See updated Ultimate Colorado Family Ski Vacation Guide 2022/23.
Colorado family skiing is back! COVID restrictions have complicated many things (including last year’s ski season) but we’re happy for some sense of normalcy for planning your Colorado winter vacation! Scroll down for insider tips on Colorado’s best outdoor ice skating and sledding hills.
Mile High Mamas is a top resource for planning your Colorado family ski trip. A few years ago, we launched the Colorado Family Ski Guide that focuses exclusively on families–from daily lift ticket prices to the cost of childcare to where to get the best deals. But we’ve taken it one step further! Click the hyperlink for each resort name below for more in-depth details including additional deals, at what ages kids ski free, lessons, family-friendly activities, area attractions for playtime off the slopes and more.
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!
Colorado’s Best Snowshoeing and Nordic Skiing for Families
Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are our famiy’s favorite ways to explore! Many of Colorado’s backcountry and State and National Parks offer groomed trails and exciting terrain for snow sports, so pack your gear and use our guide to the best snowshoeing and cross-country skiing trails for families in Colorado.
Colorado Family Ski Vacation Guide
This is just the basic information you’ll need to get started for your Colorado family ski vacation. To give you a true taste of Colorado’s winter, follow our adventures as we visit area resorts this season in our ski section and look for the 
button below for our fun insider tips and informative narratives. Book Colorado’s ski resorts early and online for the best rates! Note: Many of the resort childcare center openings are undetermined during COVID. Check with the resort website for the latest information.
Colorado Family Ski Directory 2021/22
| Resort | Adult | Kids | Childcare | Ski/Ride School | Deals |
| Arapahoe Basin Ski Area | $109 | $79 (ages 15-18) $59 (ages 6-14); Kids 5 and under ski free every day. | No. | Kids class lessons start at $160 for half-day, $180 for full-day. Available for kids of all ability levels, age 3 and up. | Arapahoebasin.com. Check out their Snowsports and hot deals pages. |
| Aspen Highlands | $174 | $120; kids 6 and under ski free | No on-site childcare | Ski and ride school for children ages 5-6 and 7-12. Rates start at $230. | aspensnowmass.com; Kids Ski Free program for kids ages 7-12. Details: (800) 290-1326
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| Aspen Mountain | $174 | $120; kids 6 and under ski free | No on-site childcare | Private children’s ski and snowboard lessons offered on Aspen Mountain. Rates start at $615 for a half-day. | aspensnowmass.com;
Kids Ski Free program for kids ages 7-12. Details: (800) 290-1326 |
| Beaver Creek Resort
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$187* | $129* | Half-day $197; full-day $291) | Starts at $235+ | beavercreek.com |
| Breckenridge Ski Area
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$175* | $144* | On-site childcare starts at $140. Call for COVID updates. | Starting at $180.* | breckenridge.com |
| Buttermilk
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$174* | $120; kids 6 and under ski free | No on-site childcare | Starting at $230 | aspensnowmass.com; Kids Ski Free program for kids ages 7-12. Details: (800) 290-1326 |
| Crested Butte Mountain Resort
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$123* | Kids 4 and under ski free, Child (5-12): $71* | There is a nursery for 2 months to 3 years old. See website for rates. | Half-day lessons start at $154; full-day $199. | skicb.com deals. |
| Cooper | Chicago Ridge
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$90 | $70; kids 5 and under ski free | See website for rates. | Ages 7 and up $149 | Deals offered at local rental shops, lodges, and grocery stores. Best deals are at skicooper.com. |
| Copper Mountain Resort | $159* | Starting at $109. Children 5 and under ski/ride for free. | See website for updated rates. | Starting at $254. Pre-purchase most lessons online and save 20%! | Purchase your tickets at CopperColorado.com and save up to 53% on window prices. You’ll also find lodging steals and vacation packages. |
| Eldora Mountain Resort
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TBD | TBD | No on-site childcare | Group lesson starts at TBD | Eldora.com |
| Keystone Resort
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$146* | $85* | Starts at $160 for half-day; $250 for full-day | Pricing starts at $189 | Keystoneresort.com |
| Loveland Ski Area
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$89 | $35 – peak child (6-14) rate. Children 5 & under are free | Childcare is TBD for 2021/22. | Full-day lesson with lunch and lift ticket is $149. |
skiloveland.com for discount lift tickets. 4 lift tickets for just $199. |
| Monarch Mountain
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$89 | Teen (13-15) $59, Junior (7-12) $37, Children under 6, Free | The Children’s Center Rates: $50 half-day; $90 all-day | Starting at $140. | Monarch ski packages with lodging participants. skimonarch.com
|
| Powderhorn Mountain Resort | $84 | Youth (13-17) $74; Junior (7-12) $34; Child ( & Under) $19 | No on-site childcare | Half-day starts at $99; full day at $149. | powderhorn.com |
| Purgatory Resort | $83 | Teen (11-17) $75; Children 12 & under FREE | The Den offers childcare for children 8 weeks to 5 years old. Rates from $70. | A variety of programs are available for kids ages 4+; rates from $99 for half-day. Full-day $199. | Purgatory Resort’s website features deals on lodging packages that include discounts on lift tickets. PurgatoryResort.com |
| Ski Granby Ranch | $119 | $70. Kids 5 and under ski free | No on-site childcare. | Starting at $189. | GranbyRanch.com |
| Snowmass
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$174 | $120 | The Treehouse Kids Adventure Center. Rates start at $174. | Offered for kids ages 2-4, 5-6 and 7-12. Rates start at $230 for full day. | aspensnowmass.com; Kids Ski Free program for kids ages 7-12. Details: (800) 290-1326 |
| Steamboat Ski Area
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$225* | Child (ages 5-12): $155*. | Kids’ Vacation Center for ages 1-6: full-day $149. | Kids’ Vacation Center lessons start at age 3. Prices start at $239 with advanced online purchase. | www.steamboat.com or call 800-922-2722 |
| Sunlight Mountain Resort
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$67* | $40; 5 and under ski free | No. | Half-day group lesson $125; full-day with lunch $180. Includes equipment, lift ticket and lesson. | Kids 12 and under ski free. Affordable Ski, Swim Stay Packages with Glenwood Hot Springs. |
| Telluride Ski Resort | $195* | $106* (ages 6-12); Kids 5 and under ski free | For infants and toddlers, half-day is $110 and a full-day is $150. | Ski/Ride school starts at $105; Cubs Ski Lessons (ages 2 1/2 to 4) starts at $225. | tellurideskiresort.com |
| Vail | $187* | $129. Kids ages 4 and under ski free. | Small World Nursery offers daycare for children 2 months-6 years. The nursery will not open 2021-22. | The Vail Ski & Snowboard School lessons start at $197 for half-day; full-day is $291. | Visit Vail.com and purchase tickets 7 days in advance for best prices. |
| Winter Park Resort
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$163* | $108. Kids 4 and under ski free. | Childcare for kids 2 months to 6 years. See website for COVID restrictions. | Half-day starts at $139. | Call Winter Park Central Reservations for latest deals and special promos. 800-729-7907. winterparkresort.com |
| Wolf Creek Ski Area | $82 | $41. Kids 5 and under $6 | No | Starting at $110. | Visit wolfcreekski.com. |
Colorado’s Best Outdoor Skating
Sharpen those blades of glory: Colorado’s outdoor ice-skating rinks are open. Some rinks are cozy and family-oriented, like Lakewood’s Rink at Belmar where a couple of long glides can take a skater halfway around the ice. Go to larger rinks, like Keystone’s frozen lake, to find enough room to play hockey or twirl like a Disney on Ice star. Pro tip: Skate rentals can be pricy; you can usually find reasonably-priced skates at your local thrift store. Colorado’s Best Outdoor Skating
Best Places to Sled in Colorado
Nothing says quality social distancing like tubing down a steep hill. This year when the snow flies, consider seeking out a sled at one of these locations for some old-fashioned fun. There are a myriad of sledding hills–some public, some secret. Here are a handful of favorite sports. Some offer sled rentals: others are BYOS. Don’t miss the best sledding hills all over Colorado. If you’re looking for Denver’s best sledding, check-out the 11 best places to go sledding in Denver, Boulder and Beyond.
*Note: Mountain resort 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 Saturday, January 8, 2022 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.
Author: Mile High Mamas
