Family trips · · Peak Oxygen, Copper Mountain
Families come back to Copper Mountain year after year, and the reason is simple: the mountain is easy to understand. Easier terrain sits mostly on one side, steeper terrain on the other, and the villages at the base are compact enough that small legs can manage them. If you are planning a winter trip with kids, here is what to know before you go.
Pick the right base village
Copper has three main base areas along the bottom of the mountain. For families with young or first-time skiers, the western side is usually the best starting point. The gentle slopes and learning areas there let kids build confidence without sharing runs with fast experts. Center Village sits in the middle, with shops, restaurants and lifts heading to a wide mix of intermediate runs. East Village is closer to the steeper terrain. Copper is also home to Woodward Copper, an action-sports training center where older kids and teens can learn jumps and tricks in a controlled setting.
Free shuttles connect the villages, so staying in one and skiing from another is easy. Copper's parking and shuttle setup changes from season to season, so check the resort's website for this winter's details before you arrive.
Ski school and first days on snow
If your children are new to skiing or snowboarding, a lesson on the first morning is one of the best investments of the trip. Instructors know the beginner terrain, kids tend to listen to them more than to parents, and you get a few hours to ski on your own. Book lessons well ahead for holiday weeks and weekends, since popular dates fill up.
For families teaching their own kids, keep the first day short and the runs easy. A couple of hours of success on gentle slopes is better than a long day that ends in tired tears.
Things to do with kids off the slopes
Not every hour of a ski trip has to be spent skiing, and younger children especially need breaks. A few ideas around Copper:
- Tubing. Copper runs a tubing hill in winter, which is a great half-day for kids who are tired of their ski boots. Check the resort's site for sessions, heights and age limits.
- Ice skating. Skating in the villages is a classic evening activity when the rink is open.
- Snowshoeing and sledding. Gentle snowshoe routes and a bit of sledding near your lodging are easy ways to enjoy the snow without lift tickets.
- Village time. Hot chocolate, a fire pit and a little people-watching in Center Village make an easy afternoon.
Nearby Frisco is a short drive down Tenmile Canyon and has a Main Street with family restaurants and a nordic center, so it is easy to plan a quiet day off the mountain.
Packing tips for families
Kids get cold faster than adults, and they rarely say so until it is too late. Pack a warm base layer, a fleece and a waterproof outer layer for each child, plus a spare pair of gloves or mittens and extra socks. Goggles and sunscreen matter even on cloudy days, because the sun is strong at this elevation and snow reflects it.
Label everything. Matching rental helmets and black gloves all look the same at the end of a lesson.
Pacing your family at 9,712 feet
Copper's base sits at 9,712 feet, higher than many visitors are used to. Children and adults alike can feel tired, thirsty or out of breath during the first days. Plan an easy arrival day, keep water bottles handy and build in rest breaks. Early bedtimes help everyone feel better for the next day on the snow.
Talk to a doctor about any medical questions for your family before the trip, especially for very young children or anyone with a health condition.
Oxygen for your Copper stay
Some families like to have oxygen at their lodging for the first nights of a mountain trip. Peak Oxygen delivers in-home and portable oxygen concentrators to Copper Mountain for recreational use at altitude. No prescription is needed, and deliveries do not require you to be present. Questions? See our FAQ or call (970) 368-9190.
