Capturing family memories at Copper Mountain Resort

Copper Mountain Resort will always hold a special place in my heart because it was the first place I ever skied as a kid. 

Being from Texas, we only took a handful of ski trips during my childhood, but I’ll always remember the first one to Copper Mountain when my parents packed up me and my siblings in our minivan to make the 16-hour road trip to this laid-back ski resort just 75 miles west of Denver. 

It was the first time we ever saw Colorado mountains –– or real snow, for that matter –– so it goes without saying that it was also the first place we ever clicked into skis, which I wouldn’t classify as a successful experience. I recall some less-than-graceful beginner attempts at the sport, coached by my dad (who was also learning), which resulted with me veering off the trail, tumbling into the snow and losing a ski in a mound of powder. It was nothing serious enough that hot cocoa couldn’t fix, but it left me with a memory that still puts a grin on my face a few decades later.

Copper Mountain’s world-class naturally divided terrain is for skiers and riders of all levels. Photo by Jeff Smith

Now that I’m a mom, this family-friendly resort nestled in the heart of the Colorado Rockies has become one of our favorite destinations to travel with our own three kids and a place we’ve been fortunate enough to visit together through various seasons –– once for spring skiing, another trip to experience the summer fun on offer, and most recently, for a winter ski weekend just last month. 

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While we prefer the direct flights into Denver to the long road trip, and we leave the “teaching the kids to ski” part up to the resort’s incredible instructors, one thing has remained a constant since my very first visit: Copper Mountain makes it easy to capture unforgettable memories with your family. 

Copper Mountain is celebrating its 50th winter season this year. Photo by Mauri Elbel

If you’re considering a spring ski trip, this is a great time to set your sights on Copper Mountain, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary all season long and commemorating the milestone with everything from specialty food and drinks to mountainside activations and photo ops. Here are just a few reasons why I’ll always love Copper Mountain and will jump at any chance to go back. 

The incredible instructors

On an early February morning at Copper Mountain Resort, I watched puffy cotton ball clouds float high in a bright blue sky above slopes layered in freshly fallen snow that glittered like a billion tiny diamonds in the sunshine. 

We had just arrived to Copper Mountain late the night before, but we somehow managed to bundle up in all of our winter gear, grab ski rentals for five people, shovel down hearty breakfast croissants and make it to our family private ski lesson only 20 minutes past schedule –– no small feat with three groggy kiddos in tow. 

We met up with Jeff Smith, an instructor and coach for Copper Ski and Ride School for the past nine seasons with nearly 30 years of Colorado teaching experience under his belt. It only took a few minutes to discover Smith’s nickname at the resort –– Fog, which he tells us stands for “Fast Old Guy,” and that he holds a record as the fastest American on a snowboard. By the time we make it to the lift, Smith feels like an old friend we’ve known for years. He has a way of putting everyone instantly at ease and a smile on all of our faces –– even our youngest who was feeling especially timid about being back on skis for the first time in more than a year.

“I never had a doubt she would have more fun than anybody,” Smith tells me at the end of a full day spent working with our 8-year-old on basic skills and instilling confidence in her skiing in a way that felt more like fun and games than instructions and learning. “We never have a tough day out here –– we always find that ‘hook’ for each person because once you find that, it’s easy to help them enjoy themselves.”

Jeff Smith, an instructor and coach for Copper Mountain’s Ski and Ride School, makes ski lessons fun. Photo by Mauri Elbel

Although all five of us ski at different levels, Smith was able to teach each of us various skills that made us stronger skiers in a single day, from instructing our daughter how to make wide turns around imaginary baby elephants he carved out with his ski pole in the snow to showing our boys how to ski over bumps and through trees to teaching me to leverage my turns. 

At the end of the day, we were skiing blues together with all three of our kids, and on the last day of our trip, our two boys were speeding down some challenging blacks on a fresh powder day –– and we owe it all to the first day spent on the slopes with Smith.  

Copper Mountain Resort is a favorite destination for families. Contributed by Copper Mountain Resort

The family-friendly skiing

Copper Mountain boasts more than 2,500 skiable acres and 140 marked trails across its three peaks and four bowls, which get covered in roughly 300 inches of average snowfall each year. And while it’s one of the largest ski and snowboard resorts in Colorado, Copper Mountain has managed to hold on to its unpretentious, family-friendly, cozy-neighborhood vibe. 

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But one of my favorite things about the mountain is how easily navigable it is, thanks to Copper’s naturally divided terrain that’s suited to skiers and riders of all ability levels, whether they are beginners, intermediate or advanced. 

“Copper is unique that we have this naturally separated terrain,” says Smith. “West Village has all the gentle slopes, and as you work your way to Center Village, they get a little more challenging. Then, as you go to the East Village, it’s more expert terrain. You have to work really hard to go from the easy trails to the jaws of death, which is really attractive to first time families. Copper is pretty easy to navigate.”

As a mom of a family that only skis once or twice each year, that’s something I appreciate.

Writer Mauri Elbel and family having a blast on the Bubly Tubing Hill.

Off-the-slope fun

Copper Mountain’s three centralized villages serve as home base to a slew of slope-side lodging options, family-friendly restaurants and fun off-the-slope adventures. In fact, whenever we stay at Copper Mountain, we don’t leave the resort, which is a huge perk for families with kids. 

We like to ski until we are tired, grab a late lunch or après ski drinks and snacks and then continue our day with some off-the-slope fun. One evening just before dinner at the resort’s newest restaurant, Sawmill Pizza & Taphouse, we made our way to Copper’s Bubly Tubing Hill and spent an entire hour sliding, spinning, speeding (and squealing) down snow tubing lanes featuring thrilling downward dips and banked turns. Afterward, be sure to check out the free, super fun snow maze right next to the base of the hill. 

Sawmill Pizza & Taphouse is the newest restaurant to open at Copper Mountain Resort. Courtesy of Copper Mountain Resort

The following afternoon, after a morning of skiing and late lunch of delicious burgers and fresh salads at Downhill Dukes, we braved the Rocky Mountain Coaster. The thrilling ride descends 430 vertical feet, zipping you through trees and snowy mountain terrain. At 5,800-feet long, it’s the longest coaster in North America and it’s guaranteed to entertain the whole crew. 

Another day, after skiing until our legs burned, we treated ourselves to an après ski beer at Ten Mile Tavern, where you can choose from nearly 20 ice cold beers on tap and listen to live music. Then we made a beeline to reward the kids with a sweet treat and afternoon pick-me-up at Sugar Lips Mini Donuts –– you can watch made-to-order donuts fried right before your eyes and pile them high with every topping imaginable, from Nutella and powdered sugar to ice cream and Oreos. We followed it all up with ice skating –– there’s an ice skating rink on West Lake in Center Village just outside of City Pop which is open daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and if you’re shaky on skates, there are training aids up for grabs which makes it easy for anyone to enjoy.

Trying out ParkSkis at Woodward Copper Barn. Photo by Mauri Elbel

But our kids’ hands-down favorite off-the-slope adventure this trip was the morning we spent at Woodward Copper Barn before departing back home. This 19,400-square-foot action sports playground and indoor training facility features giant foam pit jumps, skateparks, BMX zones, Olympic grade trampolines and more –– plus, it’s the official training center for U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes, so there’s a good chance you’ll spot some famous athletes training at the resort. We signed up for an intro session to learn some tips and tricks before we were let loose to enjoy several hours of bouncing, jumping and flipping ourselves into foam pits. Our boys brought along their helmets and ski boots to try out ParkSkis where they clicked into short skis with wheels (imagine two ski-shaped skateboards) and took turns rolling down ramps and jumps of varying heights. 

It was the perfect place to wear the kids out before our trip back home, and just another one of the many new memories we brought back from Copper Mountain.