Skiing and snowboarding aren’t the only thrilling sports where you can reach supersonic speed while racing down a hill. Colorado snow tubing is also an exhilarating activity that’s fun for the whole family. It doesn’t really matter how old you are. Kids and adults alike love to zoom down the slopes on a speedy snow tube.
If you’re visiting the state or happen to live in Colorado, there are countless tubing and sledding getaway places for you to choose from. At several locations, there’s even a cup of hot chocolate and a warm fireplace to snuggle up next to waiting for you at the finish line.
Check out these amazing tubing and sledding experiences along with a handful of resorts that you may want to stay and enjoy.
Note, that most of these Colorado tubing hills require reservation and have a cost associated with the fun you will have. Be sure to check the respective website for details before going.
Copper Mountain Tubing
Our entire family (ages five and up at the time) all absolutely loved the Copper Mountain tubing hill. We grabbed a tube, let the magic carpet hoist us up the hill and then zipped down one of the five lanes in a square formation with four tubes held together by our hands holding the straps.
At Copper Mountain Tubing, there are all the downhill curves, bumps, and excitement you could want. The banked curves add an extra thrill. It is certainly an adrenaline rush.
There’s even a play area and mini tubing area for smaller children, under 36 inches tall, called “Critterland.” This is the place to let the littles get a feel for tubing, or just play in the play area.
The Meadows at Elk Camp (Snowmass)
If you’re looking for an unforgettable snow tubing experience, make sure you check out The Meadows at Elk Camp in Snowmass (Aspen)! Let the lift hoist you up the hill and then soar down.
Plan on dropping by on a Friday night during the winter peak season when Snowmass is holding one of their Ullr Nights festivities. There they honor Ullr, the Norse god of the snow, and you and your family can tube late into the evening.
If you choose to visit during a different time, they’re open every day during the winter season starting in late December.
Adventure Ridge on Vail Mountain
One of the few things on Vail mountain that is completely free to do, is to take the Eagle Bahn Gondola out of Lionshead village up to Adventure Ridge via foot after 3:30 p.m. That is how to get to Adventure Ridge. Even if you don’t want to splurge on Vail snow tubing, take the gondola up just before sunset and take in the mountain at night.
Snow tubing at Adventure Ridge is not free or even cheap, but it is a ton of fun. A conveyor belt hauls you and your (provided) tube up a steep hill in a protected tunnel. When you reach the top you hop in the tube and get a push down the hill from Vail Resorts employees.
You can speed down the groomed multi-lane hill in a group holding each other’s tubes. Or, you can go by yourself. Each way has offers its own version of fun.
Important: Sadly for the 2020-2021 ski season Vail Resorts will be focusing on the ski experience. Snow tubing will not be available this winter. We look forward to its return next winter!
Telluride’s Firecracker Sledding Hill
This quaint little town in Colorado, is a charming place to visit especially during the wintertime. The Firecracker Sledding Hill can be found on the south side of Telluride Town Park. There you can rent tubes, sleds, and skis for your favorite wintertime activity.
It’s also not too difficult of a climb up the hill but offers a slick and quick ride down. What’s even better about it, is that the admission is free, as well as the Galloping Goose bus that will take you around town. Be sure to stop in at the Telluride Truffle that has delicious gourmet chocolates and truffles, along with hot chocolate to warm you up afterward.
Devil’s Thumb Mountain Ranch (Tabernash)
Maybe a wintertime resort getaway for the weekend is what you’re hoping for. Even if you’re just looking for a day pass for an afternoon of tubing fun, at Devil’s Thumb Mountain Ranch they have everything you’re hoping for, and then some. They offer horseback and sleigh rides, snowshoeing, skiing, an ice skating rink, and of course, a fantastic snowy slope that’s perfect for tubing.
Hidden Valley – Rocky Mountain National Park
You may not have known this, but for many years Rocky Mountain National Park had a ski resort that was in operation, but several years ago it was turned into a winter playground for other sports as well.
Hidden Valley offers tubing, sledding, skiing, and snowboarding, along with the compliments of heated restrooms and a warming hut if you get too cold. You have the option of bringing your own tubes or renting from their sporting good shops.
Snow Mountain Ranch Sledding and Tubing Hill
Are you looking for a tubing destination that has both a stunning view of the Rockies and a place where you can kick back after snow tubing excitement? At Snow Mountain Ranch, there are over 5,000 acres of a beautiful winter wonderland to you can tube, sled, or ski on.
Tubes are available (no personal sleds), but no tow rope. Like sledding, you’ll be using your own two feet to get back up the hill.
There’s also an ice skating rink, an indoor Olympic size swimming pool, and a climbing wall if you’re up for the challenge.
And, here you can pick out and cut down your own Christmas tree from the forest to take home December 1 – 17, 2020. Saws, twine and holiday crafts included.
Insider Tip: Be sure to check out the dog sledding!
Frisco Tubing Hill
At Frisco Adventure Park, you’ll have the luxury of a ski lift that will take you directly to the top of the hill so that your legs won’t grow tired. Whether you prefer to ski or tube down their multi-lane slopes, there’s plenty of winter activities for everyone. If your heart desires too, you can even tube long after it’s grown dark outside and when the night ski is brightened with lights.
They also offer hot chocolate, adult beverages, snacks, and a place to warm up by the fire at their Frisco Day Lodge. Doesn’t that sound cozy and right up your alley? The downtown Frisco area has a charming feel to it and is also worthy of a visit while you’re there.
Mountaintop Snow Tubing, Keystone
Keystone Resort offers a fun snow tubing hill at Adventure Point. This steep multi-lane snow tubing hill at Adventure Point in Keystone is open for winter 2020-2021 as of December 12. Here get a lift up the hill and then whiz down on your tube as many times as you can during your hour (or half hour after 3:30 p.m.) session.
Ages 4+ and 42″ in height or taller ride their own tubes down the hill for ($30 for a half hour at 3:30 p.m.) or $45 for an hour. The Mountaintop Snow Tubing hill closes at 4 p.m.
Beaver Meadows Resort Ranch, Red Feather Lakes
Located in northern Colorado, Beaver Meadows Resort Ranch has plenty for you to do there including cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating, hockey, and you guessed it…tubing. They have 12 different runs that are suitable for various skill levels, so that skilled and unskilled alike, will still have a blast. There’s even a hill that smaller kids are sure to enjoy.
The resort has overnight accommodations for those that plan to make it a several day winter excursion. You’re even able to cut down your very own Christmas tree there, just in time for the holidays.
What to Know About Colorado Snow Tubing
The state of Colorado is certainly a beautiful place to visit, especially when it starts to snow outside. Several of these great places that have been pointed out are not only great for tubing, but for all your other favorite winter time activities that you enjoy.
With the Covid restrictions that everyone has currently been experiencing, make sure that you read each location and facility guidelines before you visit.
Which of these Colorado snow tubing hills will you plan on visiting during the winter season with your family soon? If you know of any other great hills for tubing in Colorado and they didn’t happen to make this list, leave a comment below with your knowledge and experience.
