A Guide to Skiing with Your Kids!
- ashleigh597
- Jan 14
- 4 min read
Ok- Christmas Is Over – But does anyone feel like Winter is finally settling in? NoCo FINALLY saw its first snow storm of the season (well, it was like 2”, but at least there’s something!) and if your kids are anything like mine, they were begging to get out in the snow the moment it touched the ground. Maybe it’s time to head to the high country for some skiing with the kids!
If you’re a bit nervous of stepping into skiing with little ones, take heart: I’ve interviewed some experienced parents who have skied with their kids and here is some advice from them!
Favorite Places to Go Skiing -
Snowy Range- Those I spoke to loved it because of its proximity to Fort Collins, the lack of traffic, smaller mountain to navigate, and the cheapest ski school out there!
Copper Mtn – Copper Mtn is a great place to learn – they have an entire area that is Greens so you don’t have to worry about taking a wrong turn and getting stuck on a Black (we’ve all been there… )
Breckenridge is also great for Kids because of its Walkability – Peak 8 is centralized with lots of ski lifts and easy to walk between them, and access to the gondola that takes you directly to the parking lot. Plus there are plenty of easy greens close to the learning area on Peak 8.
Eldora was also highly rated by those we interviewed because of its proximity to the front range (21 miles outside of Boulder!), as well as being top rated for a great resort to learn. Plus it is fairly affordable for a family to go for the day!
Best HACKS for Skiing Success - Skiing takes a special type of person in general, let alone the brave soul who is willing to take their tiny humans to a cold, snowy place, where you barrel down the hill at top speeds.. Here are some ideas to make it a good day-
- Hot Cocoa: Bring ALL the warm drinks for the kids in a vaccum sealed cup that will stay hot All. Day. Long. Make sure to bring along some extra packets of hot cocoa, tea, instant coffee (that one’s for you to survive the impending fatigue), or cider. Usually you can bum off some hot water from the lodge. Save your pennies for the $14 hot dog your kid won’t eat.
- Travel Sized Potty: This one’s gold. If you’re not staying locally in the ski area you’re going to, you’re in for at least 1-4 hour drive depending on where you go. Bring a Potty with you so that when you arrive to the parking lot, the kids can use the tiny potty before putting on all their gear. It’s a pain to strip off all your layers to use the bathroom, let alone for a kid!
- Snacks: I think we are all aware of how many snacks we should bring at all times to all the places for the hungry hippos. So make sure you do it here. In fact, if you feed them enough snacks on the chair lift, they won’t be hungry for the $14 hot dog mentioned above. Problem Solved. If you do want to pay for lunch at the lodge, Sandwiches, instant cup noodles, or instant mac and cheese are great options too.
- Wagon: Carrying your own gear, plus your kids is a lot. Make this simple and bring a wagon, and find somewhere to lock it up. ALSO- Some Resorts Provide Wagons: These are the ones you want to go to if you don’t have one!
Ski Passes for the Kiddos –
There are lots of ways to get your kid a pass for cheap and/or free if you’re on top of it early in the season!
Epic School Kids Colorado Pack – When you apply for this, Kids Kindergarten – 5th Grade can get 4 days of skiing at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, and Crested Butte. The only catch is that you need to apply early for this and provide proof of age/grade in person. Subject to Blackout Dates – and more info here!
Colorado Ski Passport- This is a great option if your kiddo is 3rd thru 6th grade. This pass is $67 and covers over 20 different ski resorts in the state. Ski at places like, Copper Mtn, Monarch, Loveland Ski Area, Eldora, & Steamboat, just to name a few! More Info Here:
Places that Kids Ski Free-
Loveland Ski Area: Children 5 and under ski for free.
Eldora Mountain Resort: Kids 4 and under ski for free with the Alpine Pass
Snowy Range Ski Area: Children 4 and under can ski for free (BONUS: If you’re 70 or older here, you too can ski for free!)
Keystone Resort: Kids Ages 3-14 can ski for free with their “Kids Ski Free Program”
Breckenridge Ski Resort: Children 4 and under ski for free.
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