Skiing Winter Park as a Family

As soon as I discovered the steep and playful runs off of the Challenger life (Cannonball on a powder day did it for me- I fell in love), we decided that Winter Park would be our family’s home mountain. We love the crunchy local vibe over at Mary Jane, I nursed my newborn daughter in Sunspot while my husband taught our son to ski, and my kids love to chase each other down the mountain on their skis over in Discovery Park. Winter Park is home. 

We tend to park at the North Bench lot, and take the pedestrian bridge over to the base this season (because we are wanting to avoid using shuttles right now). It’s a bit of haul with two young kids and their gear. Right now I’m carrying our two year old in a soft child carrier that I can roll up and stuff in my backpack when we ski. I’ve seen several parents pull their kids through the parking lots to the base in a cheap sled (that they stash at the base). Sometimes, you can find a wagon near the bridge- but you don’t want to rely on one, since they are not always available. Next season it’ll be a huge relief to hop on the shuttles again!

Mary Jane Base

Mary Jane is home to most of my favorite runs at the resort, and truly feels like a “local’s mountain”. But the easiest run back down to the base from most lifts is a blue (an easy blue, but still not quite appropriate for a child who is unable to control their speed). There is one lift for beginners, but children over the age of three will likely want the variety of beginner terrain more easily accessed from the Winter Park Base. 

Parking at Mary Jane is fantastic (if you arrive early enough to nab a spot). With several lots right along Corona Way (the long easy blue run back to the base), you can literally ski to the base of the resort in the morning, and ski back to your car at the end of the day. In the afternoon you’ll see people grilling and chilling at their portable fire pits and grills near their car. Again, if you end up parking a ways out from the base, shuttles can take you to and from the base.  

Beginner Zones

Unlike some resorts, Winter Park has several beginner zones scattered across the mountain. This is actually great! Especially if you are a family who has skiers with a range of ability levels! One of us can hang with our daughter in one of the beginner zones for a few hours while the other one skis with our son in more advanced terrain (located at one of the nearby lifts, so we can reunite for lunch easily). We’re going to be skiing beginner areas all season with our daughter- and likely some of next season as well (she turned two at the beginning of this season). It’s good to have a variety of terrain, and have several areas to explore. There are long green runs all over the Winter Park side, pull out the trail map and plan a route and have an adventure with your crew of explorers! 

Galloping Goose

This lift over at the Mary Jane base is totally free! This is where we started our daughter on skis when she was about 15-18 months old. This run is relatively flat and short, and is perfect for small kids who are just learning how to navigate a mild slope on their skis. When our daughter was just learning to walk in ski boots and click into bindings, we’d come set up at the Mary Jane side so the rest of us could enjoy skiing steep terrain while she got used to moving on skis (on terrain that did not require a day pass). She grew out of this area somewhat quickly, and was ready for more variety the following season.

Discovery Park- A True Beginner Zone 

Take the Gemini Express up to Discovery Park, and you’ll get dropped off to the top of two lifts: Discovery and Endeavor. Discovery is a true beginner area, with the easiest green runs on the mountain. The terrain is long, and has a low pitch, so kiddos can build some confidence, and you don’t have to chase them as frantically. You’ll also notice a race course style of cones set up during the day, where your kid can practice learning to turn. Our daughter’s favorite run is Ski Papa, a wider run in the trees, that helps her learn how to use terrain to turn. Endeavor, just next door, is another great area for beginners, with slightly steeper, longer runs. 

Prospector, Jack Kendrick 

Just behind Discovery Park is the Prospector Lift. When your little one has some strength and duration, and is looking for a slightly steeper pitch of completely non technical terrain, head over to the Jack Kendrick run. This is a long, long green run. Is this pitch a tad too steep? Take Easy Way down to make the run even longer for little ones who love taking their time to explore!

High Lonesome

Another one of our favorite beginner areas is High Lonesome. The High Lonesome Express offers long, low angle runs for beginners (and has some little side avenues to play in the trees). The top of the High Lonesome Express actually drops you off near Lunch Rock- our family’s favorite place for lunch (especially when we’re skiing steeper, more technical terrain over at Mary Jane)!

Because of the variety of beginner terrain at Winter Park, we can explore and move across the mountain as a family. Our two year old has been building her confidence and endurance, while our six year old has been learning how to link parallel turns. Finding appropriate terrain has been key to their learning and growth!