Aspen Snowmass: Colorado's Most Family-Friendly Skiing

If you plan on spending some time on the slopes during your Aspen family vacation and really want a true mountain town experience, the Aspen Snowmass winter resort complex has you covered.

This world-famous ski destination goes the extra mile to make sure each member of the family is cared for, and provides a full list of festive winter activities. Situated near the town of Aspen and Snowmass Village, travelers can explore the mountain during the day and head into town in the evening to shop and dine.

Aspen Snowmass has four main mountains for skiers to choose from, but Buttermilk and Snowmass cater more to families with kids. Stick to these mountain ski resorts and enjoy a full list of winter recreational activities:

Aspen & The Snowmass Village

The town of Aspen looks like something out of a winter fairytale during ski season. It perfectly blends classic mountain features with high class luxuries, but there’s also plenty of art and culture as well. With luxury dining establishments, comfortable family lodgings, and chic shops lining the streets, there is fun around every corner!

Snowmass Village is great for anyone looking for a mountain retreat that isn’t too far from the ski lifts. Hidden away in a scenic valley, the town provides a perfect winter getaway while still offering direct access to Snowmass ski area’s best terrain. In spite of its modest size, families can still find elegant restaurants, hip shops, and lighthearted entertainment.

Buttermilk Skiing

Three miles outside of Aspen, Buttermilk welcomes beginner skiers but still provides plenty of challenging terrain to keep experienced skiers happy. It has hosted the Winter X Games and Red Bull Double Pipe Event, so extreme skiers and snowboarders will want to try their skills on the more difficult runs. Kids, on the other hand, will have plenty of fun on the easier slopes, which are known for being uncrowded.

The Hideout children’s center at Buttermilk is a whole facility dedicated to helping little ones improve their skiing abilities. It has a training slope with very easy runs to get kids started on. There are also four indoor learning areas where children are welcome to play during breaks from their lessons.

Buttermilk opens for season in mid-December — just in time for the holidays — and closes its slopes early in April.

Snowmass for the Gold

Snowmass is known as one of the most family-friendly ski resorts in Colorado. It’s also the largest of the four mountains, big enough to encompass the other three entirely! Some of the most gorgeous alpine skiing lies on Snowmass, and it is especially suited to intermediate skiers who love to hit the slopes but aren’t looking to get too extreme.

The Treehouse Kids Adventure Center for kids ages 8 weeks to 4 years old is an advanced childcare center located in Snowmass Village. Kids can interact with the friendly staff while playing with colorful toys and games in a playful environment. Lunch and snacks will be provided.

Known for catering to families, the Snowmass Ski School offers quality ski lessons for kids of all ages. In fact, they break down their group lessons by age group, offering programs for kids ages 2 ½ - 4, 5 - 6, 7 - 12, and 13 - 17. Snowmass is around 12 miles from Aspen and open from late November until mid-April.

Off the Slopes

Multi-lane tube runs can be found at The Meadows at Elk Camp, which opens in mid-December on Snowmass. Tubing is a great kid-friendly activity for little ones who don’t ski or want to take a break from the slopes and have some good old-fashioned fun.

Every Friday during the ski season, people of all ages can check out Ullr Nights at the Elk Camp to experience the mountain at night in a way they never imagined. The sun is down, bonfires are lit, and colorful lights illuminate the camp as guests enjoy tubing, ice skating, and snow biking. There is also live music, so get ready to boogie down!

Need Rentals?

If you are going to be renting equipment, know that Four Mountain Sports has 9 different locations in the area and will store and transfer your equipment to any of the four mountains at Aspen Snowmass. The shops carry only the best and most reliable skiing and snowboard products available, and each location has a helpful team of equipment experts that will make sure everyone is happy with their gear.

Having second thoughts about what you rented? Four Mountain Sports makes it easy for renters to stop in at any location and change out their gear for something more comfortable. Kids ski for free with the purchase of any rental package for children, and families can save 20% by booking in advance.

 Are you planning a family trip to Aspen? What are the kids most excited about...and you?