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SUV driving a snowy Colorado mountain pass beside ski slopes and snow-covered pines

Winter and Ski Day Tours from Denver

Winter and ski day tours from Denver get you to the snow without a rental car or chains. The guided trips include ski days with lift tickets and rentals, snowshoeing, snow tubing with hot springs, and sightseeing in Breckenridge, and a driver handles I-70.

Ski day w/ lift + rentals
From $350
Snowshoe tours
About $108-$200
Breckenridge sightseeing
From $137.70
Season
About Nov to Apr

Status update, October 21, 2026.

  • Ski season hasn't started yet. Arapahoe Basin, Copper Mountain, Keystone and Loveland were all making snow by mid-October (Denver Gazette). Keystone is selling lift tickets for Saturday, October 24, but told the Steamboat Pilot it had no official opening date. A-Basin's site says it will open as soon as it can (A-Basin), and Loveland is aiming for late October or early November (Loveland). Set dates so far: Breckenridge and Copper on November 6, Vail on November 13, Steamboat on November 21, Beaver Creek on November 25, and Aspen Mountain and Snowmass on November 26 (Vail Resorts, Colorado Ski Country USA).
  • Monarch Mountain is selling $99 flex lift tickets online from October 30 to November 2. They have no blackout dates, so they work on weekends and holidays too (Denver Gazette).
  • The traction law season runs September 1 to May 31 on I-70 between Morrison and Dotsero, and CDOT can turn the law on for any state highway. When it's on, an AWD or 4WD car needs all-weather, M+S or winter tires with at least 3/16-inch tread. Any car that doesn't meet that, including a 2WD car, needs chains or an approved traction device on two or more drive tires. A ticket costs $100 plus a $33 surcharge, or $500 plus $157 if your car ends up blocking a lane (CDOT, CDOT).

See top pick for From Denver: Copper Mountain Ski Day with Lift & Rentals on GetYourGuide Compare all 10 tours

Updated October 21, 2026 · We may earn a commission

Top picks

  • Ski day without a rental car

    From Denver: Copper Mountain Ski Day with Lift & Rentals

    • Denver
    • 12 hours
    • GetYourGuide

    From $350 pp

    Check availability
  • Non-skiers and families

    From Denver: Snow Tubing and Hot Springs Mountain Adventure

    • Denver
    • 7 hours
    • GetYourGuide

    From $225 pp

    Check availability
  • See a ski town without skiing

    Breckenridge Ultimate Full Day Mountain Tour from Denver

    • Denver
    • Full day
    • Viator

    From See price

    Check availability

Prices checked on the dates shown in the comparison below; the booking site has the live price. We may earn a commission.

Compare tours

Tours compared (prices checked October 11, 2026; “pp” = per person)
TourStartsLengthFromBest forBook
From Denver: Copper Mountain Ski Day with Lift & RentalsOperator: Aspire ToursGetYourGuide Denver 12 hours $350 pp Ski day without a rental car Check availability for From Denver: Copper Mountain Ski Day with Lift & Rentals on GetYourGuide
From Denver: Snow Tubing and Hot Springs Mountain AdventureOperator: Colorado SightseerGetYourGuide Denver 7 hours $225 pp Non-skiers and families Check availability for From Denver: Snow Tubing and Hot Springs Mountain Adventure on GetYourGuide
Breckenridge Ultimate Full Day Mountain Tour from DenverViator Denver Full day See price See a ski town without skiing Check availability for Breckenridge Ultimate Full Day Mountain Tour from Denver on Viator
Breckenridge & Continental Divide ExplorerViator Union Station, Denver Full day See price Free time in Breckenridge (no skiing included) Check availability for Breckenridge & Continental Divide Explorer on Viator
From Denver: Breckenridge and Rocky Mountains Guided TourOperator: Colorado SightseerGetYourGuide Denver 8 hours $137.70 pp Sightseeing day to Breckenridge Check availability for From Denver: Breckenridge and Rocky Mountains Guided Tour on GetYourGuide
Snowshoeing Adventure in the Rocky Mountains Close to DenverOperator: Denver AdventuresViator Conifer (30 min from Denver) 3 hours $107.99 pp Half-day snowshoe, gear included Check availability for Snowshoeing Adventure in the Rocky Mountains Close to Denver on Viator
From Denver: Rocky Mountains Snowshoeing for Up to 6 GuestsOperator: Amazing AdventuresGetYourGuide Denver 6 hours $145 pp Small-group snowshoe with transport Check availability for From Denver: Rocky Mountains Snowshoeing for Up to 6 Guests on GetYourGuide
Estes Park: Rocky Mountain National Park Snowshoeing TourOperator: Lost Goat CoGetYourGuide Estes Park 4 hours $200 pp Snowshoe inside RMNP Check availability for Estes Park: Rocky Mountain National Park Snowshoeing Tour on GetYourGuide
From Denver: Rocky Mountain National Park Winter/Spring TourOperator: Colorado SightseerGetYourGuide Denver 8 hours $149 pp RMNP in snow, no driving Check availability for From Denver: Rocky Mountain National Park Winter/Spring Tour on GetYourGuide
Denver: Holiday Lights & Sights Bus TourOperator: Discover Denver ToursGetYourGuide Downtown Denver 2 hours $44 pp December evenings in the city Check availability for Denver: Holiday Lights & Sights Bus Tour on GetYourGuide

Tours are ordered by who they suit, and commission plays no part in that. We haven't taken every tour, so details come from each operator's listing. “See price” means the listing showed only a non-USD price when we checked. The booking site shows live prices and availability.

Why take a tour in winter?

I-70 between Denver and the ski resorts is known for heavy weekend traffic and winter storms, and Colorado enforces traction and chain-law rules on mountain highways in snowy conditions (Sept 1 to May 31 on I-70). On a tour, a professional driver deals with all of that.

Types of winter tours

  • A ski or snowboard day covers transport, lift access and rentals. The Copper Mountain day we found (from $350, about 12 hours) includes lift and rentals per the listing.
  • Snowshoeing takes no lessons, only the ability to walk. Half-day trips near Conifer start around $108; full-day trips with transport from Denver are about $145; guided snowshoeing inside Rocky Mountain National Park from Estes Park is about $200.
  • A snow tubing and hot springs day ($225) suits non-skiers and families.
  • Breckenridge sightseeing tours cross the Continental Divide, ride the gondola and give you time in the ski town. Skiing isn't included (from $137.70 on GetYourGuide).
  • Winter Rocky Mountain National Park tours ($149) visit snowy lakes and elk meadows, and no timed-entry permit is needed off-season.
  • The holiday lights tour is a 2-hour evening bus tour of Denver's December lights ($44).

When is ski season?

Colorado's ski season generally runs from about mid-November to April. For 2026-27, Breckenridge and Copper Mountain are confirmed for November 6 and Vail for November 13. Keystone is targeting as soon as possible in October; Arapahoe Basin, Loveland and Winter Park have not published firm dates (ASAP / late October to early November). Some high-elevation areas open in late October when snow allows. Snowshoe and tubing tours need snow cover, so operators sometimes change routes. Holiday light tours run around December. Sources: Vail Resorts, Colorado Ski Country USA. Updated Oct 2026.

How to choose

  • If you ski, check exactly what's included (lift ticket, rentals, lessons) and how much time you get on the mountain.
  • If you don't ski, snowshoeing or tubing gets you onto the snow without lessons.
  • Resorts sit above 9,000 feet, so drink water, wear sunscreen and take the first day slowly.
  • Wear waterproof boots, wool socks and layers; several listings recommend waterproof shoes from November to April.

Prices (checked October 11, 2026)

Snowshoe tours: $107.99 (Viator, half-day, Conifer) to $200 (Estes Park). Breckenridge sightseeing: $137.70. Snow tubing + hot springs: $225. Ski day with lift and rentals: $350. Prices vary by date and holidays.

Frequently asked questions

Can I go skiing from Denver without a car?

Yes. Guided ski days from Denver include transportation, and some include lift tickets and rentals. One Copper Mountain day we found starts at $350.

What's the best winter activity for non-skiers near Denver?

Snowshoeing (about $108-$200) or a snow tubing and hot springs day ($225). Neither needs lessons.

Do Breckenridge day tours include skiing?

Sightseeing tours to Breckenridge do not include skiing. You get free time in town to ride the gondola and shop.

When is ski season in Colorado?

Generally mid-November to April, depending on snow and resort.

Can I visit Rocky Mountain National Park in winter?

Yes. Winter tours visit snowy lower-elevation areas; Trail Ridge Road is closed, but timed-entry permits aren't required off-season.

Most of these tours allow free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start. Check the terms on each listing.

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