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Physical and cultural activities abound at the four Aspen mountains, some of Colorado's most family-friendly snowsports and adventure destinations.

One company in western Colorado owns and operates the mountain resorts at Aspen, Aspen Highlands, Snowmass and Buttermilk. Together, they comprise 5,000 acres of Rocky Mountain terrain, arguably the finest winter sports resort in North America. Since Aspen and Aspen Highlands are the most challenging mountains, and Buttermilk is not as developed, visiting families with athletes of different abilities will find Snowmass the destination that best meets their needs.

On pure snowsports terms, Snowmass is hard to beat. The mountain is generally open mid-November to mid-April and enjoys about 300 inches of snowfall annually. The 3,132-acre terrain is carved into 91 trails -- nearly 150 miles -- about half of them intermediate level. Snowmass' 4,406-foot vertical rise is served by 24 lifts. Best yet, families who may be susceptible to altitude sickness will find the basecamp at 8,104 feet pretty comfortable.

Snowsports Instruction for All

The Aspen family of resorts is known for the wide array of learn-to-ski and learn-to-ride programs available at each mountain. There are programs to serve every life stage between toddler and senior; every ability from novice to extreme Olympian; and myriad interests from women's-only to back country and more. At the new Snowmass base, Brush Creek, the Treehouse Kids' Adventure Center is a convenient one-stop center where parents will find the Ski and Snowboard School check-in, lift ticket purchase, and rental/retail for students of all ages.

Since 1996, more than 5,000 disabled or handicapped family members have come to study with the famous Challenge Aspen program that provides one-on-one special snowsports training in winter.

The full range of Snowmass/Aspen facilities can be made available to the disabled, in large part due to the many local volunteers who escort participants on the slopes. Events like the 2007 International Paralympic Committee Alpine World Cup, where two super Gs were held on the face of Ajax at Buttermilk, testify to Challenge Aspen’s success. Major snowsports graduates of the program include visually impaired skiers, sit-skiers and disabled skiers who have lost the use of appendages. In their honor the Winter X Games now held in town include a medaled mono-skiercross event.