Best Family Ski Resorts in the Western USA

Mammoth Mountain Resort – California

Mammoth Mountain Resort has about 3,500 acres of skiable terrain

Originally formed by volcanic eruptions that resulted in a lava dome compound many thousands of years ago, Mammoth Mountain is on the eastern Sierra Nevada Mountain range, and home to Mammoth Mountain Resort in Mammoth Lakes, California. It offers about 3,500 skiable acres with more than 400 inches of annual snowfall and over 300 days of Golden State sunshine. Convenient flights are available directly to Mammoth-Yosemite Airport where guests can then take the short 10 minute complimentary airport shuttle to/from the resort when staying at any of the Mammoth Mountain Resort properties.

Mammoth Mountain Resort offers dog sledding

There is cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, snowcat tours, scenic gondola rides and dog sled rides. The ski and snowboard school is top rated and offers lessons for all ages, including private instruction. Childcare services with daily and weekly programs can include packages with ski/snowboard lessons. A variety of hotel and condominium accommodations including ski-in/ski-out lodging by the slopes are available to suit diverse budget and room requirements. Plenty of restaurants, bars, fitness clubs, pampering spas, shops and entertainment including a theater, cinemas, and a gallery featuring art, jewelry and photography are found at the village with free shuttle services throughout town. For more information on this fun getaway visit www.mammothmountain.com

Mt. Bachelor – Bend, Oregon

The Snowblast Tubing Park has an 800 rolling foot ride

Mt. Bachelor in Bend, Oregon makes families an offer they can’t refuse: kids 18 and under get free lift tickets with a parent purchase of an adult multi-day ticket in their “Kids Ski/Ride FREE” offer, with no blackouts or restrictions. Add to that ski or snowboard lesson packages with their Snow Sport Lesson Program and your family is off to a fantastic holiday. Adult and private lessons are also available. Mt. Bachelor boasts over 3,000 acres of dry snow terrain accessible by lifts, and one of the longest ski seasons in the USA from mid-November to late May. Visitors can go skiing, snowboarding, dog sledding, cross country skiing and take snowshoeing tours. There’s more fun with a NASTAR race course and Snowblast Tubing Park that features an 800 rolling foot ride and fast, comfortable surface lifts.

A soft golden sunrise illuminates the mountain at Mt. Bachelor

Diverse accommodations and lodging options are nearby, along with several restaurants, bars, coffeehouses, and the Mt. Bachelor Shuttle services (paid) to make transportation easy. Full and half day child care is provided by the Otter Mountain Daycare for children (infants to 12 years) at a low staff-to-child ratio in a safe and caring environment with wonderful activities including crafts, storytelling, videos and games. Nonstop flights to Redmond Airport are available from several cities, while the resort is a convenient 20 mile ride from the airport. For more information about this outstanding Oregon family ski resort please visit www.mtbachelor.com

Northstar-at-Tahoe – Truckee, California

Northstar-at-Tahoe has exciting recreation for families

At just a 45-minute drive from the Reno-Tahoe International Airport, Northstar-at-Tahoe in Northern California beckons guests with 3,000 acres of terrain for skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, tubing, various mountain and snowshoe tours, and ski and snowboard school for children and adults. Two Adventure Parks delight children with endless frolicking among slides, gullies and hills. Licensed childcare is available for children ages 2 and older. Families can also embark on geocache adventures – an exciting scavenger hunt with the help of a GPS device.

Snowboarding is one of the many activities at Northstar

The picturesque Village at Northstar entices guests with two cinemas at the village, bungy trampoline jumping, fine and casual dining, cafes, fitness classes, entertainment including live music on weekends, art galleries, shops, boutiques and craft stores including candle making, pottery painting, teddy bear making and jewelry design. Visitors can go ice-skating for free on the 9,000 square-foot village rink while onlookers sip hot beverages and roast s’mores in the surrounding cozy fire pits. The resort boasts a wide array of accommodations including ski-in/ski-out lodging and complimentary on-site shuttle service, and Northstar Resort lodging guests can enjoy the spas, saunas, outdoor heated lap pool, fitness center and teen center. For more information about the Northstar at Tahoe family ski resort in Truckee California, visit www.northstarattahoe.com

Park City Mountain Resort – Utah

This toboggan-style alpine coaster gives guests a thrilling ride

This historic Park City, Utah mountain getaway began as a silver mining town in the late 19^th century. Only 36 miles from Salt Lake City International Airport and easily accessible, this ski resort is a great destination for the whole family. Its 3,000 plus acres of diverse terrain offer fantastic skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, a NASTAR race course, sleigh rides, a toboggan-style alpine coaster,  tubing at Gorgonza Park with a miniature snowmobile track and play area for kids, restaurants, luxurious spas, and free shuttle service around town. There are ski and snowboard school lessons for all ages, and their Kids Signature Programs™ features small class sizes of up to five students so that children receive the personal attention needed to help them advance at their own paces.

The ski and snowboard lessons feature small class sizes for optimum learning

Guided historic mountain tours are offered for those interested in Park City’s fascinating mining town past. A host of lodging options with ski-in/ski-out access and proximity to notable Main Street are available. The town itself is a rustic blend of the old west and enchanting Victorian style, with restaurants, coffee shops, art galleries, museums and boutiques gracing historic Main Street with an irresistible charm. For more information on this resort visit www.parkcitymountain.com

Snowmass – Snowmass Village, CO

One of the world's largest mastodon sites from the Ice Age has been unearthed at Snowmass

Home to a recent discovery of mammoth fossils in 2010 with one of the world’s largest mastodon sites from the Ice Age, Snowmass is much more than a family ski resort. The excitement of this monumental discovery has spread across the mountain like wildfire and lends this resort a captivating scientific and historical edge. Imagine skiing on terrain where mammoths, giant ice age bison, and ground sloths once roamed! Snowmass in Snowmass Village, Colorado is especially wonderful for families with kids, and children 6 and under ski and snowboard free. It boasts over 3,100 acres of terrain, fantastic restaurants, ski and snowboard school and lessons, ice-skating, snowmobiling, snowcat rides, a variety of tours, and more than 40 miles of Nordic groomed trails for cross-country skiing. It also features complimentary shuttle transportation around the town, childcare services, and fantastic lodging, most of which are ski-in, ski-out accommodations.

These children are following their instructor down the slopes at the ski school

Its recreation center has several pools, climbing walls and fitness rooms with plenty of fun off the slopes. It also has a 25,000-square-foot children’s center called the Treehouse Kids’ Adventure Center that was unveiled in 2010. Free nature tours are offered daily at the Wapiti Wildlife Center along with complimentary hot cocoa and cookies. Winter concerts for families top off a perfect stay at this fantastic resort. The Snowmass ski resort is located less than 10 miles west of Aspen, Colorado.  The Aspen Pitkin County Airport makes getting here easy with nonstop flights from several major cities in the USA. For more information about this wonderful Snowmass Village, Colorado family friendly ski resort visit www.snowmassvillage.com

Squaw Valley – Lake Tahoe, California

Snomobile rides thrill children on the slopes

With over 170 trails on 4,000 skiable acres, Squaw Valley in Lake Tahoe, California is an idyllic family escape accessed by three international airports and a one-hour drive from the Reno Tahoe International Airport. Vacations to suit any budget can be planned with packages including lodging, activities, ski lessons, and more. One particular resort – The Resort at Squaw Creek – is a family favorite and features a triple chairlift on the property for ski-in, ski-out access to Squaw Valley, as well as a private ice rink, heated swimming pools, hot tubs, arcade, sledding hill, shops, delicious onsite restaurants, terrific kids’ programs and more. A free shuttle service operates throughout the village making transportation easy.

Squaw Valley Resort has night skiing

Squaw Valley boasts fantastic skiing, snowboarding, ski/snowboard school and lessons for all ages, cross country skiing and snowshoeing, snowmobiling, snowtubing, ice skating, dog sledding, scenic cable car rides, wall climbing, sky jumping for kids, and a huge free-form heated swimming pool and hot tub with crystal fountains and cascading waterfalls – a real treat after a day on the slopes! Visitors can stop by the Olympic Museum at High Camp and see an intriguing assortment of memorabilia, videos, articles, and photos from the 1960 Winter Olympics that were held in Squaw Valley USA. The cozy alpine village offers a tasty selection of restaurants, shops, boutiques and activities. While visiting Squaw Valley, make sure to see Lake Tahoe – the largest alpine lake in North America. For more information on this resort visit www.squaw.com

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About the Author: Jocelyn Murray is a travel writer and historical fiction novelist. She holds two university master's degrees in both English and Education, along with a bachelor's degree in Economics and European Studies. She also has a teaching credential and taught at the elementary school level.