There’s no question skiing puts a dent in your wallet, but this season Colorado Ski Country USA resorts provide affordable fun for families looking to hit the slopes, including kids-ski-free programs with complimentary or discounted lift access.
The good news, deals are available for every skill level from newbie to expert, and for skiers or snowboarders. Here is a sampling of what’s available.
Got a middle schooler in the house? The fifth- and sixth-grade Passport Program offers fifth graders the chance to ski or ride three days (for free) at any of the 22 participating member resorts across the state. Meanwhile, sixth graders can ski for four days at the same 22 resorts for $110. All passport holders receive one complimentary junior rental from Christy Sports.
At Arapahoe Basin Ski Area children under age 5 ski free every day. Families can obtain a free 5 and under lift ticket by bringing their child to the ticket window.
Aspen Snowmass offers free lift tickets with equipment rentals from Four Mountain Sports for children aged 7–12. The package must be booked with lodging through Stay Aspen Snowmass and is valid Jan. 1–April 21. Kids aged 6 and under always ski free at Aspen Snowmass.
Copper Mountain offers the One, Two, Free! package for children aged 12 and younger, including free skiing with purchase of a two-day adult lift ticket. Kids aged 4 and under always ski and ride free at Copper. Copper also offers free lift tickets to try the Easy Rider magic carpet in Center Village. You can get your complimentary ticket at the ticket window.
At Loveland Ski Area, children 5 and under can ski and snowboard for free. For children ages 6–14, Loveland offers a free season pass with the completion of the Three-Class Pass. Children’s full-day lesson packages include a lesson, lift access, ski and snowboard equipment rentals, helmet and lunch.
Loveland Basin Ski Area. Photo: Arinahabich08 | Dreamstime.com
Purgatory Resort participates in the Power Kids program, which offers a free season pass valid at Purgatory Resort and Hesperus Ski Area to children ages 10 and younger. Purgatory also gives free lessons to those who have never skied or snowboarded before.
At Steamboat Resort the Kids Ski Free and Grandkids Ski Free programs give children aged 12 and younger free lift tickets and free rentals for the same number of days as their parent, grandparent or legal guardian with the purchase of a five-or-more day adult lift ticket and a five-or-more day rental package.
Telluride Ski Resort offers free daily lift tickets at the lift ticket window for children aged 5 and younger, as well as season passes for $25. Discounts also are available for those aged 6–24 on daily lift tickets and season passes.
Winter Park Resort’s Kids Ski Free program offers free skiing and riding for children 12 and younger with the purchase of Winter Park lodging and a three-day adult lift ticket.
Don’t see your favorite Colorado Ski Country USA resort listed here? Check out the association’s website
for more deals.
Read This Next
#WhereverFamily
Insta FeedDestinations
Sep 2, 2026Look Past the Traditional Classroom with Scott Dunn’s Back-to-School Itineraries
Parents looking to provide their kids with hands-on learning experiences going beyond textbooks by visiting unique destinations with family-centric approaches will find that and more with Scott Dunn's private, expert-led itineraries. These experiences provide lessons the classroom cannot.
Sponsored Content
GET TO KNOW TAP FORBIZ
Unlock flexible, refined business travel with TAP Air Portugal’s program, TAP FORBIZ. Developed for small, medium and large Companies, with options for corporate events, TAP FORBIZ offers exclusive advantages adapted to each type of business.
Destinations / North America
Sep 2, 2026Visit an Old-Fashioned County Fair in Maine
Celebrate autumn with a family trip to a traditional New England county fair. These annual celebrations of agriculture and country life are filled with sights and activities for the whole family to enjoy, from admiring prize pumpkins and meeting live animals to witnessing horse shows, listening to country music and dancing, and doing craft demonstrations. Most fairs also have carnival rides and hands-on activities for kids.
Destinations / Europe
Sep 2, 2026A Brand-New, World-Class Aquarium Coming to Dublin, Ireland
A groundbreaking new marine attraction, OceanÈire, was recently announced in Dublin, Ireland, promising to redefine family entertainment, marine research and conservation in Ireland. While a debut date and specific location has yet to be revealed, OceanÉire already unveiled several details of the multimillion-dollar aquarium.
Sponsored Content
Best of Both Worlds
Enjoy the best of both worlds when you fly with TAP Air Portugal thanks to the Portugal Stopover program. With the program, TAP passengers, whether traveling for business, leisure or both, can stop in Portugal for up to 10 days at no additional airfare on the way to their final destination. What does this mean for travelers wishing to explore by both land and sea? It means after flying to Portugal with TAP and experiencing the country in an entirely new way, travelers can then embark on scenic river and ocean cruises from Portugal’s port cities, or fly with TAP to another European destination.
Travel Tips
Sep 1, 2026TikTok Revolutionizes Travel Planning and Inspiration
With an estimated 1.9 billion users worldwide, TikTok influences nearly every part of our lives, from food to fashion. The app so profoundly changed the way we travel, it now describes itself as a “modern-day travel agency, itinerary planner, and travel blog rolled into one.” Using TikTok to plan travel is so popular, the app recently launched TikTok Go to make booking even easier.
ShareThis