Copper Mountain's Top 5 Runs for Kids

This post is part of a series from ETR on Copper Mountain’s best runs. Check out other lists of top runs at Copper Mountain here.

Welcome to The Best Kid Skiing & Snowboarding in Colorado!

Much has been said about Copper’s Naturally divided terrain. And with good reason. The mountain’s layout naturally divides the whole resort into different difficulty ‘zones’. The easiest, mostly green runs are at the far west of the resort. Most of the more intermediate, blue runs are in the middle. The advanced black runs are at the far east. And all the expert terrain is either high up on the mountain or in the back bowls.

This naturally divided terrain is great overall, but you don’t fully appreciate it until you ski at Copper with kids. Once you do, you’ll see firsthand how amazing it is to have so many gentle, tucked out of the way areas for you and the little rippers to explore alongside other beginners.

Below are some of our favorite runs for kids at Copper. They offer a mix of beginner options and fun spots for kids of most abilities to enjoy the snow.

#5. Roundabout

Roundabout is THE classic beginner run for kids at Copper. For many kids, their first real chair lift ride will be taking the Kokomo Express lift up to ski back down Roundabout. Thankfully, the lifties here are well aware of how many kids ride this lift, as they engage in a near constant flow of helping parents and kids get on and off of Kokomo. The low, slow, and assisted loading zone easily makes this best lift for kids at Copper. Copper also upgraded Kokomo to a high speed quad a few years ago, which has dramatically cut down on wait times.

Roundabout Highlight – Click to enlarge

Once the kiddos are off the lift and ready to ski, Roundabout offers a very gentle, slow, and beginner’s only place to truly step foot off of the bunny hill for the first time.

There are plenty of fun features the whole way down. Kids will love either one of the three optional mini terrain parks (think SUPER small features here available for anyone) along the run. A fan favorite is the mini slalom course at the top terrain park, where kids can weave in and out of the yellow ribbons planted in the snow. Some very small hidden tree spots are also available along Roundabout – keep your eyes out for entry spots on the side. Or feel free to just cruise down the middle of the wide open run and enjoy it.

ETR Pro Tip: The lower portion of Roundabout is accessed via the top of Kokomo. This is one of the easiest green run at Copper. But you can also ski upper Roundabout by taking the Lumberjack lift up further. This part of Roundabout run is steeper than the lower portion, but it can serve as a perfect progression spot once the lower part of the run has been mastered by the kids.

#4. Lyman Lane > Pine Cone Alley

Two other excellent kids run accessed from the top of the Lumberjack lift are Lyman Lane and Pine Cone Alley. These are relatively new runs cut by Copper at the start of the 2021 season. As such, they are a bit more unknown and less trafficked than other runs in the area. And the entrance is a bit hard to spot at times (keep an eye out on skier’s right when descending down upper Roundabout), which further cuts down on traffic.

Glorious views from Lyman Lane

But once you finally make it here, you’ll see why it’s one of our top choices for a kids run. Lyman Lane is a gentle, wide open green groomer with excellent views. This will feel a bit less crowded and cramped than other runs nearby, and it is a perfect place for beginner riders to really have some fun on the forgiving slopes.

After Lyman Lane runs out you will have the option to continue on a narrower blue run: Pine Cone Alley. You’ll get the sense they really wanted to make this a fun, semi-enclosed run as the trail steepens and narrows a bit into the surrounding pines. But again, with few people and a still (relatively) very easy grade, it makes for a kid’s delight thanks to the feeling of the surrounding trees.

ETR Pro Tip: If you kids aren’t quite ready for their first blue run. Pine Cone Alley can be easily bypassed by taking the green Timber Road Run over to either Prospector or Roundabout (see map above). But if they are feeling a tad more adventurous, Pine Cone Alley might be a perfect place for the kids to try out a blue for the first time.

#3. I-way > Clear Cut

Ready to try an easy blue for the very first time on Clear Cut.

Speaking of trying a blue run for the very first time, we think that Clear Cut might be the single best beginner blue run for kids at Cooper. This is the perfect place to build confidence and graduate from exclusively green run skiing.

They route starts on the gentle, semi-catwalkey I-Way green run, which is accessed from the top of Lumberjack. I-Way is another classic Copper green groomer, but the transition to the blue Clear Cut is what makes this a favorite. Clear cut is still a very relaxed angle, it’s wide open, it’s almost always groomed, and it’s not crowded. But the juuuust barely steep-enough-to-be-a-blue is what makes it fun. Big, wide turns on corduroy snow make this the perfect place for a kid to cut their teeth on an official blue run for the very first time.

ETR Pro Tip: If Clear Cut just seems a tad too steep, it can be easily bypassed by taking I-Way the whole way down to the base of the Timberline lift. Both beginner and intermediate options abound from there.

#2 – Union Park

Union Park is one of our absolute favorite runs on the whole mountain for kids. What makes it so special and unique is its position on top of it all.

Above the trees on the glorious Union Park run.

Most beginner kids runs at ski resorts are near the base. This makes plenty of sense as almost all ski mountains get steeper as you ascend. But at Copper, there is a massive, gentle, kid-friendly area that is almost at the top of everything. Tucked in between the looming Copper Mountain proper (12,441′) and Union Peak (12,313′) are a few green runs which are some of the best on the whole hill.

What makes Union Park fun is that it is surrounded by thrilling terrain, while being very gentle itself. The Rendezvous lift ascends just above tree line, which makes for million dollar views in every direction. Double black diamond runs surround as well, as you can peek at expert skiers picking their way down Union Peak. But right in the middle of it all sits the gentle Union Park run. Union park is just as easy and forgiving as anything else you’ll find lower down the hill, but with sensational views. It can easily be lapped time and time again (along with its neighboring green run, Wheeler Creek) via the Rendezvous lift.

The experience of being so high up and ‘out there’ is a really unique one for kids. For those that are ready to brave the heights, it will offer a truly unique, alpine feel to their day. As such, Union Park is not to be missed.

ETR Pro Tip: The best thing about Union Park is how high up it is. But as such, it is a long, long way back down to the base once you’re done lapping the Rendezvous lift. Just be sure the kiddos are ready for the long ski back down once you’re done. Also, if the weather is gnarly (i.e. too cold or windy), Union Park is probably best avoided with kids, as it is much more exposed than other beginner zones on the lower mountain.

#1 – West Ten Mile

We’ve raved about the West Ten Mile Run before and we’ll rave about it again. All-in, it’s hard to find a better run at Copper for little kids than West Ten Mile. It just seems to be the perfect combination of a reasonable pitch, wide open groomer, few people, and a chance to soak in all that the Northern Colorado Mountains have to offer.

Take a hard skier’s left after exiting the Timberline lift to access this beauty. Most skiers go right down Roundabout, but the real fun is over on West Ten Mile. The run cuts petty far out of the way of any others (it is the furthest West on the whole resort, after all), so you really feel ‘out there’ on West Ten mile. But the wide open cut and unique aspect make for sensational views of the Ten Mile and Gores Ranges in front of you. A series or rollers and variable steepness keep things interesting as you carve up your own slice of Colorado paradise down the hill.

For the perfect place to do some real soul skiing with your kids, look no further than the far western edge of the map at Copper.

ETR Pro Tip: The only downside to West Ten Mile isn’t really the run, but the lift that services it. The Lumberjack lift is old, slow and takes a while to get you up the hill. There are plans in the works to eventually upgrade this lift to a high speed chair, but for now, the good things of West Ten Mile only come to those willing to wait. This makes lapping West Ten Mile a bit of a chore. But it also cuts down on the number of skiers doing so, thus upping the odds of having this beautiful run all to yourself. Enjoy the peace and quiet.

The Bonus Lap – Marked Family fun Zones: Copper has a myriad of different semi-hidden kid zones scattered throughout the resort. These areas range in scope from easy tree runs to rollers and kickers. Keep an eye out for the marked areas as you descend. Special spots to look out for include Log Chute along Soliloquy, of the Family Cross Adventure area directly underneath the top of the American Flyer Lift (envision a series of fun, fast rollers).

The Double Bonus Lap – Terrain Park Exploring: The terrain park can be an intimidating place for the little ones. But it can also be a perfect place to ski through and watch some amazing athletes in action. We’ve found that because all the terrain parks are on green runs, it can be easy to ski through the middle and watch the riders do amazing tricks with your kids. It’s also a good chance to teach proper park etiquette and to help kids get familiar with the features common to any park (be sure the kids know the rules before dropping through). The small Pipe Dream park at the top of the Woodward Express lift, or the extra small Progression Parks on Roundabout are perfect places to start playing with actual jumps and rails for little kids.

Copper Mountain’s Top 5 Runs for Kids