Cooper | Chicago Ridge – Colorado Family Ski Vacation

Photo: Scott D.W. Smith

Photo: Scott D.W. Smith

Epic terrain at Cooper this season includes double black diamond glade and tree skiing on east-facing slopes in the Tennessee Creek Basin area. The amazing long groomed runs on the front side and Piney Basin are perfect for beginners. Check out the deep powder stashes on Powder Keg and Timber Bash. If you are looking for high adventure, a day on Chicago Ridge Snowcat Tours will take you to 2600 acres at over 12,000 ft. Cooper is your authentic Colorado Resort.

Your crew can also snowshoe or cross-country ski from the Nordic center to Tennessee Pass Cookhouse for lunch and almost-too-perfect views. 

Cooper is different, in all the right ways! No lift lines, no condos, no crowds, no hard man-made snow. Just Colorado’s softest snow, laid-back family-friendly vibe, incredible ski & ride lessons and clinics, apres-ski fun in our Irish Pub,  a brand new mountaintop yurt with food service, and all at absurdly affordable prices.

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!

Cooper | Chicago Ridge – Colorado Family Ski Vacation

Season dates and hours

December 7-April 16, 2023; 9 am – 4 pm. 

Area (acres)

471 lift-served acres, 2,600 snowcat served

 What family-friendly amenities does your resort offer? 

Cooper is a family-friendly ski resort with affordable lift tickets, easy-to-navigate terrain and lessons for all ability levels.

 Adult lift ticket prices?

$95

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

$70

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

See website for additional information.  

 What is the starting cost of ski/ride school? Ages?

Starting at $179.

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

Local rental shops, lodges, and grocery stores offer discounted offsite tickets. But usually, the best deals are right on our website at skicooper.com where you can buy discounted lift tickets, and get discounts on Ski & Ride School lessons.

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

Mountaintop Yurt Dinners are available on Saturdays for ages 14 & up. This includes snowcat transportation to the mountaintop yurt for a delicious gourmet dinner.

In Historic Leadville just 9 miles away, check out the aquatic center, ice skating rink, tubing hill and mining museum.

Distance from Denver

109 Miles

232 County Rd. 29 (just off Hwy 24 on the top of Tennessee Pass)
Leadville, CO 80461
800-707-6114
http://www.skicooper.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 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.