12 Days Skiing Across Colorado with Kids
Honest Family Reviews of 6 Colorado Ski Resorts
Quick Summary: Best Colorado Ski Resorts for Families
- Best for beginners: Keystone Resort
- Best highway access: Copper Mountain
- Least crowded: Arapahoe Basin
- Most upscale feel: Steamboat Resort
- Small & local: Eldora
Twelve days in Colorado. Six ski resorts. Plenty of “ski, rest, repeat.”
While searching through my photo album, an old picture popped up — it turns out our last Colorado ski trip was exactly eight years ago with our older daughter. Our younger child hadn’t even been born yet!
The scenery was beautiful, as always, and the kids were happy, confident, and skiing better than ever.
Despite the fun, there were some disappointments. I honestly didn’t expect Colorado — such a legendary ski destination — to be this dependent on snowfall. This season hasn’t seen much snow, and across all six resorts (both big names and smaller hills), snowmaking felt limited and grooming inconsistent. Coverage was thin. Many runs were icy and slick. In some areas, dirt and rocks were exposed, which kept my nerves on high alert.
That said, here’s how each stop felt for us.
Colorado Ski Resorts We Visited:
Eldora Mountain Resort
Eldora is a small resort, and very weather-dependent.
If you’re just checking it off the list, one day is more than enough.
Winter Park Resort
Solid overall. The many tree runs were enjoyable, and the kids loved weaving through the forest. Groomed runs were decent, and I could cruise comfortably.
However, the drive up is winding and tucked deep in the mountains. The surrounding town feels fairly rustic.
Copper Mountain
A large, well-known resort with easy highway access — you practically exit I-70 and you’re there. Very convenient. However, it can get crowded. Snow conditions this year were disappointing, but we rode the alpine coaster afterward, which helped redeem the day a little. And the terrain park is fun to ride.
Arapahoe Basin (A-Basin)
Another smaller mountain, which was very icy the day we went.
The good news was that fewer crowds and easy parking made it a bit less stressful to get to the slopes themselves. We parked and literally skied straight from the car to the lift, with no awkward boot walking required. That felt amazing. It was practically a ski-in-ski-out!
Keystone Resort
Keystone wasn’t included in our lift pass, but our hotel was right at the base, so we paid for tickets to explore. It’s fairly large. The well-known ice castle attraction is located here. From what I observed that day, snow coverage was similar to the other resorts — unfortunately very weather-dependent this year.
Luckily, this was one of the most beginner-friendly layouts I’ve ever seen.
They place a magic carpet at the top of the mountain. Beginners can take the gondola up and start learning from above, without the stress of unloading a chairlift before they’re ready. You get to learn and enjoy the views at the same time. A kids’ play area with ice slides is a big plus for young skiers.
Steamboat Resort
Steamboat feels a bit more upscale, but it’s remote — over three hours from Denver — and there’s not much nearby. The town feels like it exists purely for the mountain.
They recently added a brand-new high-speed lift, and the terrain variety is strong, with something for every level. Unfortunately, it was still icy during our visit.
Final Thoughts
My impression of Colorado this trip didn’t quite match what I had imagined. As a mom who prefers smooth, scenic cruising over fast-paced skiing, I found myself mentally ready to quit a few days in. I thought the kids might feel the same.
Apparently not. I guess ice doesn’t bother them. They skied all the way until the day before our flight home.
Honestly? That’s what made the trip worth it.
Colorado Family Ski FAQ
- Where did we stay?
Copper, A-Basin, and Keystone are all within about 20 minutes of Dillon. Staying in Dillon gives you easy access to all three resorts. - Is Colorado snow always good?
Not necessarily. Snow quality depends heavily on the season. In low-snow years, coverage can be thin and icy conditions are common. - Best time to ski Colorado?
Late January through March usually offers better snow coverage compared to early season or Christmas weeks.
Looking for more ski trips? See our family ski travel guide.
Explore more family travel destinations here.