The ultimate guide to skiing Aspen with kids

There’s something magical about Aspen Snowmass. The enchanting old mining town hooks you in from the moment you arrive. It has the reputation of all glitz and glamour, and sure, there is a bit of that, but it’s also very down-to-earth and friendly. Your kids will love it.

Aspen is made up of four ski areas; Snowmass, Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk. Snowmass the largest resort of the quartet. Buttermilk or Snowmass are great for beginner and intermediates. While Aspen Mountain and Aspen Highlands are the best playgrounds for advanced skiers.

The ultimate guide to Aspen Snowmass’ ski resorts

Family Aspen ski holidays are perfect to enjoy the outdoors, culture, adventure and glamour. Four ski mountains on one lift ticket offer thrills when you need a rush and scenic groomers when you need to unwind. Off the slopes, the action continues with world-class après ski, dining, arts, and events.

Aspen village is located 2,438 metres above sea level, its altitude giving it at 6 month-long season.

Aspen Snowmass resort stats (all four mountains)

Skiable area
2244 hectares

Lifts
41

Terrain parks
5

Runs
336

2.5 years
Minimum age for ski lessons

2.5 years
Minimum age for snowboard lessons

Child minding for infants from 8 weeks

Grading of runs
Beginner: 9%
Intermediate: 44%
Advanced: 47%

Summit height
3,813 meters

Length of season
November to April

Average snowfall
7.6 meters

Ski-in/Ski-out

Aspen Snowmass’ four mountains

Boredom is just not a factor of any Aspen trip, with four mountains waiting to be explored.

Buttermilk

Buttermilk should be first cab off the rank, so you can all get your ski legs on. It’s only 15 minutes by bus from Aspen and much quieter than the other mountains. The ski school is pretty small (i.e. less crowded) which is fantastic for nervous first-timers who can get overwhelmed easily. Buttermilk is also high on the agenda for terrain park fans. If you have a baby with you, no worries – the Treehouse Kids’ Adventure Center at Buttermilk looks after little ones from eight weeks old. Or for older ones not skiing ‘The Hideout’ has indoor and outdoor play areas.

Aspen Highlands

Aspen Highlands caters to intermediate and expert skiers and riders. Very experienced parents or teens will want to ‘hike the bowl’. Highland Bowl is Colorado’s Most Challenging In-Bounds Ski Hike and gives serious bragging rights.

Aspen Mountain, or Ajax as the locals call it, has a sea of blue and black runs. The Silver Queen Gondola is the chariot that whisks skiers, snowboarders and sightseers from town up to the peak.

Snowmass

Then there is Snowmass, which is the biggest of them all, its cruisy bowls and delicious groomers, glade skiing and steeps. You’ll find it is the most family-friendly mountain but it is a good 30-40 minutes from Aspen, so consider staying in the plentiful ski-in, ski-out accommodation here. Snowmass offers phenomenal skiing, and its ski school is one of the best in North America.

Snowmass also has fantastic tree trails for kids in the Lizard Lodge/Dawdler area. They can play in a wooden fort, ski under tunnels and bridges, and search for hidden characters and educational signage.

Free kids activities

Kids at Aspen are known as V.I.Ks – Very Important Kids. Each afternoon kids can enjoy free s’mores and activities in Aspen Village.

Exploring Aspen

Walking through the streets of Aspen at night is like walking through a winter wonderland. Stroll down fairy-light-clad streets, with boutiques and shops selling mountain wear and restaurants. At certain times of year you’ll see sensational ice sculptures. Aspen is the quaintest village in Colorado and offers a big variety of restaurants.

A guided snowshoe tour with the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES) is a must, operated on Aspen Mountain and Snowmass. They also run a half-day snowshoe tour to a ghost town, walking through tranquil forests of spruce and fir. You should make time to visit the Aspen Art Museum as well.

Snowmass Village

In Snowmass, you can channel your inner Torvill and Dean at the Limelight’s ice skating rink, then let the kids loose on the climbing wall inside. The Snowmass Luminescence interactive art and light display is also very popular, with delighted, wide-eyed kids strolling through The Tunnel, an interactive series of LED illuminated walkways and arches. There are less dining options in Snowmass so its a good idea to book accommodation with a kitchen or bus from Aspen Village to ski Snowmass.

Ullr Nights

Ullr, the Norse God of Snow, would surely approve of the fun and games occurring in his name at Elk Camp on Snowmass Mountain. Taking place on Friday nights, you can ride snow bikes, slide on tubes and steam downhill on the Breathtaker Alpine Coaster. Afterwards. gather the family around a fire and toast marshmallows under a star-studded sky in a blissful state of wintery bonhomie.

Aspen Snowmass facilities

On-mountain family activities

Snowcat dinners

Powder tours (backside of Aspen Mountain)

Tubing

NASTAR racing

Ullr nights – a la carte dining, live music and activities at top of the Snowmass gondola

Free kids program – VIK Snowmass

Mountain Coaster

Off-mountain family activities

Dog sledding

Snow shoe tour

Snowmobiling

Aspen recreation centre (ice skating, hockey, climbing wall, sledding and swimming)

ACES (Aspen center for environmental studies)

Art galleries/Museums

There is plenty to do in Aspen apart from skiing. There is a movie theatre in town, great shopping and a few art galleries to enjoy. A tour of the town in the Horse Drawn carriage is a treat for kids.

Head to the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies to meet a Great Horned Owl, Boa Constrictor and Tarantula. Or to the Aspen Recreation Centre. The facility has a three-dimensional climbing tower, an aquatic centre with four pools with a two-storey slide, a lazy river, water shoots and an ice skating rink the size of a football field. 

Aspen Snowmass ski school

Childcare – ages 8 weeks and up

Cubs on Skis – ages 2.5-4 years old, group lessons – not toilet trained
The perfect blend of indoor and outdoor activities for the day. Mixes indoor play with a gentle introduction to skiing outdoors. The Cubs on Skis private learning area keeps your child safe and gives them the confidence to learn without the distractions and overwhelming stimulation of the main mountain. Inside, children play in the Treehouse Adventure Center (Snowmass), an award-winning, Colorado nature-themed childcare facility with a low child-to-Pro ratio. At Buttermilk, kids play indoors at The Hideout.

Snowmass Bears and Buttermilk Pandas – ages 3-4, group lessons – toilet trained
Children who are potty-trained, ages 3 to 4, and who are ready to spend most of the day outside should enroll in our Snowmass Bears or Buttermilk Pandas programs.The perfect blend of indoor and outdoor activities for the day. Mixes indoor play with a gentle introduction to skiing outdoors. Inside, children play in the Treehouse Adventure Center (Snowmass), an award-winning, Colorado nature-themed childcare facility with a low child-to-Pro ratio. At Buttermilk, kids play indoors at The Hideout.

Group Lessons – ages 5+
Give your child the opportunity to learn skiing or snowboarding, or maybe master a new skill. The instructors make full use of the legendary terrain to build the confidence of young skiers and emphasize safety.

Where to stay in Aspen Snowmass

You can stay in Aspen, which sits at the base of Aspen Mountain, or in Snowmass, where most of the ski-in, ski-out accommodation is.

Snowmass offers lots of different lodging options, ranging from budget to full service deluxe to luxury condos or townhouses. And unlike many resorts, budgetary constraints don’t mean guests will be pushed further away from the slopes, because 95% of lodging is ski-in, ski-out.

Snowmass Mountain Chalet is reasonably priced and close to the ski school. It has ski racks directly outside the dining room. Kids can have breakfast, put their boots and skis on, and then it’s off to ski school with a minimum of fuss.

If you stay at the ski-in, ski-out Limelight Hotel you can soak in the hot pool overlooking families spinning around the ice rink and cooking s’mores in the firepits.

Or for a more luxe option stay at the St. Regis Aspen Resort. The legendary St. Regis Butlers are on hand to do everything from unpacking to warming your ski boots during lunch. Children are spoilt with amenities and plush bathrobes just for them. Then enjoy the all-inclusive dining benefits of the SPG Kids’ Pass.

Others include Destination Snowmass Residences and The Snowmass Club.

The Gant

A very popular apartment property just a few blocks from Aspen Gondola. A private on-demand shuttle service is provided.

North of Nell

Excellent spacious condominium hotel in prime location adjacent to Aspen Gondola. Each apartment is individually decorated and features a full kitchen and fireplace.

The Crestwood Condominiums

Full service ski-in/ski-out apartments. Studios with kitchenettes, all other units with a full kitchen, fireplace and balconies.

Capitol Peak Lodge

Luxurious apartments with fireplaces, private decks and glorious views, just a few steps from a high speed six-pack lift and a gondola. Perfectly positioned in the Base Village, close to resort amenities.

Aspen Square Hotel

Luxury condominium hotel in prime location across from Aspen Gondola. Spacious apartments with full kitchens, fireplaces and balconies. Studio to 3 bedroom apartments.

On-mountain dining

Consistently rated the #1 resort in North America for dining, Aspen Snowmass has over 100 bars and restaurants to choose from. You’ll find menus to please every palate here. For a complete list of in-town and on-mountain restaurants visit eatAspen.com or eatSnowmass.com.

Sam’s at the top of Snowmass’ Village Express Lift if you feel like some St Louis style pork ribs or Marinated Smoked BBQ chicken (they have an outdoor terrace which is just perfect on a beautiful sunny day).

At the bottom of that lift at Snowmass Mall is Venga Venga, a nice little Mexican cantina which serves pretty good tacos and fajitas if you want a little spice. And over on the other side of Snowmass, at the top of the Elk Camp Gondola, is Elk Camp restaurant, which is very modern, environmentally friendly, and serves great food – from rotisserie chicken sandwiches to wood fire pizza, plus salads and other healthy options.

Getting to Aspen Snowmass

You can fly right to Aspen’s doorstep. The airport just seven kilometres from town! Let’s face it, when you are going on a family snow holiday you don’t want to waste time on long transfers from the airport to the mountain

Celebrity sightings at Aspen Snowmass

In winter, the private jets are parked all along the runway at Aspen’s tiny airport. Aspen has been the home to celebrities and billionaires for years, but it still manages to stay true to its mining town roots with down-to-earth locals. For posing and celeb spotting, you have to ski on Aspen Mountain.