Aspen Highlands – Colorado Family Ski Vacation

Photo: Scott Markewitz

Photo: Scott Markewitz

Big days at Aspen Highlands always include the steep, big-mountain skiing in Highland Bowl, laps on Deep Temerity and a check for hidden powder stashes on Olympic Bowl. Top it all off with some intermediate cruisers such as Upper Robinson’s and Pyramid Park off the Cloud Nine lift.

Best Gear for Keeping Families Warm. There are plenty of places to cut corners and save money on Colorado’s ski slopes but having quality gear is not among them. Our must-haves include these Smartwool Merino 250 Base Layer Top and Bottoms, Hestra Classic 3-Finger Snow Glove (also available in junior sizes), Minus33 Merino Wool Balaclava, and Obermeyer’s I-Grow Ski Jackets and Pants which provide a simple way to lengthen the sleeves and cuffs of your child’s jackets and pants (our quickly-growing kids could wear them 2-3 seasons!) Columbia has a similar line of expandable winter jackets for kids. Nothing kills a good ski day like having a whining, cold child so be sure to have a bulk supply of hand warmers available (and you can even find rechargeable hand warmers that are like a portable pocket heater). 

Let it snow!

Aspen Highlands – Colorado Family Ski Vacation

Season dates and hours:

Aspen Mountain November 19, 2022-April 16, 2023
Snowmass November 19, 2022 -April 16, 2023
Aspen Highlands December 10, 2022 – April 9, 2023
Buttermilk December 17, 2022 – April 2, 2023

Area (acres)

1,040 acres

What family-friendly amenities does your resort offer? 

Bundle up and lace those skates up for a little glide around the rink. Aspen Snowmass offers both indoor and outdoor skating facilities for everyone’s enjoyment. The Lewis Ice Arena at the ARC is a state-of-the-art, Olympic-size sheet of ice with full programs for all abilities. The Aspen Ice Garden is located in town at the corner of Hyman and 2nd Street. For outdoor skating the Silver Circle Ice Skating Rink is located across from Rubey Park at the base of Aspen Mountain.

Adult lift ticket prices?

$204*

Child lift ticket prices and at what age kids ski free?

$144*. Children 6 and under ski free and kids 7-12 can take advantage of a Kids Ski Free Package

Is there on-site childcare and if so, what is the starting cost?

 There is no childcare but both Buttermilk and Snowmass have exceptional services and there is free transportation to them.

What is the starting cost of ski/ride school? 

Prices vary but a full day starts at $269. 

Where can families go for deals on lift tickets/lodging or special promotions?

All mountain discounts can be found at https://www.aspensnowmass.com/plan-your-stay/packages-and-deals

What area (off-mountain) activities would appeal to families for their winter vacation? 

1.) Join a Naturalist at Aspen Center for Environmental Studies and enjoy a day out of your ski or snowboard boots. ACES Snowshoe walks and bird-watching can be enjoyed with the entire family. Start at the ACES center or from the top of Aspen or Snowmass Mountains and from the Ashcroft Ski Touring Center.  ACES is open daily and is located in the heart of Aspen on the 25-acre Hallam Lake Nature Preserve. (100 Puppy Smith St Aspen, CO (970) 925-5756) www.aspennature.org.

2.) Relax on the lazy river at the Aspen Recreation Center after you scale the 32-foot climbing wall. The ARC has an array of recreational activities that are sure to keep the whole family entertained. (0861 Maroon Creek Rd Aspen, CO (970) 544-4100) www.aspenrecreation.com

Distance from Denver

All mountains are roughly 200 miles

0076 Boomerang Rd.
Aspen, CO 81611
800-525-6200
www.aspensnowmass.com

*Note: Information and prices are subject to change and most resorts offer discounted rates if you purchase online seven days in advance. Many resorts do not publish a set lift ticket price. When compiling our list, we used the date January 10, 2023 as our base to compare prices. Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. While clicking these links won’t cost you extra money, they help us keep this site up and running. See our disclosure policy.