8 of the Best Family-Friendly Ski Resorts in North America

There are ski resorts known for bottomless powder, glitzy après parties, and terrain that will make your knees quiver, but what if you're looking for a relaxing vacation with the entire family?

Look no further than these eight resorts.

8. Sun Valley, Idaho

Lift Ticket Cost for Children: Bald Mountain, Ages 5–12: $85–$123; Dollar Mountain: TBA

Description: Ironically, Sun Valley's Bald Mountain is notoriously steep. The groomed 'Green Circle' trails have a pitch more akin to an 'East Coast Black Diamond,' but fear not, Sun Valley has a separate mountain perfect for you and your family.

Dollar Mountain is a haven for beginners and families. The low-angle terrain, award-winning groomed slopes, and widespread snowmaking allow Sun Valley to tailor the experience specifically for families.

Step into the beautifully designed lodge to warm up with a hot cocoa, or enroll the kiddos in ski lessons while you venture over to Bald Mountain for a taste of Sun Valley's expert terrain. Sun Valley sells cheaper lift tickets that only provide access to Dollar Mountain. These are perfect for a family that doesn't plan on testing their mettle on the steeps and deeps of Bald Mountain.

After you're done on the mountain, take the family to one of Sun Valley's Resort's heated pools, hop on the free bus into town for a meal or a night of shopping, or enjoy an ice skating show.

Key Takeaways: Separate mountain, lifts, and runs for beginners and families, and a robust ski school for kids 5–14+.

7. Camelback Resort, Pennsylvania

Lift Ticket Cost for Children: Kids 5 and under ski free.

Description: Conveniently located just two hours (by car) from Philadelphia and New York City, Camelback has welcomed families for generations. The resort can get crowded on the weekends, but weekday vacationers are treated to wide-open slopes, excellent snowmaking, and night skiing across nearly the entire mountain. Camelback has a massive rental fleet and its fair share of ski instructors if lessons are what you're seeking.

New as of 2015, Camelback's Aquatopia Indoor Waterpark is a show-stopper for families with young children. Named the #1 Indoor Waterpark by USA Today multiple times, it's a no-brainer for off-the-slope entertainment for the entire family.

Key Takeaways: Family-friendly terrain, massive indoor waterpark, and free lift tickets for children 5 and under.

6. Keystone Resort, Colorado

Lift Ticket Cost for Children: Prices vary depending on when lift tickets are purchased and for which days. Check Keystone's website for details.

Description: How do become known as one of the most family-friendly ski resorts in the United States? Well, if you're Keystone, you build a 3+ mile long Green Run called 'Schoolmarm' and provide a wide variety of off-mountain activities.

Keystone offers the following non-skiing activities that are sure to keep you and the entire family entertained: The World's Largest Snow Fort, snow tubing, sleigh rides, ice skating, and a slew of family fun events hosted in the resort's large base village. If you're looking for a family getaway that's close to a major airport (less than a 2-hour drive from Denver International Airport), start with Keystone Resort.

Key Takeaways: Expansive terrain for beginners and intermediates, wide range of off-mountain activities, and close proximity to Denver.

5. Northstar Resort, California

Lift Ticket Cost for Children: Prices vary depending on when lift tickets are purchased and for which days. Check Northstar's website for details.

Description: Lake Tahoe's various ski resorts have a reputation for rugged, big mountain terrain, but not at Northstar. The resort offers an expansive trail network of groomed runs on nearly every lift. Meaning, if you're up for it, there are endless possibilities for exploration and plenty of views of Lake Tahoe.

Key Takeaways: Wide variety of groomed runs for skiers of all abilities, modern lift infrastructure, base village with restaurants, and off-mountain entertainment.

4. Deer Valley Resort, Utah

Lift Ticket Cost for Children: Ages 0–4: $50, Ages 5–12: $117–$192

Description: Deer Valley is a skiers-only mountain, and one of only three resorts remaining in the United States to prohibit snowboarders. The resort is known for its world-class grooming, speedy chairlifts, excellent snowfall quality, and uncrowded slopes.

Deer Valley limits the amount of daily lift tickets sold to prevent over-crowding. This benefits everybody on the mountain, but especially beginners, children, and even intermediates who appreciate the extra space on the trail. The resort has a robust ski school and a children's center for parents looking to hit the slopes for a few hours by themselves.

Key Takeaways: Uncrowded slopes, excellent grooming and snow quality, family-friendly vibe, and a dedicated ski school for the whole family to take advantage of.

3. June Mountain, California

Lift Ticket Cost for Children: All children 12 and under ski and ride for free.

Description: Often considered Mammoth Mountain's little sister, June Mountain is an oasis for skiers seeking an uncrowded and down-to-earth experience. The resorts are co-owned, meaning you could visit both on your trip, but many families choose to ski in June to avoid the big mountain crowds at Mammoth. Plus, it's hard to beat free lift tickets for all kids 12 and under.

Key Takeaways: Uncrowded slopes, free lift tickets for children 12 and under, laid-back vibe compared to Mammoth, small but packs a punch.

2. Steamboat Resort, Colorado

Lift Ticket Cost for Children: Ages 4 and under: $10, Ages 5–12: $90–$192

Description: If you're looking for the quintessential American ski town/ski resort experience, it's hard to ignore Steamboat Resort, Colorado. The resort is massive but does an excellent job separating terrain by difficulty and catering to beginners. Off-mountain activities seem to outnumber on-mountain skiing options if you can believe it. The resort offers horseback rides, snowmobile tours, snow tubing, snowshoe hikes, ice skating, and a bustling town and village for your family to explore.

Key Takeaways: Classic Colorado ski experience, wide range of amenities, massive trail network of varying difficulty, and a town worth exploring.

1. Smugglers' Notch, Vermont

Lift Ticket Cost for Children: Ages 5 and under: Free, Ages 6–18: $45–$85.

Description: You might think that 'America's Family Resort' is a slogan used by Walt Disney World, but you'd be mistaken—the title belongs to Smugglers' Notch Resort.

Smuggs, as it's referred to by locals, is a large ski resort by eastern standards, but it does a fantastic job of labeling terrain to separate skiers of varying abilities. The resort's Morse Mountain is the only place where Green Circle trails can be found. Sterling and Madonna Mountains loom overhead and provide a visual goal for kiddos to work towards.

Smuggs is known for its fantastic ski school and excellent off-mountain activities, including snow tubing, pools, movie nights, live entertainment for children, and a Ben & Jerry's scoop shop located in the main village. If you're looking for the entire family to enjoy their ski trip, it's hard to beat Smugglers' Notch, Vermont.

Key Takeaways: Award-winning ski school and kid's camps, separation of beginner terrain, friendly staff that caters to families, slew of off-mountain activities, and entertainment options.

Related: 10 Surprising Colleges with Ski Resorts Nearby

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