(Photo: Jeremy Swanson)
Buttermilk is one mountain with two personalities. Best known around the world for being home to the Winter X Games and the Red Bull Double Pipe event, the mountain has become an icon for freestyle riders and skiers, who hit up the Buttermilk Park to see what they’re made of. But the mountain is also easy-going for beginners and families, boasting uncrowded beginner terrain and The Hideout, an innovative learning center for young skiers.
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!
Buttermilk Mountain – 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)
470 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; kids 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?
Buttermilk does not offer childcare, but the mountain does provide the Hideout which is a children’s facility that is reserved exclusively for Ski & Snowboard School programs. This new, innovative facility offers the perfect introduction to the sport of skiing for kids ages 2 1/2 to 4 with a gentle training slope for first turns, complete with magic carpet lift, four interactive, indoor learning rooms to foster a child’s imagination and allow for play-based learning during breaks from skiing and complete lunch facilities.
What is the starting cost of ski/ride school?
Prices vary but a full day is $242. More info can be found at ww.aspensnowmass.com/visit/lessons
Where can families go for deals on lift tickets/lodging or special promotions?
Mountain deals 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
38700 Highway 82
Aspen, CO 81611
800-525-6200
*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 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.