Photo: Alex Fenlon
Crested Butte Mountain Resort is off the beaten path and at the end of the road, the perfect Colorado family vacation. Expert skiers will find plenty of thrills, while nearly 70 percent of the terrain is devoted to beginners and intermediates, making Crested Butte popular with skiers and board riders of all abilities.
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!
Crested Butte Mountain Resort – Colorado Family Ski Vacation
Season dates and hours
Nov. 24 – April 9, 2023; 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Area (acres)
1,547 acres
What family-friendly amenities does your resort offer?
One-base area, Adventure Park which includes bungee trampolines, mini-golf, and a rock-climbing wall. Kid-friendly ski slopes with excellent Ski + Ride School programming, kid’s night out (evening program for kids 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.), nursery and complimentary ski storage if you lodge or rent from CBMR.
Adult lift ticket prices?
$119*
Child lift ticket prices and at what age kids ski free?
$69*
Is there on-site childcare and if so, what is the starting cost?
There is a nursery for 2 months- 3 years old. See website with details for the 2022/23 season.
What is the starting cost of ski/ride school? Ages?
Where can families go for deals on lift tickets/lodging or special promotions?
What area (off-mountain) activities would appeal to families for their winter vacation?
Activities include Nordic Skiing (FREE 17 and under), Winter Trail Rides, Guided Snowmobile Tours, Heritage Museum, lodging base area with pools, and so much more.
Distance from Denver
228 miles
12 Snowmass Road
Mt. Crested Butte, CO
970-349-2211
*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.