Disclosure: In return for our honest review my family and I were guests at Snow Mountain Ranch for a weekend of fun. All opinions are our own.
It is no surprise that living in Colorado we love taking trips to the mountains with the kids but after last summer we have a new favorite place to enjoy some family fun. Snow Mountain Ranch YMCA in Winter Park Colorado is the perfect place for all ages to come together and enjoy the beauty of the Rocky Mountains but also be so entertained with a ton of activities and new experiences.
What is Snow Mountain Ranch?
Located near Winter Park Colorado, Rocky Mountain National Park & Grand Lake; Snow Mountain Ranch offers a wholesome environment where friends, families & groups enjoy a tranquil setting, more activities than anywhere else & quality time together.
You can fill your day and nights at Snow Mountain Ranch YMCA with our programs and activities. Every season brings fun and excitement for the entire family. Whether you are looking for adventure or a relaxing stroll, we can set you on your way.
Activities at Snow Mountain Ranch:
Snow Mountain Ranch offers many activities on the property including hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, canoeing, zip lines, fishing, archery, climbing wall, crafts shop, mini-golf, swimming, both summer and winter tubing hill and more, making the destination an affordable and adventurous getaway for the whole family. (Most of these activities are included free for guests.)
Just like last summer we packed our 2 days full – exhausted but we had so much fun. This summer we had a few new experiences too. For one, Jude and Jeremy tried the outdoor wall climbing.
Jude was so excited and ready to try this but once he saw the wall he got super nervous. He must have inherited my fear of heights because this guy was not going any higher than a foot off the ground! Yikes!
Well, we tried and that is what matters and that is what I love about Snow Mountain Ranch, this camp gives us all the opportunity to explore and try new things with support from the staff.
Teagan did not weigh enough to do the wall climbing so she decided to go to the mini golf for the morning. The best part about this was that she found a little friend to go with her so they were playing golf together for a good 30 minutes. Love that!
Teagan loves arts and crafts and it is one of the things she remembers about the trip from last summer so while the boys were off at archery the girls went to the arts and crafts building for some afternoon creativity.
Tell me you remember doing these? Sand art!! So fun!! The crafts do cost extra but are VERY affordable for families. So many options for the kids to choose from too.
Okay and now for the big fun. Did you know that we are lucky enough to have 1 of the 3 summer tubing hills in the nation in our backyard?? It’s true! Last year we tried this summer tubing hill for the first time with Jude but Teagan was not old enough so this was her first year to experience. She was so excited!!
Okay, I might have been excited too! Seriously, I am not that much of an adventurous person but this activity has got to be one of my favorites. Riding tandem with the kids makes it even more fun. Seeing their faces and hearing their laughter – so priceless.
This video is of Jude’s first trip down the hill. Full of excitement!!
*A full-day activity pass is included in this price.
*Members of YMCA of the Rockies or another YMCA (with proof of membership) can use the tubing hill for $15 per person and receive a complimentary day pass.
Reservation, rules and amenities information:
Guests staying on-grounds can reserve their time slots for the tubing hill 3 days in advance at the Programs Building. Day visitors can reserve their time slots the day of their visit at the Programs Building. We highly recommend that guests book their time slot 3 days in advance. If you are a day visitor, please call the Program Department the morning of your visit to check on open times: 970-887-2152, ext. 4135.
Helmets are available for no additional cost.
Children ages 3-6 must ride with an adult (children 2 and under cannot ride).
Flip-flops are not allowed; shoes must be secure. Please do not wear loose clothing or hats.
A concessions and bathrooms house will be at the top of the hill for guest convenience.
Teagan loved it too! Funny that she didn’t really scream. Mostly looked around and laughed! So much fun!
Like I said we had a few new adventures this round and one of those was a fun experience called Lollygagging with Llamas! Yes, Jude and I took a selfie with a llama!! So fun. This free event happens a few times a weekend and it gives your kids the chance to learn more about llamas, pet them and lead them on a short family friendly hike. The kids were most excited to tell their Grandpa that they took a “grandpa” llama on a walk. Oh the memories!!
Jude is still showing that archery is one of his favorite activities and he is pretty darn good at it. From the time we told him we were coming back to Snow Mountain Ranch he was ready to do some archery again.
Snow Mountain Ranch is not just for summer! Snow Mountain Ranch is a year-round destination and winter activities include dog-sledding,Nordicskiing, snowshoeing, sledding (on real snow!) and indoor activities like archery, climbing wall, roller skating, crafts center and more. Also, Snow Mountain Ranch is located between the alpine resorts of Winter Park/Mary Jane and Ski Granby Ranch for families interested in downhill skiing or snowboarding as well.
If you are looking for a day camp while in Colorado Snow Mountain Ranch has an affordable and convenient summer day camp on-site for ages 5-13 – like kids club. Kids can attend for one or two days or a full week. Keep the kids busy and enjoy one of the more challenging hikes or mountain biking trails or just grab some grown-up time. We all love some grown up time don’t we!?!
General Information:
Accommodations range from lodge rooms, cabins of all sizes, yurts and campsites in the summer and even 8 bedroom reunion cabins that sleep up to 40 guests – perfect for a family reunion or corporate retreat. Plus, YMCA of the Rockies has on-staff retreat specialists to help plan large events. There is also an Estes Park location which is the place to be in the fall to see the Elk up close.
I know I have said this before but here we go again – I love being a blogger and social influencer. I love it for many reasons but one of the best reasons is because of the “in the computer” friendships I have made over the years. Lucky for us one of my long time blogging friends Molly from Molly Becky and her family were at Snow Mountain Ranch the same weekend we were! It was great to have meals with them and have the kiddos play and explore with each other.
As our summer is winding down I am thankful for this fun weekend with my family. I know we will continue to make this a summer tradition with our kids because it is such a great place to relax, explore, unplug and laugh.
Have you ever stayed at Snow Mountain Ranch? Or another YMCA camp?
What a fun place for a family vacation…it's looks packed with all kinds of awesomeness! I think my older son would love the archery and we probably couldn't get my youngest off those tubes! Colorado is so beautiful…we've only visited in the winter, but you're certainly tempting me with this summer spot!
I don't think my little guy would weigh enough to go up the wall, but there would be a fight trying to stop him. He'd be up it the first chance he could! He'd enjoy the crafts, too. I hope to take my family some day soon!
Looks like a wonderful place to visit! I used to always love doing Sand Art when I was younger. I bet my daughter would love it just as much as I once did. Tubing down that hill looks like so much fun, but tough on the nerves, too!
This look like a great place to go on a family vacation. There is so much to do and I know my family would enjoy all these activities. Tubing down the hill looks like a blast. The scenery also looks amazing.
I love the Rocky Mountains, although I've only explored them in Canada. Teagan looks like she had so much fun, I'm jealous! I'd love to go tubing, too. I'll definitely put Snow Mountain Ranch in Winter Park Colorado on my bucket list.
Wow the snow mountain ranch looks very picturesque and the landscape is absolutely beautiful. It's fun to bring kids to appreciate nature and have activities here. This is perfect for summertime adventure with the family.
What a fun place for a family vacation…it's looks packed with all kinds of awesomeness! I think my older son would love the archery and we probably couldn't get my youngest off those tubes! Colorado is so beautiful…we've only visited in the winter, but you're certainly tempting me with this summer spot!
I don't think my little guy would weigh enough to go up the wall, but there would be a fight trying to stop him. He'd be up it the first chance he could! He'd enjoy the crafts, too. I hope to take my family some day soon!
Looks like a wonderful place to visit! I used to always love doing Sand Art when I was younger. I bet my daughter would love it just as much as I once did. Tubing down that hill looks like so much fun, but tough on the nerves, too!
This look like a great place to go on a family vacation. There is so much to do and I know my family would enjoy all these activities. Tubing down the hill looks like a blast. The scenery also looks amazing.
I love the Rocky Mountains, although I've only explored them in Canada. Teagan looks like she had so much fun, I'm jealous! I'd love to go tubing, too. I'll definitely put Snow Mountain Ranch in Winter Park Colorado on my bucket list.
Wow the snow mountain ranch looks very picturesque and the landscape is absolutely beautiful. It's fun to bring kids to appreciate nature and have activities here. This is perfect for summertime adventure with the family.