デンバーの未就学児向け屋外冬のアクティビティ：スキー、そり遊びなど！ 

Colorado is one of the best places for outdoor winter activities for preschoolers. Year-round access to the mountains provides families with an abundance of ways to have fun and spend time outside. As your child grows, their curiosity about nature, weather, plants, and animals creates the perfect opportunity to explore outdoors, stay active, and enjoy fresh air together. Winter, and specifically snowy conditions, can be the perfect time to introduce your preschooler to new activities and help them fall in love with the outdoors in a new way. Bundle up and explore fun ways to get your child excited about outdoor winter activities this season.

Downhill Skiing for Preschoolers 

Helping your little one learn to ski can take time and patience. From the gear and equipment to the longer times spent in sometimes chilly temperatures, there is a lot to consider. Colorado Parent magazine suggests teaching your child to ski in your backyard. 

Other tips to help you and your preschooler get the most out of skiing include: 

• Try on boots and skis at home, indoors, to get them used to the firmness.
• Help your child improve by trying out a small, low-angle hill near home or at a local park.
• Wear your own gear and join in on the fun so you can experience the sport together.
• Make it fun — use phrases like “pizza pie” and “french fries” for ski position and bring hot chocolate and special treats to create a positive, memorable experience.
• Try indoor skiing first at Shredder Indoor Ski and Snowboard School, an indoor slope made from Astroturf-style material that offers year-round children’s programs in a safe, warm environment, with gear included. 
• Remind your child that falling is part of learning – and that trying something new takes practice and patience.

Hit the Mountain

When you both are ready to take skiing to the next level, there are a number of easy-access “magic carpets” (low-angle uphill conveyor-belt style walkways that take skiers to the top of the hill where they can then ski down). Slopes with magic carpets are perfect for beginner skiers. Here are a few destinations near Denver that offer child-friendly learning areas and on-site ski rentals. 

• Eldora — Just over an hour from central Denver, Eldora Mountain Resort is a small, local ski hill near Nederland. Eldora offers a short, beginner-friendly lift that stays low to the ground, perfect for first-time skiers. Day passes are $29 for kids ages 4 and under and $99-$150 for ages 5 and up, depending on the day. The resort also offers $379 season passes for children 5 and older. 
• Loveland — Also within driving distance from Denver, this small ski area offers a Loveland Valley Only ticket which gives access to the magic carpet and beginner lifts for only $30.
• Keystone — Multiple magic carpets and beginner low-angle slopes make this a great choice for first-time skiers. Kids ski free with overnight stays at nearby participating lodges. Lift tickets are $134 for children but are reduced to only $74 if purchased 4 weeks in advance.
• Winter Park – With lift tickets for kids ages 4 and under costing only $20, this winter escape is a good option that’s less than two hours from Denver. Kids also ski free if they participate in a group lesson. Don’t feel like driving? Amtrak’s Winter Park Express offers a convenient way to get to and from the slopes for as low as $4.50 each way for kids ages 2-12. 

Looking for something closer to Denver?

• Ruby Hill Rail Yard – This free ski and snowboard location in Denver is typically open in January and February, pending snowfall. Located off South Platte River Drive and West Florida Avenue, the Rail Yard is open from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. with lighted hours from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. daily. 

Ski Deals for Preschool Families

Colorado offers a range of deals for young skiers, from rental programs to discounted passes. 

• Colorado Ski Country USA Ski Passport — Kids in grades K-6 can access 19 Colorado ski areas. Passes are $77 for children in grades K-2 and $82 for grades 3-6. Also included are two free junior daily ski rentals from Christy Sports.
• EPIC SchoolKids Colorado Pack – This free program offers kids in grades K-5 four days of skiing at each of the 5 participating Colorado resorts: Breckenridge, Vail, Beaver Creek, Keystone and Crested Butte. The free pass also includes one first-time lesson and participation in the Junior Trade rental program, saving 50% every time you trade in a set of skis and poles for your child as they grow. 

Nordic Skiing Outdoor Winter Activities

If flatter terrain feels like more of a fit for your family, there are several beginner-friendly Nordic ski options close to Denver. Also known as cross-country, Nordic skiing is a great form of exercise and a fun way to enjoy the winter months without the expense of downhill skiing. 

• Eldora, Keystone そして Snow Mountain Ranch (YMCA) offer day access to nordic trails and ski rentals on-site. 
• For more recommendations, check out Uncover Colorado’s list of “The Best Cross Country Skiing Near Denver。」

Sledding for Denver Preschool Families

There’s no better way to enjoy the winter months than a day of sledding in fresh snow. Besides being free and an activity that’s close to home, sledding is a blast for all ages. Here are a few recommendations from Do303 for sledding and tubing locations within driving distance of Denver. But you don’t need to travel far for sledding fun – Denver and the surrounding metro area have plenty of great hills to explore, including:

• Robinson Park: 200 Fairfax St., Denver, CO 80220
• Ken Caryl Sledding Hill: S. Kipling Pkwy & W. Ken Caryl Ave., Littleton, CO 80127
• Wallace Park: 4798 S. Wabash St., Denver, CO 80237
• Central Park: 8801 M.L.K. Jr Blvd, Denver, CO 80238
• Harvard Gulch Park: 550 E Iliff Ave, Denver, CO 80210
• Ruby Hill Park: 1200 W Florida Ave, Denver, CO 80223
• Barnum Park: 3225 W 4th Ave, Denver, CO 80219
• Jefferson Park: 2201 Clay St, Denver, CO 80219

Outdoor Winter Activities for Preschoolers: Ice Skating and Snowshoeing

If skiing or braving I-70 isn’t in the cards, ice skating is a fun way for your family to make magical memories. While it takes a bit of coordination and a few tumbles along the way, it’s a classic winter activity that can be enjoyed indoors and outdoors. 

• Here are 5280 Magazine’s 「12 Best Places for Ice Skating In and Around Denver.” Admission to each location varies and ranges from about $7-$15/person with ice skate rentals either included in the price or costing between $2-$5 per person (most all places have ice skate rentals available onsite). 
• Skaters new to the sport are encouraged to try Parker Ice Trail, a unique outdoor ice trail offering ski aids for beginners, fire pits to warm up and concessions to keep little ones energized. This frozen river trail is open every day, and tickets are just $9 for ages 3-9. Grab some hot chocolate and watch or lace up your skates and give it a try this winter! 

Another way your family can enjoy quiet time outdoors this winter is snowshoeing. Snowshoe trails may require a bit more of a drive, but exploring the winter woods is a rewarding experience for all ages – with no additional skills needed.

• Check out Visit Denver’s “Best Places to Snowshoe Near Denver.” Many outdoor retailers, like REI そして Outdoors Geek offer daily and mulit-day rates for snowshoe rentals starting at around $10/day for youth rentals.  

Simple Outdoor Winter Activities for Preschoolers 

Having fun outside this winter can be as simple as making a snowman, a snow angel, building a snow fort, or having a friendly snowball fight. No gear or expense required! 

• Enjoy winter fun at home or head to Denver Children’s Museum Snow Days. The seasonal exhibit features a sledding hill, life-size winter dioramas, a faux ice rink, hot chocolate, fires and s’mores! Admission to the museum, including the Snow Days exhibit, is $19.75 per ticket for non-members ages 2 and up. Tickets are discounted by 44% with a CityPass discount.
• Celebrate a day outside by making snow ice cream with your kids – get creative with sprinkles or your favorite toppings! 

However you decide to enjoy the snowy winter days, Denver Preschool Program has you covered with activities, events, recipes and sanity savers. Stay in the loop by subscribing to DPP’s bilingual monthly newsletter, Family Dispatch. And don’t forget to apply for preschool tuition support from DPP (2026-2027 application now open!) – save on preschool costs and have more money in your pocket for winter fun!