Kid-Friendly Ski Resorts in Colorado

If you’re dreaming of a Colorado ski vacation but aren’t sure what to do with the kids, never fear. Many resorts are kid-friendly, offering special programs, lessons and activities for little ones. If you want your kids to hit the slopes, try a ski school with ski and snowboard lessons for all abilities. Infants and toddlers can relax in a child care center. Some resorts even offer evening child care so mom and dad can have a night out to themselves.

  1. Breckenridge Ski Resort

    • Breckenridge Ski Resort, located about 100 miles from Denver, offers a variety of activities and services for kids. Start with the resort’s special website just for kids and parents, with links to youth programs and events. The Breckenridge Online Children’s Reservation System allows parents to sign kids up for classes, activities and adventures, sign the legal forms and access maps of meeting places. The ski school offers skiing classes for kids from ages 3 to 12 and snowboarding classes for kids ages 7 to 12. If you’re going to be in Breckenridge for a few days, sign your kids up for the Peak Adventure series. Each adventure is geared toward different ability levels and takes a few days to complete. Multi-day and multi-week packages are also available for older kids. Younger kids will enjoy keeping their eyes open for Snow Monsters sightings; these fun, furry creatures make appearances on the slopes throughout the season. For kids too young to ski, Breckinridge offers child care centers at three locations. Kids are grouped by age and ability. Children from ages 8 weeks to 5 years are eligible.

      Breckenridge Ski Resort

      1599 County Road 3

      Breckenridge, CO 80424

      970-453-5000

      breckenridge.com

    Steamboat Springs Ski Resort

    • Steamboat Springs Ski Resort, located 150 miles from Denver, is a kid-friendly resort. With discounted kids’ tickets and rentals, lifts and areas just for kids, child care options, and instruction, Steamboat Springs is a good choice for family ski vacations. The Rough Riders program provides all-day ski and snowboard instruction for kids from age 6 to 15. The Desperados Ski Week package places kids with the same instructor and group for the whole week. If you’re skiing with teens, try the Steamboat Teen Challenge. This program offers all-day, intensive ski and snowboard clinics for teens ages 13 to 17 at intermediate to advanced levels. Your 2 to 6-year-olds can enjoy their own lessons, too. Skier-on-snow lessons include all-day combinations of child care and instruction, grouped by age and ability. Private lessons are available. Child care is available for kids from 6 months to 6 years of age. Five to 12-year-olds can attend special evening child care sessions and give parents a night to themselves.

      Steamboat Springs Ski and Resort

      2305 Mt. Werner Circle

      Steamboat, CO 80487

      970-879-6111

      steamboat.com

    Aspen Snowmass

    • Aspen Snowmass offers several options for kids and best of all, kids under 6 ski for free. Aspen’s Buttermilk Mountain is especially appropriate for young skiers and boarders, with kids’ interactive trails and wide runs. Kids can take lessons from the Camp Aspen ski school. Classes are grouped by age and ability, accept children ages 5 to 12, and include free pickup and drop-off on Max the Moose’s purple bus. Special lessons, such as steep camps and freestyle, pipe and park camp are also available. The Treehouse Kids Club offers child care for kids ages 8 weeks to 4 years.

      Aspen Snowmass

      520 East Durant Avenue

      Aspen, CO 81611

      970-925-1220

      aspensnowmass.com