. They offer diverse options such as kids’ camps, private family lessons, and ski and snowboard school programs tailored for both children and adults.
For information on Ski Lessons at Vail Click Here
2. Steamboat Springs
Another spot that can take the title of one of the best ski destinations in Colorado, is Steamboat Springs. First off, Steamboat stands out with its unparalleled snowfall, aka “champagne powder,” and has coined the nickname “Ski Town USA”. The town exudes charm with a distinct Western ambiance. Additionally, Steamboat is a training hub for numerous Olympians. It is considered one of the finest mountains suitable for both beginners and experts alike. I learned to ski in Steamboat as I grew up here. From my experience, I can say this mountain is great for kids just starting.
Steamboat recently introduced a state-of-the-art gondola and another gondola known as the Wild Blue. The Wild Blue Gondola is the longest in North America and the fastest 10-person gondola in the country.
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Ski Lessons
Steamboat Ski Resort has a dedicated Ski & Snowboard School for all members of a family that offers lessons for all ages and skill levels. They provide group lessons, private lessons, and specialty clinics. Group lessons are typically divided based on age and ability, ensuring a tailored learning experience.
Information on Ski Lessons in Steamboat
Steamboat also offers activities for non-skiers as well. A recent addition includes an ice rink situated at the mountain’s base. Additionally, the renowned Strawberry Park Natural Hot Springs is a must-see spot. The hot springs provide an excellent opportunity to relax in natural hot springs within a majestic setting
Steamboat is about a 3-hour drive from Denver but the scenery is fantastic along the way. You can also get direct flights into Steamboat from many locations.
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3. Keystone Ski Resort
Keystone is among my favorite mountains and one of Colorado’s best family ski resorts. One bonus is the mountain is near Breckenridge and Vail (among other resorts) and is a brief 1 hour and 27-minute picturesque drive from Denver. Considered a great mountain for new skiers, Keystone caters to families and beginning and intermediate skiers. Adding to the excitement, Keystone introduced its new high-speed six-passenger chairlift.
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Ski Lessons
Keystone Resort provides a diverse range of lessons, including group and private sessions, children’s and teen programs, Women’s clinics, and Adaptive Ski lessons for individuals with disabilities. As a family-friendly ski destination, Keystone also offers lessons tailored for the whole family. Also, at the top of Dercum Mountain, you will find the world’s largest snow forts and snow tubing which is a lot of fun for the kids to do and take a break from skiing.
Click here for information on Ski Lessons for Families
Another great thing about Keystone is it’s located in the Summit County area. Summit Couty offers numerous lodging options and a variety of activities in the vicinity including the town of Frisco. Frisco is a picturesque town where families can enjoy a tubing hill, sleigh rides, and a great village with amazing restaurants. Also, the views here are stunning! Lake Dillion surrounds Summit County and is my favorite lake in the state. Lastly, Keystone also boasts a fantastic ice rink situated on a frozen lake. As a result, this provides a delightful alternative to skiing.
As a bonus, Keystone is right near Arapahoe Basin ski resort which is known for its extended season which stays open into June and casual atmosphere. Arapahoe Basin has more challenging terrain which is why it’s not listed in my top family resorts.
4. Breckenridge Ski Resort
Breckenridge is another great family-friendly resort and another one of the best ski areas in Colorado. First off, Breckenridge is a picturesque town with charming shops and restaurants, complemented by an extraordinary ski mountain.
The Breck ski mountain is colossal. It features three base areas, Five Peaks, and an expansive terrain covering nearly 3,000 acres. Breck is part of an entire mountain range, showcasing Peaks 6 through 10 within Colorado’s majestic Ten Mile Range.
Lift tickets to Breckenridge
Breckenridge, similar to other resorts, provides a variety of lesson options catering to children, teens, and adults. Additionally, they offer family lessons, providing an opportunity for families to learn and enjoy skiing together. Breckenridge is widely acknowledged as a kid-friendly ski resort, not only owing to its outstanding ski school programs but also due to its charming town, family-oriented activities, and welcoming atmosphere.
Click here for information on Breckenridge’s Ski and Snowboarding School
The town of Breckenridge is genuinely small and a somewhat unconventional old mining town. For non-skiing fun, it has excellent shops, accommodation, and dining choices situated near the resort. Additionally, there is a quaint river going through the town, and has an amazing concert hall. The Riverwalk Center is where you can spend your evening enjoying some of the best Orchestras around.
Another fun activity in the winter is the annual International Snow Sculpture Championships (ISS) . This event occurs during the end of January and the first week of February (2024 dates are Jan 23 – Feb 1). This competition draws artists and spectators from near and far to marvel at the carvings crafted entirely from one of our favorite things: snow!
5. Winter Park Resort
About 1 hour and 40 minutes drive from Denver, you’ll find Winter Park. Winter Park is another charming family-friendly Colorado ski area offering a ton of activities for children. From skiing, tubing, and ice skating or even riding a snowcat, Winter Park ensures a memorable family vacation. Renowned for its family-friendly atmosphere, the ski area caters to all skill levels. Encompassing over 3,000 skiable acres spread across two distinct mountains, Winter Park predominantly features beginner and intermediate trails.
Additionally, Mary Jane Mountain, within Winter Park, stands out with its exceptional tree skiing, world-class moguls, and expansive alpine bowls. Winter Park provides a diverse range of terrains to suit every preference, making it an ideal destination for a family winter getaway.
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Winter Park provides comprehensive ski and snowboard programs specifically designed for children, emphasizing a fun and engaging learning experience while prioritizing safety. The resort also offers specialized skills clinics that allow participants to concentrate on expanding their skills in areas such as bump or tree skiing, as well as lessons tailored for women. Winter Park maintains a family-friendly atmosphere with a welcoming and helpful staff.
Click here for information on ski lessons in Winter Park
6. Copper Mountain
Copper Mountain, located in Summit County, is approximately 1 hour and 18-minute drive from Denver. Copper Mountain is conveniently near Breckenridge, Keystone, and Vail, Copper Mountain is renowned as a family-friendly ski resort, making it exceptionally well-suited for kids. The resort features a unique year-round training facility known as Woodward Copper, providing a fun and secure environment for children to learn various action sports, including skiing and snowboarding. The Woodward Copper Center comprises a network of featured terrain zones that collectively offer a well-balanced variety of exciting on-mountain experiences for individuals of all ages and abilities.
Lift tickets to Copper Mountain
Ski Lessons
Copper Mountain provides a comprehensive range of ski lessons, including adult and youth group lessons, private lessons, and family lessons. Additionally, they offer Woodward Private lessons designed for intermediate skiers/riders and above, serving as a stepping stone in progressing terrain park skills. Copper Mountain has other unique lesson offerings—please refer to their website for more information.
Click here for more information on Ski lessons at Copper
Additionally, for non-skiing activities, Copper Mountain has so many options for family fun. They have a Rocky Mountain Alpine coaster that’s open in the winter and summer, they have snow tubing, ice skating, a snow play and sledding zone, and a snow maze!
7. Beaver Creek
Beaver Creek is another one of Colorado’s great resorts for families. Beaver Creek is known as more of a luxury ski resort. While it’s family-friendly, it also offers upscale hotels, dining options, and a truly charming village atmosphere.
Beaver Creek is great in that it has a designated adventure zone on the mountain with interactive features like tunnels, sculptures, and learning tools. These make the skiing experience fun and engaging for children. Beaver Creek is also smaller than resorts such as Vail, which makes it a bit easier for families to drop their kids off at ski school and get down the mountain more quickly to meet up for lunch.
Click here for lift tickets to Beaver Creek
Beaver Creek offers a range of lessons for kids and beginners, including both private and group lessons. They also provide terrain-based learning, which involves learning in a progressive and adaptive environment. The resort has an excellent children’s program for both skiing and snowboarding.
Click here for information on Ski Lessons
Outside of the ski slopes, the main village features an outdoor ice skating rink, sleigh rides, and other winter activities that families can enjoy together.
8. Aspen
Aspen Snowmass is a luxury resort and the collective name for the four mountains in the area (Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk, and Snowmass). Out of the four mountains in Aspen, Buttermilk is typically considered the best for beginners because of the variety of gentle slopes that are well-suited for novices. Buttermilk also has dedicated learning areas and beginner zones.
Each mountain provides excellent ski and snowboarding schools with programs that cater to children of various ages and skill levels. In addition, each mountain has dedicated learning areas for beginners, providing easy slopes for those just learning to ski or snowboard.
Aspen is beautiful, the mountains, the town, and the ski resorts are amazing places to visit. Families can enjoy the stunning scenery, world-class skiing, and a variety of activities both on and off the slopes. Remember that Aspen’s reputation for luxury can be reflected in accommodation prices, but there are also options for varying budgets.
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