Choose an Adventure
Hit the Slopes for Spring Skiing
March and April are often some of Colorado’s snowiest months — plus you’ll likely enjoy shorter lift lines, slope-side events and lots of sunshine.
Monarch Mountain, near Salida, is a super-approachable locals’ favorite mountain. Lessons are available for everyone and a laid-back vibe will welcome you, as does the occasional spring cookout in the parking lot.
Logging the most snowfall in Colorado nearly every year, Wolf Creek Ski Area outside Pagosa Springs is a reliable springtime spot for some great powder, paired with a super-friendly, down-to-earth personality and terrain for every level.
A short drive (when starting in Denver) and a famously friendly staff make Loveland Ski Area another good choice for families, typically open into early May.
The longest ski season in Colorado often belongs to Arapahoe Basin (often open into mid-June!), and their epic terrain and family-friendly spring concert series make it a sure bet for smiles.
Grow Their Love of the Outdoors
Experts will tell you that playing outside helps kids bolster creativity, reduce stress and stem aggressive behavior. Colorado’s spectacular public lands are the ideal places to get your whole family out exploring.
At Dinosaur National Monument in northwest Colorado, kids get amped to see fossils from the Carnegie Dinosaur Quarry, where approximately 1,500 dinosaur bones are left in place in a cliff wall. Plus, a number of self-guided trails are open for exploration.
Let them climb up and tumble down North America’s largest sand dunes at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in the San Luis Valley. A big spring bonus: The mystical Medano Creek sometimes returns this time of year, flowing by the base of the dunes and creating a beachy environment with pulsing, small waves.
Return to simple pleasures with a good, old-fashioned family fishing trip to Eleven Mile State Park, located smack in the middle of the state. The endeavor gets a Colorado-style upgrade with breathtaking mountain views.
Up for an adrenaline boost? Opt for a springtime rafting adventure (when snowmelt makes the rivers run faster). Your family will rely on teamwork to navigate legendary whitewater rapids with the help of a guide on the Animas River near Durango. Find a list of outfitters in the area.
Discover Watchable Wildlife
You can show them mountains, canyons, rivers and lakes, but nothing makes kids’ eyes light up like spotting a furry or feathered critter!
The area around Walden in northern Colorado is considered the moose-viewing state capital, with some 600 of Bullwinkle’s buddies roaming free. Wilderness access is easy at State Forest State Park, which even has a moose-themed visitor center.
The Colorado Birding Trail is actually a network of 54 trails renowned for their magnificent landscapes and unique bird species. Our picks for families are on the eastern plains, where you’ll find the exotic-looking Greater Prairie-Chicken in April and May (viewing tours recommended) or the springtime migrating beauties on the Playa Trail.
Every March, sandhill cranes migrate through southern Colorado, stopping in the potato fields, prairies and wetlands near Monte Vista. The tall, elegant birds are best spotted in the Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge — and during the annual Monte Vista Crane Festival, you can join in a viewing tour and an arts-and-crafts fair.
Want to get a guaranteed great view of bears, wolves, lions and tigers? Head to the Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg. This extraordinary rescue organization has saved more than 1,000 mistreated animals from across the globe and given them new life on the natural plains of Colorado. An elevated walkway lets you closely observe these majestic creatures without invading their space.