Skiing Aspen with kids: The mega guide we wished we had

Aspen Snowmass needs no introduction. One of the most famous ski destinations on the planet, this is a spot that combines historic, authentic ski town charm with some serious glitz.

But for those who think Aspen is best left to the celebrities and the childless, think again: they know kids, and they do kid-friendly well. Families come back year after year, drawn in by the beauty of the mountains, the endless things to do and the friendly locals who welcome the kiddies with open arms.

Will you be dancing on tabletops in your ski boots at Cloud Nine Alpine Bistro, spraying bottles of Veuve Clicquot? Probably not (unless you get a babysitter, in which case, go for your life. We love this for you!).

But will you have other priceless experiences? Like strolling through a town where every street is lined with fairylights, and gorgeous shops, and winter wonderland vistas? Enjoying complimentary 3.30pm s’mores on the mountain once the lifts stop turning? Staying at hotels that have rock climbing walls and games rooms and plush robes dedicated just to kids? Yes, yes and yes, all that and more.

Here’s the honest guide every family needs for travelling to Aspen Snowmass with a baby, toddler or child in tow; where to stay, where to find the best child care, where to get the best deals, all the tips to save where you can (and splurge where it’s worth it!) and everything else you need to know while you’re planning your trip.

When to go

Thanks to its elevation (the town sits 2400 metres above sea level), the Aspen season is strong and generally runs from late November through to early April, with the most reliable snow and coldest temperatures from January to early March.

For families, the calendar matters as much as the snowpack:

Late Nov–mid Dec: Fewer crowds, good value, but variable early-season coverage.
Late Dec–early Jan: Gorgeous and festive, but the busiest, priciest week of the year. Book childcare/ski school/restaurants months ahead if you’re coming for Christmas/New Year’s.
Jan–Feb: The sweet spot; consistent snow and fewer crowds than the holidays. However make note of when Presidents Week is scheduled, as this is when a lot of US families plan for their holidays.
March: Warmer, longer days for spring skiing goodness. Often the best month for families with little ones who don’t love bitter cold, but keep spring break and Easter in mind, as it can get busy.

Whenever you go, you’ll likely enjoy both sunshine and some great snow; thanks to its perfectly positioned geography.

Aspen not only gets an average snowfall of about 7.6m but enjoys over 300 perfect sunny days every year.

Where to ski and snowboard

Aspen Snowmass is two towns (Aspen and Snowmass) and four separate mountains (Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk, and Snowmass) on one pass, which is the major drawcard for many.

You can start the day at one mountain and finish the day at another, or easily visit different restaurants and villages, all via the free bus that goes between the four mountains (complete with free Wi-Fi, so you can easily check the snow report at each one or keep up with different family members).

Between all four resorts, they offer 2300 hectares of skiable terrain, 40 lifts, five terrain parks and 389 marked runs.

Wherever you go, you’ll never wait too long in a lift line; there’s so much terrain to funnel people around the mountains, and many people choose to spend their time in the towns, wandering and shopping and lapping up the vibes, rather than skiing at all.

Aspen Mountain is the one that towers right over the town of Aspen, and it’s not messing around. The first lift was installed here in 1946, the world’s longest at the time. The mountain is all intermediate-and-up terrain, and the town is very much the classic, glam Aspen experience, full of high-end restaurants and brand-name shops alongside luxe hotels.

Many families will flock to the town, and mountain, of Snowmass; it has the most beginner-friendly terrain of the four ski areas, plus bulk ski-in/ski-out lodging. It’s also home to the Treehouse Kids’ Adventure Center i.e. the hub of all things kid-related, from childcare to ski school and indoor play.

If your priority is convenience, Snowmass is where you’ll want to be, as everything – from activities to groceries to fab family-friendly restaurants – is either walkable or a short gondola ride away. Plus they know their audience and run the kids program to beat them all, including things like free s’mores, postcard making, cookie decorating, the list goes on. Just keep in mind it’s about a 30 minute trip to Aspen from Snowmass via the bus. 

Next is Buttermilk, the gentler mountain and the traditional home of first-timer lessons, with a highly regarded beginner-friendly ski school at the base. Think wide, mellow greens with plenty of fun spots for more advanced members of the family to still enjoy. While still a favourite among locals, especially those who love a terrain park (it’s the home of the X Games, after all!), there are less options for lodging and village vibes at the base than Aspen and Snowmass.

And finally, Aspen Highlands is the one everyone raves about for scenery. The views up top are some of the best to be found anywhere, and the Highland Bowl has some of the steepest inbounds terrain in North America, with ski patrol going to huge effort to keep it safe and fun to ski. Again, the village at the base is much smaller and quieter than others, with fewer lodging options. It’s a great mountain to bus over to for a big day out for powerhounds, rather than a base for a family trip.

Getting there (and how long to stay)

One of the best things about Aspen is the airport being just 7km away from downtown, or about a 20 minute drive from Snowmass. It’s Pitkin County Airport (ASE) and has direct flights from several major hubs serviced by Australian airlines, such as Los Angeles, San Francisco and Dallas. Keep an eye out for all the private jets upon arrival.

However. Flying into Aspen can be touch and go. It is a ski town, after all, and your flights may be impacted by weather. Prepare to be flexible, pack what you may need if your flight is delayed on either side by a day or two, and get sorted with your travel insurance in case you’re out of pocket for any accommodation.

Side note – The locals tell us that Aspen airport will be closed from April through to November 2027 for major upgrades. While this likely won’t impact most people travelling for their snow trips, it’s good to keep in mind if you’re there late in the season and can’t find a flight in or out.

Another option is to fly into Denver International Airport (DEN), roughly a 3.5–4 hour drive into the mountains; or fly into Grand Junction airport (GJT), a 2.5 hour drive from Aspen with connections to many different hubs.

Families say a minimum of 10 days is best to plan for, but if you can swing it, three weeks in Aspen is ideal. You have the best chance of getting good snow conditions, exploring a variety of places, enjoying some downtime on inclement weather days and taking advantage of Aspen’s excellent long-term ski pass deals (more on that later).

Altitude tips

Keep altitude in mind, especially if you’ve never skied in the US before. With Aspen sitting so high, it’s important to remember you and the kiddies may feel more headachey or lethargic than normal until you acclimatise.

We recommend hydrating aggressively, scheduling in rest days around busy days, or considering a two-night stopover in “the mile high city” of Denver to acclimatise rather than flying straight into Aspen. 

Where to stay

The families we speak with all say the same thing: you can find some good deals on most things, like flights, lift passes and even food. The accommodation is where things can get spendy for families, and it’s easy to get excited and spend a small fortune. Talk to your travel agent about the best deals, as there are many or hit up Aspen Snowmass direct.

But if you’ve been saving and this is your special family splurge for the year, or your budget is on the higher end, or you’ve suddenly come into a mysteriously large sum of money… here’s where we think you should go (and also, take us with you).

Swanky end of town

The Little Nell

Absolutely legendary and for a good reason. Ski-in/ski-out at the base of Aspen Mountain and the gondola, The Little Nell is not only five star but also five diamond rated, which is how you know it’s really fancy. Guests consistently rave about the service, from the ski concierge team who’ll sort your lift tickets and rentals, to the complimentary Audi transfers around town.

For families, they provide every amenity imaginable (full cribs, highchairs, strollers, step stools, booster seats, outlet plugs, toilet locks, infant bath tubs, bubble bath, kids bathrobes, slippers, etc etc) so you’re not packing everything but the kitchen sink; plus a dedicated kids’ room service menu (everything from chicken noodle soup to sundaes) and their choice of board games and stuffed toys. In some suites, staff will even set up an in-room teepee so children have their own little cubby to hang out in.

St Regis Aspen

Also right at the base of Aspen Mountain and an easy walk to Wagner Park, the St Regis Aspen has built a reputation as a luxury hotels that nails family travel. It starts in the lobby with the hot chocolate bar, then moves through to check-in, which comes with an activity bag for kids (complete with custom FAO Schwartz teddy bear, boujeeeeeeee!).

There’s a nightly champagne sabering ritual for the grown-ups, and all kinds of other luxuries available throughout your stay: a long list of baby items like step stools and wipes, the St Regis butlers on hand and ready to warm up your ski boots while you have lunch, a complimentary BMW for guests available to reserve and drive around town, the list goes on…

Viceroy Snowmass

Heated pool! Hot tubs! Poolside sushi service! Movies! Games! Free snacks! ‘Decorate your own cookie’ desserts at the restaurant!

This is the kind of place where kids go and never want to leave, all thanks to their ‘V Team Kids program’, i.e. a range of activities and amenities designed to ensure kids thrive. Little ones will feel at home here, from the adventure book with coloured pencils they get at check-in to daily scavenger hunts run around the village, complete with prizes. Plus their ski valet will take care of all the bulkiest of gear for you, so you’re doing less lugging-around of stuff while also trying to herd children. 

Limelight Hotel Snowmass

The dream for oh-so-many families, it doesn’t get much better than the Limelight. Its headline feature is a 54-foot indoor rock climbing wall, with routes ranging from a beginner self-belay lane for little ones up to full-height climbs for confident kids and kids-at-heart.

Beyond the wall, there’s a games room, two heated pools with cabanas and a fireplace, and everything you could ever want for travelling with little ones (cots, nappy bins, strollers, a games shelf in the lounge to entertain them while you’re eating, s’mores kits for roasting on the outdoor fires, etc etc). It sits right in Snowmass Base Village, so you’re steps from the ice rink, the gondola, and bulk activities.

The “Make-Your-Dollar-Go-Further” end of town

Budget snow travellers, we see you and we’ve got you.

Snowbest reader Mel and her family have been going to Aspen for fifteen years, and jokes that they often feel like the “poorest people in Aspen”, decked out in their Aldi gear. But they still make it work, because it feels like such a home away from home.

We just love the four mountains. Everywhere feels so safe to us, my daughter went out to X-Games on her own this year and I felt comfortable with her doing that. We put everything we have into this annual adventure, and that’s what we do as a family for the year.

Mel’s tips

In Aspen, the St. Moritz Lodge & Condominiums is the go-to, with free cots, a pool, hot tub, and even shared-bath hostel rooms for the truly budget-minded, all an easy walk to the gondola.

Snowmass is another good option; with so much of the accommodation being ski-in, ski-out, you’ll likely still be able to secure a great location without spending quite so many of the big bucks.  

Food is where Mel and the family cut costs. They pick hotels with free breakfast (bagels, berries, boiled eggs) so they don’t need to buy food separately. The family also packs snacks and a lunch to eat on the mountain rather than buying all meals a day. The kids get a bread roll and a bar in their pockets, and the family sometimes cooks pasta in the room instead of eating out.

Take advantage of free aprÈs-ski perks like popcorn and wine for the social side without the cost.

Whichever direction you go, the free Aspen Snowmass bus system still connects everywhere, so you’re not stuck paying for parking or a rental car just to get to the slopes. Booking out of peak weeks (Christmas, President’s Week) and travelling in the shoulder season can also make the biggest dent in cost.

The lift passes: How much are they really?

There are some great deals on ski passes to be had to Aspen through the SKI10 or SKI30 packages. This is a “secret” pass for international skiers and boarders, and offers unlimited riding for the duration of the pass (SKI10 = 10 consecutive days, SKI30 = 30 consecutive days), plus additional savings on ski & snowboard lessons, Four Mountain Sports rentals, and accommodation.

You just need to stay a minimum of four (for SKI10) or seven (for SKI30) nights at a participating Aspen Snowmass lodging property, booked through an approved wholesale ski travel operator.

Buy before the end of August for the absolute best prices; around AU$1100 for a SKI10 adults pass, and $1400 for SKI30. (For comparison’s sake, a full season’s pass to Aspen is over US$3000 – over AU$4200, and a day pass at the ticket window can be US$300 alone in peak season.) However, earlybird deals are still available until the end of October.

If your trip is last minute, the deadline for booking is by the 15th of the month for arrivals in the following month (e.g. book by January 15, 2027 for all February arrivals).

What about other passes?

If you don’t want to opt for the SKI10 or SKI30, you can also ski Aspen with the IKON pass. Both the IKON pass and the IKON base pass now include various options for skiing Aspen Snowmass; Ikon Base Pass holders get 5 exclusive days at Snowmass for the 2026–27 season with blackout dates applying, while the Ikon Pass still includes 7 days at all four Aspen Snowmass mountains.

Kids ski free… say what?

You read that right! Kids under the age of six always ski free, and kids between the ages of seven to 12 ski free with a purchase of rentals at Aspen Snowmass (when booked by August 31).

Just rent ski gear for a minimum of two days from Four Mountain Sports, and Aspen will provide complimentary lift tickets for the same number of days. Valid for stays from January 1 until the end of the season, and like the lift pass, book by the 15th of the month for arrivals in the following month.

This deal is also best used via an approved wholesale ski travel operator, as they have true insight into how to make the most of all the discounts available to your family (and can often package up in-resort credits to sweeten the deal).

Childcare: How it actually works

Childcare is excellent in Aspen. There are many, many highly qualified babysitting and nanny services based around town, and hotels will often have a recommendation or be able to arrange a babysitting services upon request.

If you’re looking for a more formal child care experience, the Treehouse Kids’ Adventure Center in Snowmass Base Village is the creme de la creme of care for babies from 12 months of age and up; a huge, state-licensed, multilevel facility with childcare, rentals, retails and entertainment, all with nature-themed rooms grouped by age.

The day care is available from one year olds up to the age of about four, with each age group having its own dedicated space (a “Butterfly Room” for infants/toddlers, a “Bear Den” for preschoolers, and so on). Reservations are essential, especially over Christmas/New Year’s and Presidents’ Week. Call or email to book well ahead.

Packing for daycare: A waterproof coat, snow pants, boots, hat, mittens and sunglasses; a change of clothes; sunscreen and lip balm; diapers or pull-ups; any special toys, blankets or dummies your child requires; and formula, food, and bottles for children ages 1 to 2 years old. They provide wipes. Be sure everything is labelled.

Budget: Prices fluctuate at different times during the season, but expect to pay a minimum of US$200 per day (about AUD$285 at time of writing).

Ski school across the mountains

Kids can start group lessons from the age of 2.5–3. For the littlest, non-toilet trained of skiers (and Aspen only offers ski lessons at this age, no snowboard lessons), you have the choice of half-day or full-day programs at either Snowmass or Buttermilk, featuring a one-hour ski experience each morning, with all of them including a lesson, lift ticket, equipment (including a helmet), lunch and snacks.

These lessons take place in either the dedicated learn-to-ski area just outside the Treehouse, or the equally well-planned spot over at The Hideout in Buttermilk. Each make for a seamless blend of indoor and outdoor fun that’s way more enjoyable for the kiddies; when they aren’t skiing, expect them to be enjoying reading nooks, climbing walls, treehouses, rope ladders and rope bridges. Those who are toilet trained, and closer to the age of four, also have the option to spend more time skiing.   

From the age of five and up, when little rippers are really ready to shred up the mountain, Aspen Snowmass offers full-day kids group ski lessons at Aspen Highlands (intermediate levels and up), Buttermilk, and Snowmass, and full day group snowboard lessons at Buttermilk and Snowmass only.

Bookings are essential at least seven days out, and can be made here.

Budget: Prices vary for lessons; but expect to pay a minimum of US$310 for a full-day lesson (about AUD$445 at time of writing).

What about tweens and teens?

The Max 5 Group lessons for ages 7 to 12 and for 13 to 17 offer a maximum of five in each group lesson and available at Aspen Highlands (ski only) and Buttermilk and Snowmass. Your offspring will tackle everything from cruising the groomers to coaching for pipe & park, big mountain, bumps, carving, racing, and freestyle. Just bring your own lunch or money for lunch.

Where to eat with kids

Snowmass Base Village and downtown Aspen both have a reasonable spread of casual, family-friendly restaurants. You may be eating more pizza and burgers than the fine-dining rooms Aspen is famous for, but at least everyone’s going to be having a good time.

Do not leave Aspen without eating truffle fries at Ajax Tavern at the base of Aspen Mountain, and chilli and cornbread fireside lunch at Elk Camp at Snowmass.

Otherwise, here are few village-wide favourites worth knowing about that have been personally recommended to us by families who, like us, love Aspen:

Hickory House is an Aspen institution and a true local favourite, a log-cabin BBQ joint on West Main Street known for baby back ribs, pulled pork and lumberjack-sized breakfasts of pancakes and French toast.

The Big Wrap on East Durant Avenue is the locals’ go-to for a quick, affordable lunch, with burritos, wraps, bowls, salads, and smoothies from a tiny counter-service spot run for years by owner Babs, who’s known for being a legend. It closes at 6pm, so get in there by 5.30 for an early dinner.

Red Mountain Grill, out at the Aspen Golf Club, is a bit of a detour (you’ll have to catch the bus to the Truscott stop and walk a few minutes) but it’s worth it for the happy hour, the kids menu and the comfort food classics like mac and cheese, turkey burgers, and buttermilk chicken with waffles done fabulously well.

White House Tavern is consistently recommended as one of the best restaurants for families in Aspen. Their kids menu has a mac and cheese with gruyère, and even a petite steak. Expect a wait (about 30-60 minutes, no reservations).

Aspen Public House in the historic Wheeler Opera House is a solid, low-key option for a family meal or a casual drink, with plenty of reasonably priced meals and drinks alongside elevated options.

New York Pizza, tucked upstairs off the Hyman Avenue pedestrian mall, is an easy option for a fast, cheap, filling meal, and grabbing it slice by slice means you can grab a variety for fussy young eaters without committing to a whole pizza. It’s counter-service and casual, with a few tables, so it works well as a quick stop rather than a sit-down dinner.

A few other town favourites…

CP Burger is a solid, no-fuss choice for families; burgers, fries, and milkshakes (including spiked ones for the grown-ups) right in the heart of Aspen.

After dinner, a wander down to Paradise Bakery for ice cream is a classic Aspen ritual for families; expect flavours like mountain honey vanilla and cappuccino toffee crunch, alongside their famous homemade lemonade and hot apple cider.

Paradise Bakery

Paradise Bakery

Keep in mind that most family-oriented lodging in Snowmass has a full kitchen or at least a kitchenette. Mel and her family, for example, recommend shopping at Aspen grocery stores, Clark’s Market or City Market, to stock up on things like pastas, crackers, bread rolls and other snacks, so you can save on not having to eat out every night. If flying via Denver or Grand Junction, you can also stop by a Walmart, Trader Joes or Wholefoods.

Non-ski-day backup plans

Altitude, weather, or a toddler meltdown may cost you at least one ski day at some point, so it’s worth planning for it rather than fighting it. The good news is Aspen Snowmass has plenty to fill a low-key day without a single lift ticket involved. This isn’t just a tourist town, after all; from the fancy planned events to the low-key favourites, there’s always something to discover.

A hot tip from the locals is to pick up the local paper each morning with your breakfast. Events, free concerts, and family activities around town change daily and don’t always make it onto the big tourism websites.

In the meantime, here are some things to add to the to-do list…

Snowmass Village and downtown Aspen have enough shops/playgrounds/movie theatres/galleries to fill an entire day. The Treehouse Kids’ Adventure Center sometimes functions as an indoor play space outside of formal childcare hours, so it’s worth asking what’s available if you’re looking to kill some time (or have your small child entertained while you do some shopping/sightseeing around town).

The Collective is the community hub of Snowmass Base Village, and its Game Lounge is the standout for kids. Expect a giant ball pit shaped like nearby Ziegler Reservoir, neon foosball, ping-pong, an interactive music wall and a “Selfie Den” for family photos, all wrapped up in a bright art space. PLUS free ice-skating right outside! Families often treat it as the after-skiing wind-down spot before dinner just to really get all the energy out so maybe, just maybe, the kids will be asleep by 7pm.

Ride the Snowmass gondola up to Elk Camp at night for ‘Ullr Nights’, as Aspen calls them; named after the Norse God of snow, you can access outdoor winter activities, s’mores, and hot chocolate by the bonfire. Enjoy the lit-up tube park or try the Breathtaker Alpine Coaster, which winds riders through over 1.6km of forest at speeds of up to 28mph (with riders controlling their speed all the way down).

For something even more special, book a family-friendly snowcat dinner. You have two options: dinner at Cloud Nine Bistro, a European-style ski hut 10,000 feet up, or at The Cabin, a Western-meets-old-world retreat. Either way, you’ll be driven up the mountain in a heated snowcat, stargazing along the way, before arriving for a three-course meal by the fire.

ACES (the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies) is another local favourite for the same reason, reliably a hit with kids. Their 25-acre nature preserve sits right in the heart of Aspen, a real “can’t believe this is in the middle of a ski town” sort of surprise, with a nature trail loop and indoor trout stream. They also run snowshoe tours with their naturalists throughout the season on the mountain (discounted if you already have a lift pass).

The Aspen Recreation Center is worth keeping in your back pocket for a low-energy or rough-weather day. It packs over 18,000 square feet in and includes pools open year-round, ice-skating, hockey, an indoor climbing and bouldering wall, sledding and full gym facilities.

Locals also rate the Red Brick Rec Center in Aspen for soft play if you’ve got a baby or toddler in tow. Its headline feature for is the Playhouse for kids up to five years old. It runs on select afternoons during the week plus Friday mornings in winter and is only about $5-10 per child. Plus they’ve got a great rock climbing wall for older kids.

Even Aspen’s public library, right downtown across from the famed Hotel Jerome (where Hunter S. Thompson used to write), has a great kids area. Beyond books, there’s a puppet corner, bins of magnatiles and train tracks, and regular storytime for kids of all ages. You can even get a temporary visitor library card if you’re visiting for an extended stay.

If you’ve got a little more time up your sleeve, Glenwood Springs’ hot springs pool is a fab detour, a 45-minute drive away. It holds the prestigious title of the largest mineral hot springs pool in the world, with diving boards, a splash pad and a waterslide.

All in all, Aspen is a mecca for outdoors lifestyles, and you’ll find lots of people around getting outside with a baby or toddler in a carrier. Hiking or snowshoeing is very doable, and taking the gondola up to the top of either Aspen Mountain (fab views, plus a restaurant) or Snowmass (for the restaurant and alpine coaster) is an easy way to get everyone up the mountain together.

Smuggler Trail, right in Aspen, is sun-exposed and fairly accessible year-round; just bring a traction device like Yaktrax cleats for your shoes, and maybe poles if it’s snowed recently.

The bottom line

Expect at least one day that’s more survival than powder-day bliss. Naps may not be on schedule, flights may not be on schedule, and your small child may eat a cracker (or two) off the floor of a gondola cabin.

BUT Aspen Snowmass is about as engineered for this exact trip as a ski resort can possibly be. The childcare infrastructure, the activities, the gentle terrain and the walkable village all exist because Aspen has spent decades trying to make this work for families.

Book everything early, respect the altitude, and enjoy lapping up the magic of the mountains. And beyond everything, have FUN!