When it comes to finding the best family ski resorts in Colorado, it can be daunting to discern the nuances between the properties among these epic mountain towns – but that’s where we come in.

With a wide array of ski experts within our travel advisor community at SmartFlyer, our team has scouted far and wide to find the best family ski resorts in Colorado for your next trip. Hotel Jerome and Madeline, Hotel & Residences fit the bill on all accounts, each bringing a distinct flair to Aspen and Telluride respectively.

What’s the difference between Aspen and Telluride?

Both mining towns turned ski resorts, Aspen and Telluride developed quite differently over the past few decades and in turn, cater to travelers in distinct ways. For families looking to plan their next ski trip, there are several factors to consider when deciding between the two destinations. On the skiing front, much of this begins with your ability level.

We Love Aspen Skiing For: The Scene Queen

Aspen Snowmass is ideal for slightly more advanced skiers and snowboarders. With four mountains – Aspen, Snowmass, Aspen Highlands, and Buttermilk – there are a variety of runs ranging from greens to double blacks, but it really is heaven for those who are comfortable on the slopes. The 2023/2024 season marks seventy-five years since the debut of the iconic Lift 1, so whether you’re tackling black diamond runs or gentle blues, you’re sure to run into ample regulars who’ve been coming here since they were on the bunny hill themselves.

We Love Telluride Skiing For: Salt to the Earth Types

Conversely, outdoors enthusiasts flock to Telluride for its approachability and laid-back vibes. With more beginner-friendly terrain, your search for the best family ski resorts in Colorado may land you in Telluride if you are looking for pistes your little ones can conquer. Interestingly enough, Telluride actually offers longer ski runs compared to Aspen and Snowmass, so advanced skiers will not be bored! Despite being contained to one resort, there are eighty-four trails, including rolling trails through alpine forests where you can cat- and heli-ski.

Where to Stay in Aspen and Telluride

Hotel Jerome: An Aspen Icon with a Storied Past

Known as the social hub of Aspen since its opening in 1889 at the height of the town’s silver boom, stories abound at Hotel Jerome, Auberge Resorts Collection. The property is a modern landmark in the heart of town, and is the only hotel that survived the silver crash, the long winters before the ski runs were even carved, and the Depression. While you’d hardly guess it walking into the iconic establishment today, the walls here have seen much of Aspen’s history, including real life cowboys, 10th Mountain Division soldiers gathering over pints at J Bar, and Hunter S. Thompson holding court while running for town sheriff. To stay at Hotel Jerome is to experience Aspen’s vibrant past and immerse yourself in its colorful present.

Rooms and Suites: Featuring ninety-nine rooms, Hotel Jerome is one of the great hotels of the American West, and its curated design ensures a boutique-feeling stay for its guests. Rooms and suites offer soulful Western-infused design; you can expect historically inspired furnishings to be offset by updated amenities and the modern-day luxuries you’ve come to love when staying with Auberge Resorts Collection properties around the world. Relax and rejuvenate in , the year-round heated outdoor pool and hot tub with unobstructed views of Aspen Mountain, or indulge in some serious self-care at the intimate boutique spa, Yarrow. But our insider tip is to check out the hidden fourth-floor balcony which makes for the prime spot for a quiet drink with views of the Colorado sunset.

Noteworthy F&B: Begin your mornings with coffee from the fabulous, Ken Fulk-designed Felix Roasting Co. before getting ready for the slopes. Dinners at Prospect – recently recommended by the Michelin Guide – offer an epicurean journey into Colorado’s local produce and proteins. Late nights often end at the historic J-Bar where you can’t miss peeking at the original Chinoiserie Chippendale till which has been signed by every bartender to ever work at the establishment since 1889. Start or end your evening at Bad Harriet, the on-property cocktail destination nestled beneath the historic Aspen Times building, where you’ll find libations inspired by strong women throughout history.

…the place to see and be seen in Aspen, Hotel Jerome is suited for social butterflies, ski bunnies, après lovers, foodies, friend trips, families, and those celebrating something special.

Who We Love Hotel Jerome For: Well established as the place to see and be seen in Aspen, Hotel Jerome is suited for social butterflies, ski bunnies, après lovers, foodies, friend trips, families, and those celebrating something special. Travelers with a taste for upscale shopping will appreciate downtown Aspen’s chic selection of retailers within walking distance from the property. A stay here is all about the experience, whether that means eating, drinking, and being merry to your heart’s content or spending long days on the slopes followed by buzzy afternoons meeting old and new friends at The Living Room, Aspen’s ultimate après destination.

Madeline, Hotel & Residences: Your Base Camp for Adventure

Perched in Telluride’s Mountain Village, Madeline, Hotel & Residences is framed by the majestic 14,000-foot peaks of the San Juan Mountains. In fact, the hotel is located just steps away from trails leading into Colorado’s backcountry and offers ski-in, ski-out access along with an on-property ski valet. With a heated outdoor pool, two notable restaurants, an ice skating rink, a full-service spa, and stellar Auberge Resorts service right down to the nightly stretch-down turn-down, nothing is overlooked.

Upon arrival, guests are welcomed by the newly renovated property’s refreshed palette of earthen hues and artful details inspired by the topography of the surrounding Colorado landscape. Elevated accommodations evoke a classic alpine ski chalet with modern sophistication with sleek furnishings, and artful details, including an in-room Adventure Bar and thoughtful amenities designed for the outdoor lifestyle of Telluride. With up to 1655 square feet, suites offer ample space for the whole family to spread out. The hotel’s world-class residences are ideal for longer-term stays and feature elements like kitchens and fireplaces to ensure you feel at home.

Who We Love Madeline For: Anyone looking for a gem hiding in plain sight will appreciate all that Telluride has to offer at Madeline, the destination’s only Forbes Five-Star Resort. If you’re looking for one of the best family ski resorts in Colorado, the Adventure Guides who curate activities for guests of all ages will ensure your perfect stay unfolds no matter how long you’re checked in for. SmartFlyer clients at Madeline have included families with young children, multi-generational families, wedding parties, bachelor or bachelorette parties, outdoor enthusiasts, and festival goers.

For those who are on the mountain, access to the Ski Valet makes the start of the day a breeze…they’ll lay your skis out for you – tips pointed down, of course – for a true ski-out experience.

Noteworthy Amenities: For those looking to hang back from the slopes, the on-property ice skating rink allows for a taste of the outdoors that keeps you close to the fireplace and all that Madeline has to offer. For those who are on the mountain, access to the Ski Valet makes the start of the day a breeze; just let the team know when you’re ready to hit the slopes and they’ll lay your skis out for you – tips pointed down, of course – for a true ski-out experience. As the day winds down on the slopes, return to your base camp for adventure where every afternoon Madeline’s GM sounds a custom-made Bernatone Alphorn to signal the start of après celebrations. Then, the whole family can indulge their sweet tooth with decadent s’mores around the firepit.

Experiences Beyond the Slopes

While you may be headed out West in search of the best ski resorts for families in Colorado, that’s not to say that you’re limited to days on piste. Both Aspen and Telluride offer a wide array of year-round activities that’ll keep travelers of all ages and abilities engaged. As always, work with your SmartFlyer travel advisor to ensure your on-the-ground itinerary is chock full of pre-booked reservations so that all you have to do once you check in is enjoy your perfectly planned trip.

Aspen

Curling and cocktails in The Winter Garden? A VIP trip to get your custom hat branded at Kemo Sabe? Snowmobiling to Maroon Bells? You just say the word. Perhaps your perfect day entails the kids going tubing down the carved lanes at Snowmass’ Meadows at Elk Camp with dad while you relax with the signature Mountain Moisture Facial by Clé de Peau Beauté – that can certainly be arranged. Or, if you left the family at home and are instead vacationing with friends, indulge in Hotel Jerome’s “Bumps to Bumps” après ski program which will have you going from the bumps on the slopes to floating bumps of caviar served to you in the hotel’s outdoor jacuzzi. Here, you can soak up Petrossian’s exclusive “Hotel Jerome Selection” Ossetra caviar expertly paired with Krug and Dom Perignon to warm you from the inside out.

Telluride

If you’ve landed at Madeline because of its firm position as one of the best family ski resorts in Colorado, it may be partially thanks to Mountaineer’s Base Camp. From Wednesday through Sunday, the hotel’s youngest adventurers (five and up) are invited to enjoy supervised activities so the parents can sneak away for some fun. Telluride is known for adrenaline-pumping outdoor adventures like the Via Ferrata and ice climbing. For a romantic outing, sleigh rides are available for you to cozy up with a loved one. Or, bring the kids for festive family portraits shot by a professional photographer with the San Juan peaks in the backdrop. Alternatively, for the adventure seeker, charter a flight from Telluride to the red rocks of Moab where you’ll land at one of the backcountry airstrips for a private picnic on a canyon ledge made by a chef at Madeline.