Top Places To Go Sledding In Colorado's Mountains
Tubing in Vail (credit: CBS)
The beautiful weather of spring has finally arrived and the Colorado mountains are calling out to the sledding enthusiasts. In less than a two-hour drive, thrill seekers of all ages can leave the city life behind and zip down gorgeous fresh white powder with nothing but smiles on their faces. There is no need to deal with the ski racks and uncomfortable equipment; simply pack up the car with a picnic lunch, warm clothes and an attitude for adventure.
Historic Fraser Tubing Hill
455 County Road 72
Fraser, CO 80442
(970) 726-5954
www.frasertubinghill.com
Just past the Winter Park ski area is the Historic Fraser Tubing Hill. Only a two-hour drive from Denver, the Original Fraser Tubing Hill is a great place to spend a day. The slopes are well groomed and the ride to the bottom is long. Ideal for families and friends on a budget, this place offers smooth and fast rides down long slopes. Especially for those on a budget, this activity is perfect for both families and couples looking for a great time. Family operated since 1971, part of the charm of this gem is the rustic warming house complete with very affordable hot chocolate, apple cider, sodas, hot dogs, corn dogs and some sweets to refuel for more runs. Then there's the bonus of screaming down the wide open hill with the luxury of a tow rope to coast all of the way back to the top. Shoot down the hill alone or with a wild and crazy group of tubers and this will be a memorable day.
Related: Top Views At Colorado Ski Areas
Colorado Adventure Park
566 County Road 721
Fraser, CO 80442
(970) 726-5779
www.coloradoadventurepark.com
As far as sledding goes, Fraser is where it is at. Colorado Adventure Park is so close to the Historic Fraser Tubing Hill that an entire day or even a weekend can be made into the highlight of a snowy season. Find that thrill by sledding down a slick hill surrounded by Colorado's stunning blue skies and green trees. This is not the neighborhood hill down the block; Colorado Adventure Park offers fabulous and fun hills with plenty of room for all ages of riders. Just like skiing, it has green, blue and black hills to meet everyone's skill level. There is even the added bonus of avoiding the tunnel traffic by escaping I-70 early. No worries about dragging that monster tube back up the hill as the tube escalator will zip guests back up to the top with ease. The prices are incredible with rates pretty much half the cost of the big resorts.
Snow Tubing at Adventure Point
Keystone Mountain
Keystone, CO 80435
(800) 354-4386
www.keystoneresort.com/activitiesdetail/adventure+point
What more do sledding and tubing enthusiasts need than an exhilarating ride down long smooth mounds of fluffy white greatness under a blue spring sky? Keystone is not just for snowboarders and skiers; it also has two amazing and exciting snow tubing areas. The thrill and fancy slopes come with a higher price which, for many, is well worth it. Keystone is already well known as a local favorite resort in Colorado, and its Snow Tubing at Adventure Point offers it all. Challenging is the word to describe these runs as they require riders to be at least 42 inches tall to take part in the adventure. Keystone has fun man-made tube shoots as well as more traditional small hills. Parking can be a bit tricky so arrive early to avoid any hassles.
Copper Mountain Tubing Area
509 Copper Road
Copper Mountain, CO 80443
(866) 416-9874
www.coppercolorado.com/tubing
A straight shoot up I-70 just past Frisco is the epic ski resort of Copper Mountain. Not everyone wants to ride down a mountain on slippery skies or play balancing act on a snowboard. Copper Mountain Tubing Area offers an ideal adventure for families, couples and friends who just want to zip down a slippery slope of awesomeness and scream with pure joy. Reserve a weekend and experience the best of both worlds with a day of skiing and a day of sledding. What may be the best part of Copper Mountain's tubing is its place named Critterland. Here the younger sledders less than 36 inches tall can play on a tubing carousel, crawl through tunnels, climb ropes and explore a snow den. A friendly staff is there for the riders' every need and parking and the shuttle are free in the Alpine parking lot.
Frisco Adventure Park
621 Recreation Way
Frisco, CO 80443
(970) 668-2558
www.townoffrisco.com/adventure-park
Just over the tunnel a few miles in is the turn off for Frisco and the promise of a great sledding adventure. Good prices, fun and a friendly staff await sledding enthusiasts at the Frisco Adventure Park. Riders only have to be 36 inches tall and this place has five lanes of slippery fun with a magic carpet ride to pull the rider to the top. This place has some added luxury with its Day Lodge where guests can warm up before and after the snowy fun. There is a huge room with a fireplace and lots of comfortable chairs to kick back and relax in. For the less adventurous parent who just wants to kick back and relax with WiFi and a fireplace, this little resort has it all.
Related: Top Ice Skating In Denver Metro Area
Colleen Bement is a freelance writer covering all things Denver. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.
