Top 10 Colorado Winter Bucket List for Families
Looking for incredible and unique experiences? Check out this Colorado winter bucket list for families to experience an unforgettable visit to this adventurous state. I’ve compiled a list of ultimate winter experiences in Colorado. Some we have checked off the list, some are still patiently waiting on our list.
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This is a family-friendly winter bucket list for Colorado. So if it’s listed below, the kids can join, too! Instead of sitting around waiting for the cold and snow to move on, jump in and enjoy these amazing moments in Colorado!
Table of Contents
1. Ice Climbing in Ouray
While Lake City is known for professional ice climbing, Ouray is a great place where beginners and kids can climb.
Head to the Switzerland of America for a day on the ice. Ouray has its own little area that is perfect for climbers of all levels.
The Ice Park in Ouray offers over 200 climbs for visitors. It is FREE to use the ice park, though it’s strongly recommended that you get a guide and a lesson with a certified guide, especially for first-timers.
2. Snow Fort in Keystone
Go back to the days of your childhood by playing in a snow fort.
This one is a big deal though. At the top of Dercum Mountain in Keystone, you’ll find the world’s biggest snow fort. It’s filled with caves, slides, and even a little tubing hill for the kids.
If you’re skiing for the day, take a nice break at the fort. Otherwise, you’ll need to ride up the gondola ($) to access the fort.
3. Strawberry Hot Springs
At the very top of the road beyond downtown Steamboat Springs is the famous Strawberry Hot Springs. These are arguably the most beautiful hot springs in Colorado.
Strawberry Hot Springs allows you to soak in a very natural setting. If you want hot spring pools, head downtown to the rec center.
But if you want to feel like you are just sitting in the outdoors in a natural hot springs, this is the place. You’ll be surrounded by stone work, not cement displays, in this environment.
Kids are welcome before dark.
Note that you need a 4WD to make it up to the hot springs. Don’t have one? No problem. There are shuttle services that run back and forth for hot springs visitors. You can book a shuttle here.
4. Ice Castles
Ice Castles are a BIG deal in Colorado. These magical places will make you feel like an ice queen/king as you walk through some incredible architecture.
The Ice Castles use to be in Dillon, but they have moved to Cripple Creek (a bit beyond Colorado Springs) for the last couple years.
At night, the castles light up for an exciting experience.
The kids will love going down ice slides, climbing through ice caves, and checking out the impressive ice sculptures.
Watch here for updates and purchasing tickets. They sell out FAST!
5. Stay in a Yurt
Staying in a yurt must be on your Colorado winter bucket list. This is an exciting, unique, and cozy way to spend some family time in the thick of winter.
There are yurts all over Colorado. Some state parks, like Golden Gate Canyon and State Forest State Park, offer yurt reservations. You can also head to YMCA Snow Mountain Ranch in Granby to stay in a yurt.
If you really want to escalate this bucket list experience, try snowshoeing into a yurt for a great wilderness getaway. There are plenty of options that aren’t too far to trek to, making it great for families.
6. Train Ride Through the Royal Gorge
Royal Gorge is known as the Grandest Canyon in Colorado. There’s no better way to experience all the beauty than taking a train ride right through the gorge.
As you ride, you’ll be among cliffs that rise up to 950+ feet to the side of you. Plus, you’ll get the scenic Arkansas River flowing alongside you.
The train ride has plenty of options. Take the lunch train to experience all the scenery in the daylight. You can also book a dinner train, though the darkness may limit your views.
If you visit in November/December, try the Santa Train. We did the Santa train with the kids and they had a blast singing, getting their bell from Santa, and riding through the Christmas village alight in color.
👉🏼 Book Your Royal Gorge Winter Ride
7. Ski Vail
While Ouray is the Switzerland of America, Vail is seen as the Bavarian getaway in Colorado. It has both German and Swiss influences in its architecture, food, and local shopping. Vail should be on your Colorado winter bucket list for a couple reasons.
First, the village is adorable, fun, and feels like a getaway in itself.
Second, this is THE place to ski. Vail was always my favorite growing up. The ski resort is huge and has more than enough runs to last a few days.
We skied here often growing up and I remember always thinking how we never did the same run twice, and yet there was still so much more mountain to ski.
Vail is one of the largest ski resorts in the world, and 2nd largest in North America. Rent some skis and then enjoy over 5,000 acres of terrain for all abilities. And the snow is always great. Not only is skiing Vail a bucket list item, but it’s just a great place to take that winter vacation.
8. Race of the Santas in Breckenridge
Colorado does well with its unique races. In October, you’ll find coffin races in Manitou Springs, and come December you can run with a bunch of Santas down the main street in Breckenridge.
This bucket list item is unique and a really festive way to visit Colorado. The first weekend of December brings the Lighting of Breckenridge and the Race of the Santas. If you’d like to participate, put on your Santa suit and join the fun.
No suit? You can stand on the sidelines and enjoy quite a site and the Santas make their way down a few blocks of main street.
Spend the rest of the time doing some winter hiking or staying warm inside.
👉🏼 Find the Best Cabins in Breckenridge
9. Snowmobile through Rabbit Ears Pass
Snowmobiling should definitely be on your bucket list when you visit Colorado. As you go up into the mountains, you’ll find perfect snow conditions and wide spaces to explore.
In fact, Fodor’s Travel named Steamboat Springs as one of the top 10 places in the US to snowmobile thanks to its champagne powder.
Rabbit Ears Pass, up toward Steamboat Springs, is the perfect place to snowmobile in Colorado.
Playing in Rabbit Ears Pass is free as it is national forest land. Snowmobiling is allowed on the EAST summit, while only non-motorized activities are allowed on the west side.
When we went snowmobiling, we used Steamboat Snowmobile. They’ll pick you up right at your hotel/lodging and bring you up to the cabin full of gear. You’ll then be guided through the open space and forest of Rabbit Ears.
When we went, we got “free time” in an open meadow area, allowing us to play around a bit.
I highly recommend giving snowmobiling a try. Kids can hop on with an adult and enjoy the adrenaline and scenery as well.
👉🏼 What to do in Steamboat in Winter
10. Snow Tubing at Copper Mountain
There are many places to go snow tubing in Colorado, but Copper comes out on top year after year.
The hill at Copper isn’t just a hill. It’s actually a long track with bumper sides to keep you going in the right direction.
You can go over and over for an hour of fun, with a magic carpet lift to pull you back to the top.
This incredible tubing hill is open to families. Kids must be 36″ to ride, and must ride alone. Kids cannot ride with a parent.
If you book online at least a day in advance, you can get a little discount to help.
Colorado Winter Bucket List for Families: Wrap Up
While there are sooo many things to do in Colorado during these snowy months, these are the top 10, bucket list-worthy activities that Colorado offers.
Skiing Vail is definitely a bucket list item for skiers looking for the best slopes in America. The largest snow fort in the world is definitely going to be on the top of your kid’s list. If the timing is right on your visit, you can also enjoy the Santa train and even running amongst hundreds of Santas.
All these Colorado winter bucket list activities are family-friendly, so bring the kids along and pick a few exciting experiences to make those winter memories.
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