• About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Media
  • #outfam
  • NEWSLETTER

Outdoor Families Magazine

Where Families and Nature Unite

  • HOME
  • REWILDING
  • OUTDOOR EDUCATION
  • OUTDOOR GEAR
  • OUTDOOR FAMILY TRAVEL
  • GETTING OUTDOORS

Colorado’s Snow Mountain Ranch a Sleigh-Full of Outdoor Family Fun

October 8, 2019 by Erin Kirkland 1 Comment

  • Share54
  • Tweet1
  • Reddit
  • Pocket
  • Flipboard
snow mountain ranch
Guests ride the runners of Snow Mountain Ranch dogsled teams. Image courtesy Jessica Averett.

by Jessica Averett – Families who enjoy winter vacation adventures are all too familiar with the price tag that often accompanies them. Between warm clothing, expensive gear, and resort prices, planning a winter vacation may tempt parents to quickly clean out little Johnny’s college account to finance the trip. But, Colorado’s Snow Mountain Ranch is a destination that’s different, a place that will not only leave you with plenty of money in the wallet, but might actually initiate a laid back family vacation.

Snow Mountain Ranch is a YMCA of the Rockies resort (along with another property in Estes Park, CO) that specifically caters to families. Located only 80 miles from Denver, Snow Mountain is also ideally situated for a quick and easy getaway. From buffet-style dining to myriad activities and helpful staff, everything is focused on helping families have a fantastic time.

Kids want to skate for only 45 minutes? No big deal, the family can head for a sledding hill right outside. Getting cold? Walk to a heated pool, or check out the climbing wall. Don’t want to worry about meals or finding a family-friendly restaurant? Use the dining hall. Oh, and did I mention that rooms start at under $100 per night, and include most activities, so parents needn’t fret about pinching pennies at every turn?

snow mountain ranch
Tubing and sledding are easy to find at Snow Mountain Ranch. Image courtesy Snow Mountain Ranch.

Family Activities at Snow Mountain Ranch

Dog Sledding: A rare treat to introduce everyone to the sport of dog mushing. Spend a morning imagining yourself in the Iditarod, without freezing in the middle of nowhere. The resort’s friendly cadre of mushers have been working with dogs for years, and happily teach visitors the mechanics of training, harnessing, and driving a team by placing passengers on a double sled for a thrilling ride.

Trips were relatively short (20-30 minutes), but the perfect length to excite our kids without too many chilled fingers and toes. We finished off with hot cocoa and s’mores by a cozy bonfire, making this a favorite activity with our crew.

Nordic Skiing: With more than 100k of trails, the Nordic Center at Snow Mountain Ranch welcomes all abilities, beginners to Olympic hopefuls. The ski shop is located next to the main trailhead, making gear rentals very simple. In no time, staff had our older kids geared up, the toddler tucked into a Chariot sled, with directions to great trails nearby.

snow mountain ranch
Snow Mountain Ranch staff cater to kids, knowing that a warm fire and yummy s’mores go a long way toward happy campers. Image courtesy Jessica Averett.

No gear to lug around, no crowds to fight, just helpful people encouraging us to enjoy our adventure as a family.

Horse-Drawn Sleigh Rides: Get in tune with your inner cowboy on a sleigh ride through the snowy fields of the Rockies. Whether choosing an itinerary including dinner, or taking a shorter trip to enjoy the scenery and some cocoa, kids will enjoy the authenticity of this outdoor activity.

Sledding: While sledding hills are abundant in the Rockies, a groomed spot right at your fingertips is convenient, indeed. Nothing says winter quite like grabbing a sled and racing down the slope, a kid again. In no time, my husband had built jumps, and my kids laughed uncontrollably as they crashed over and over into the soft powder.

Alpine Skiing and Snowboarding: For more speed, downhill skiing is just around the corner at either Winter Park or Granby Ranch, both of which can be accessed in under 20 minutes. While separate from Snow Mountain Ranch activities, skiing the Colorado Rockies is amazing experience that should not be missed.

Looking for more? Snow Mountain also features other kid-pleasing activities like swimming, rock climbing, skating, basketball, roller skating, horseback riding, archery, and crafts.

snow mountain ranch
The Nordic Center provides gear, including sleds for younger children, at Snow Mountain Ranch. Image courtesy Jessica Averett.

If you go:

Snow Mountain Ranch Cabins start at $149/night, Lodge Rooms at $79/night, yurts $94/night. All lodging includes day activity pass for each member of the party.

Dog Sledding: $25 for guests, $50 for day visitors.

Activity Pass: $20 for adults, $10 ages 6-12, Free 5 and under.

Cafeteria buffet prices range from $8.50-$14 for adults, $5.50-$10 for kids 6-12, and kids 5 and under eat free.

To find Snow Mountain Ranch, drive I-70 West from Denver to exit #232 for US 40. Follow US 40 for 12 miles past Winter Park to the entrance on the left.

Averett

Jessica Averett is mother to four young kids and is obsessed with skiing, rafting, and camping. Follow her adventures at Bring the Kids.

Related

Filed Under: TRAVEL Tagged With: Colorado, family travel, Snow Mountain Ranch, Winter 2019

Comments

  1. Audra Ostergard says

    April 10, 2015 at 4:35 am

    We ditched plans to go to Disneyland again this year for a winter trip over spring break. Snow Mountain Ranch was chosen due to location (from Nebraska), friends, activity and the YMCA has wonderful properties. We missed the dog sledding due to our timing; however, we had three outdoor-packed days of fun that included:
    – horse back riding (yes, all three days)
    – horse drawn sleigh ride
    – tubing
    – snowshoeing
    – cross country skiing
    – crafts
    – swimming.

    This is a great family friendly place. As we were leaving, kiddo already asked to go back.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Trending Outdoor Families Articles

  • Camping Packing List PLUS Expert Camping Storage Ideas - Printable!
  • The 12 Best Family-Friendly Whitewater River Rafting Trips in the U.S.
  • Hiking in Asheville – 15 Must-Hike Trails For Kids
  • 70+ Family Friendly Things To Do In The White Mountains, New Hampshire
  • 5 Best Camping Tent Footprints + Expert Camping Tarp Buying Guide

Get the Kids Outside

Semester-A-Trail Series: Experiential Learning On The Appalachian Trail

30-Day Mini Outdoor Adventure Activity Calendar – FREE Printable!

30-Day Rewilding Challenge Activity Calendar – FREE Printable!

Kids Walkie Talkies: 10 Best Under $50

The Ultimate Anchorage, Alaska Wintertime Family Vacation Itinerary

OUTDOOR FAMILIES MAGAZINE

  • HOME
  • REWILDING
  • OUTDOOR EDUCATION
  • OUTDOOR GEAR
  • OUTDOOR FAMILY TRAVEL
  • GETTING OUTDOORS

Search Outdoor Families Magazine

Outdoor Families Magazine Mission

Outdoor Families Magazine and Community strives to enrich the lives of multi-generational families internationally by providing unparalleled, award-winning outdoor and adventure related content meant to inspire a connection to, participation in and stewardship of the natural world.

Outdoor Family Community

  • View OutdoorFamiliesOnline’s profile on Facebook
  • View @outdoorfammag’s profile on Twitter
  • View outdoorfammag’s profile on Instagram
  • View outdoorfammag’s profile on Pinterest
  • View OutFam’s profile on YouTube

Privacy Policy

Outdoor Families Magazine Tree Logo - Cheryl Robertson Rosa

Copyright © 2022 · Magazine Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

  • 54
  • 1
 

Loading Comments...