Best Family Ski Resorts in the West
Remember that one resort where you used to ski bell to bell, launching the steep terrain and imbibing the killer Bloody Marys…..before the kids came along?! If you’ve taken your little skiers to the same resort, you likely learned that navigating said resort as a family is a totally different experience.
Having skied all over the West, we quickly learned that five resorts stick out as being particularly family-friendly. Whether they offer wagons from the parking lot, plenty of kid-friendly terrain, or just an awesome basket of chicken tenders in the lodge, here are the best family ski resorts in the West.
Aspen Snowmass, CO
First of all, let’s acknowledge the fact that many of us associate Aspen with steep lines, luxury dining, great bars, and—of course—one of our favorite Jim Carrey movies from the ‘90s. But did you know that kids ages six and under ALWAYS ski for free at Aspen? It’s true! When you add in the fact that Aspen is a huge mountain with terrain for everybody, it makes a family ski trip to one of our favorite resorts in Colorado a no-brainer.
Ski School and Childcare:
Have y’all already checked out the WildKind Virtual Ski School? You know our genius instructor, Kevin? Yep, him! He’s one of the head instructors over at the Aspen Snowmass Ski School. You can drop your little one off for childcare at the Treehouse Adventure Center or set them up for some world-class instruction with the Aspen Snowmass Ski School. The ski school at Aspen knows how to weave ski instruction seamlessly into a day of play. Meanwhile, you and your partner can ride up Silver Queen Gondola and find freshies in The Dumps, all while your little one learns how to control her speed. It’s a win-win for the whole family.
Where to Ski:
You’re likely thinking ESPN X-Games when you think of Buttermilk, but we’re here to tell you that Buttermilk is home to the best beginner and intermediate terrain at Aspen (Trust us on this— it’s our home hill!) Offering 470 acres, Buttermilk truly maintains that laidback vibe that we all love about skiing. You’ll find hanging disco balls, friendly lifties, and playful runs through the trees. Wanna hear a secret? The powder stashes at Buttermilk always last the longest in Aspen. Ssshhh!
Family-Friendly Après:
At some point during the day, your little one will want want a cookie. When that time comes, you’ll want to make sure you are within a ski’s reach of the Cliffhouse Lodge. Located at 9,900 feet, the Cliffhouse Lodge offers breathtaking views of Pyramid Peak. Your little one may want cocoa, but you, our friend, will want to try the Mongolian BBQ Wok Station. You’ve been patient and encouraging and positive—-you’ve earned a hearty lunch!
Heavenly, CA
One of the best family-friendly ski resorts in California, this massive resort has terrain for every level of skier. Bonus? The fun doesn’t end when the lifts stop spinning!
Where to Ski:
Don’t feel intimidated by the expansive size of this mountain! Heavenly has plenty of beginner and intermediate terrain for families. If you have beginner skiers in your group, start at the California Lodge base area. The First Ride chair has an entire zone dedicated to beginner skiers. After you build up some confidence with your pizza and french fry, venture to the Gunbarrel Express, Patsy, and Powder Bowl Express.
If you have intermediate skiers in your group, you can confidently explore the whole mountain as blue runs are present all over the resort. Searching for those long, cruisy runs with views of the lake that Heavenly is famous for? You’ll find those runs off of Sky Express.
Ski School and Childcare:
Do some (or all…) of your family need some ski instruction? You’ve come to the right place. The Heavenly Ski School focuses on fun while teaching lifelong technique to children and teens. It has three lesson locations (gondola at Stateline, California Lodge, and Boulder). With small class sizes at this popular resort, you’ll want to make your reservations as early as possible this season.
Do you have little ones who aren’t quite old enough for ski school? Infants as young as six weeks old can spend the day at the Heavenly Childcare center. If your little one (age 3-5) feels up for it, they can even try a mini ski lesson too!
Family-Friendly Après:
Offering arguably the most active après scene in the west, parents might want to consider getting sitter for at least one night.
That being said, Heavenly has plenty of kid-friendly options to unwind and relax after a fun day of skiing. If you don’t want to leave the resort, we love going to Tamarack Lodge and Bar at the top of the gondola. Let your little ones run around and play in the snow while you enjoy a drink (and most weekends, live music!) on the outside deck.
Your kids will love exploring Heavenly Village. Whether they want to go ice skating, jump on the bungee trampoline, or see a magic show, the Village always has a fun, family vibe. It is home to countless bars, pubs, and restaurants that are kid-friendly. Check out another family-favorite: the fire pit at the Village Bar and Grill. The kids will love the grilled cheese, and you will enjoy the bison nachos.
Deer Valley Ski Resort, UT
Everything you’ve heard about Deer Valley Ski Resort is true: powder stashes that last for days after storms, plenty of long, meticulously groomed runs, and that “Deer Valley Difference” that everybody seems to talk about. It really DOES just feel different!
Deer Valley is one of the last resorts in Utah that doesn’t feel crowded on the weekend. The daily capped ticket sales keeps lift lines short and powder hunters happy. Your crew will love this famously family-friendly resort. If you are looking for a ski vacation that caters to kids yet offers plenty of advanced skiing, and a high-end service oriented experience, you’ll feel right at home at Deer Valley.
Where to Ski
Deer Valley is the perfect mountain to build confidence and grow your family’s love for skiing. Just over two thirds of Deer Valley’s terrain is for intermediate and beginner skiers.
If it’s your little one’s first season on skis, start at the Snow Park base, and explore the progressive series of magic carpets, then move on to the beginner lifts.
Once your little skier feels more confident, pick up a copy of the Children Adventure Map. This map will take your family skiing through the trees in the Enchanted Forest and Oompa Loompa Land. Keep your eyes open for Deer Valley’s fuzzy mascots, which roam the resort on the weekends.
When your little one is able to confidently ski greens, the whole family can go to Lady Morgan and Flagstaff. These parts of the mountain offer runs for beginners, intermediates, and even expert trails. Your kids will love exploring the children’s adventure zones in Flagstaff, and you’ll love exploring the more challenging terrain
Ski School and Childcare
Do some (or all) of your family need some ski instruction? You’ve come to the right place. Deer Valley offers some of the best instruction in the U.S. The small class sizes and diverse types of instruction offered will make sure you get the exact type of instruction and attention your family needs.
The ski school classes for kids are particularly fun. Your kids might not feel like they are in school, but the fun-focused learning will have them progressing down the mountain in no time. Do you have little ones who aren’t quite old enough for ski school? Send them to the Deer Valley Academy so mom and dad can enjoy some turns on the mountain on their own.
Family-Friendly Après:
You might have heard Stephen Colbert raving about the Deer Valley chili, and for good reason. Deer Valley is known for their delicious food on the mountain. At the end of the day, families can gather at Edgar’s Beer and Spirits Lounge, adjacent to the large outdoor deck on the second story of the Snow Park Lodge. If your family wants to unbuckle their boots and find a bite to eat at the Silver Lake Lodge, go no further than the Royal Street Café.
Winter Park Resort, CO
Located 65 miles from Denver, Winter Park is home to many locals in the front range. With steep and rowdy runs over at Mary Jane, and the perfect beginner zone in Discovery Park, this is a resort for families looking to progress and grow.
While the majority of the resort is rated as advanced to expert terrain, Winter Park has several beginner areas scattered across the mountain. Instead of having only one beginner base, beginners can move across the mountain and explore different areas. This allows mom or dad to take turns popping over to a more challenging run before reuniting with the family for lunch!
Where to Ski
The best beginner terrain can be found over at the Winter Park Base, at Discovery Park. You’ll want to either shuttle in, or grab one of the wagons at the parking lots at the Winter Park base and cruise over to the Gemini Express. At the top of Discovery Park, you’ll find wide runs through the trees, race-course style runs, and wide open, perfectly pitched stretches down the lift.
Looking for something a bit longer? Take The Gondola up to Sunspot, and cruise down March Hare to Village Way for a super long, mellow run.
Ski School and Childcare
The Winter Park Ski and Ride School, located at the Winter Park base, will be your hub for childcare* (ages six months to six years) and ski school. The school offers courses for every level of skier. It focuses on “guest-centered teaching”, where instructors pay close attention to the unique and specific needs of students to help them progress and reach goals.
*with Covid restrictions, you’ll want to check availability this season.
Family Friendly Après
While Winter Park has plenty of great dining/après options on the mountain, families love to funnel down to the village at the end of the day.
Vertical Bistro is a local favorite. You’ll love the expansive drink and small plates menu, and your little ones will love the kid’s ice cream sundae at the end of their meal. Bonus? Check out the outdoor playground next door after dinner. Wanna grab something quick? The Pizza Pedal’r is a classic.
Solitude Mountain Resort, UT
Solitude Mountain Resort has a more “laid-back” vibe than most resorts in Utah, with many locals who have been chasing powder here for years. Locals come back for the powder stashes that seem to last just a little longer than the other Cottonwood Canyon resorts and also for the steep tree skiing. Solitude Mountain Resort offers slopeside lodging, two villages, several dining options, nordic skiing, and plenty of terrain that the whole family will love to ski.
Where to Ski
Looking for quick access to the easiest terrain on the mountain? Then set your family up at the Moonbeam Lodge. Beginners can practice riding the moving conveyor before graduating to the beginner terrain off of the Link lift.
The Moonbeam Express lift has longer, more advanced greens and some easy blues for beginners to work towards. For expert skiers, you can find incredible advanced terrain in Honeycomb Canyon and Fantasy Ridge.
With so much terrain to offer, everyone in the family will find what they are looking for, and the centrally located base means it’s easy for everybody to reunite at the end of a run.
Ski School
Solitude’s Ski and Ride School has several classes for every level and age of skier. From full-day or half-day, private, semi-private, or group lessons, you can easily choose a class that fits your budget and needs.
Family Friendly Après
While Solitude offers three bars on the mountain, it is important to remember that all bars in Utah are 21+. Located at the base of the mountain, the Honeycomb Grill offers delicious cocktails, sweeping views of the mountain, and a menu that the whole family can enjoy.
Want to make your family ski trip even more enjoyable? Check out the WildKind Virtual Ski School or our Summit membership program, which includes our Ski School course AND our Camping with Kids course.
There’s no need to waste a day of your ski trip with the typical growing pains that families experience out on the mountain. Our ski school covers everything from your toddler’s first day sliding on skis, to helping your six-year-old learn to link turns, and everything in between!
