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Children / Colorado Livin' / Family Travel / Ski

Ultimate Colorado Family Ski Vacation Guide 2022/23

Family ski guide Colorado

Don’t miss the ultimate Colorado family ski vacation guide for 2022/23–from fun on the slopes and off the slopes as well. 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 snowshoeing

Colorado’s Best Snowshoeing and Nordic Skiing for Families

Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are our family’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 momreview button below for our fun insider tips and informative narratives. Book Colorado’s ski resorts early and online for the best rates!

Colorado Family Ski Directory 2022/23

Resort Adult Kids Childcare Ski/Ride School Deals
Arapahoe Basin Ski Area $99 $79 (ages 15-18) $59 (ages 6-14); Kids 5 and under ski free every day. No. Kids class lessons start at $180 for half-day. Available for kids of all ability levels, age 3 and up. Arapahoebasin.com. Check out their Snowsports and hot deals pages.
Aspen Highlands $204 $144; 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 $269. aspensnowmass.com; Kids Ski Free program for kids ages 7-12. Details:  (800) 290-1326

 

Aspen Mountain $204 $144; 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

momreview

$208*  $144*  Half-day $217 Starts at $279. beavercreek.com
Breckenridge Ski Area

momreview

$186*  $121* On-site childcare starts at $215.   Starting at $230.* breckenridge.com
Buttermilk

momreview

$204* $144; kids 6 and under ski free No on-site childcare  Starting at $242 aspensnowmass.com; Kids Ski Free program for kids ages 7-12. Details:  (800) 290-1326
Crested Butte Mountain Resort

momreview

$119* Kids 4 and under ski free, Child (5-12): $69* There is a nursery for 2 months to 3 years old. See website for rates. Half-day lessons start at $172. skicb.com deals. 
Cooper | Chicago Ridge

 

 $95  $70; kids 5 and under ski free See website for rates. Ages 7 and up $179  Deals offered at local rental shops, lodges, and grocery stores. Best deals are at skicooper.com.
Copper Mountain Resort $159* Starting at $99. Children 5 and under ski/ride for free. See website for updated rates. Starting at $329.  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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$169* $129* No on-site childcare Group lesson starts at $249.  Eldora.com 
Keystone Resort

 

 $104* $55*  On-mountain childcare for ages 3+. See website  Pricing starts at $184  Keystoneresort.com
Loveland Ski Area

momreview

$99 $37 child (6-14) rate. Children 5 & under are free Half-day $70; full-day $95. Full-day lesson with lunch and lift ticket is $169. 

skiloveland.com for discount lift tickets.

 

Monarch Mountain

momreview

$104 Teen (13-15) $74, Junior (7-12) $64, Children under 6, Free The Children’s Center Rates: $69 half-day Starting at $109 for half-day. Monarch ski packages with lodging participants. skimonarch.com

 

Powderhorn Mountain Resort $79 Youth (6-12) $39 No on-site childcare Two-hour group lessons start at $129. 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 $130.  Starting at $129. Purgatory Resort’s website features deals on lodging packages that include discounts on lift tickets. PurgatoryResort.com
Ski Granby Ranch $99 $69. Kids 5 and under ski free No on-site childcare. Starting at $209. GranbyRanch.com
Snowmass

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$204 $144 The Treehouse Kids Adventure Center. Rates start at $204. Offered for kids ages 2-4, 5-6 and 7-12. Rates start at $269. aspensnowmass.com; Kids Ski Free program for kids ages 7-12. Details:  (800) 290-1326
Steamboat Ski Area

momreview

$187* Child (ages 5-12): $141*.  Kids’ Vacation Center for ages 1-6; see website for updated pricing. Kids full-day group lesson $309. www.steamboat.com or call 800-922-2722
Sunlight Mountain Resort

 

momreview

$59* $39; 12 and under ski free No.  2-hour lesson starts at $95. Kids 12 and under ski free. Affordable Ski, Swim Stay Packages with Glenwood Hot Springs.

SunlightMTN.com

Telluride Ski Resort $209* $106* (ages 6-12); Kids 5 and under ski free  For infants and toddlers, from $180. Ski/Ride school starts at $275.  tellurideskiresort.com
Vail  $208* $144. Kids ages 4 and under ski free.  Small World Nursery offers daycare for children 2 months-6 years.  The Vail Ski & Snowboard School lessons start at $210 for half-day. Visit Vail.com and purchase tickets 7 days in advance for best prices.
Winter Park Resort

momreview

$163* $101. Kids 4 and under ski free. Childcare for kids 2 months to 6 years.  See website for pricing.  Half-day starts at $209. Call Winter Park Central Reservations for latest deals and special promos.  800-729-7907. winterparkresort.com
Wolf Creek Ski Area  $85 $42. Kids 5 and under $6 No Starting at $104. 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 Skatingbest skating Colorado

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 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. 

Mile High Mamas
Author: Mile High Mamas

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