Shortly after I moved to Colorado 17 years ago, I attended a family reunion at YMCA of the Rockies Estes Park where we delved into all the awesome things they had to offer–from mountain biking to fly fishing & ziplining to roller skating, mini-golf, swimming and hiking. I have since become one of the biggest advocates for YMCA of the Rockies Estes Park and their Snow Mountain Ranch location for being Colorado’s most affordable and fun family vacations.
And it’s not just during the summer!
YMCA of the Rockies will hold the 4th Annual Mountaineering Weekend from February 14-17, 2020. Whether it’s your first time out, or your family has camped in national parks many times, this special event has activities and excursions for every level.
Located just 10-minutes outside of Estes Park, on 800+ acres bordering Rocky Mountain National Park, YMCA of the Rockies offers families an easy mountain getaway without the ski crowds of I-70. Mountaineering Weekend is a wonderful time to visit with many special activities on-site such as ice-anchor and ice climbing demonstrations, winter survival presentations, snow caves, ice broomball games, and a fascinating keynote by Quinn Brett, an experienced alpine climber and Rocky Mountain National Park ranger, technical rescuer and first responder.
Mountaineering Weekend activities are free for overnight guests, or day passes are available for $25/person. All ongoing activities at YMCA of the Rockies will be available such as ice skating on a natural pond, guided snowshoe hikes into Rocky Mountain National Park, sledding (new this year!), indoor rock climbing, rollerskating, and more.
Cabins ranging from 2-4 bedrooms start at $109/night, and lodge rooms are available starting at $89/night, including two free breakfasts. Most rooms and cabins are TV-free too, providing an unplugged experience for your family, and no meal planning for mom and dad with access to the buffet-style dining hall for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Registration and lodging for Mountaineering Weekend is available at https://bit.ly/35V1vWj or by calling 888-613-9622.
Author: Amber Johnson
Amber is the founder and editor of Mile High Mamas, travel writer and former columnist for The Denver Post. She is a passionate community builder and loves the outdoors. She has two awesome teens and is happily married to a man obsessed with growing The Great Pumpkin.
