Alpine Slides in Colorado and Utah

No part of the country has a deeper bench of alpine slides than Colorado and Utah. High ski towns turn their slopes into summer playgrounds, and the slide is often the centerpiece. This page covers four Colorado slides and two in Park City, plus the altitude and weather habits that come with riding in the high Rockies.

Winter Park Resort, Colorado

Winter Park Resort bills its alpine slide as Colorado's longest. Riders take a scenic ride up the Arrow chairlift, then come down 3,000 feet of track to the base, with full control of their own speed. Visit Grand County describes a 610-foot vertical drop and views of the resort village, the town of Winter Park, and the surrounding Continental Divide. The base area summer lineup has also included a scenic gondola, a putting course, and disc golf, and the resort's Trestle Bike Park draws mountain bikers all summer.

Rules to know: Winter Park says riders must be at least 3 years old and 36 inches tall to ride, at least 8 years old and 48 inches tall to drive a sled, and 18 or older to accompany another rider. Combined rider weight may not exceed 300 pounds.

Breckenridge Ski Resort, Colorado

At Breckenridge, the Alpine Slides are part of Epic Discovery at Peak 8 Base Camp, alongside the Gold Runner Coaster, ropes and challenge courses, a kids' zipline, mini golf, bungee trampolines, and gemstone panning. Breckenridge's tourism office notes that there is no parking at the Peak 8 base area; you park in town and ride the free BreckConnect Gondola or a bus up to Peak 8. That gondola ride is part of the fun, and dogs can ride it for free.

The same office offers good advice for any high-country slide day. At 9,000 feet, sun exposure is far stronger than at sea level, so sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, and water matter. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in the mountains and can interrupt lifts and activities, so pack a rain jacket and a warm layer.

Purgatory Resort, near Durango, Colorado

Purgatory Resort, in the San Juan Mountains north of Durango, describes its alpine slide as a legendary Durango favorite more than half a mile long. Riders set their own speed on a dual track. The resort's summer lineup also includes the Inferno Mountain Coaster, scenic chairlift rides, and other activities, sold individually or in activity packs.

Rules to know: Purgatory says riders must be 3 or older and at least 36 inches tall to ride with an adult, and at least 6 years old and 48 inches tall to ride alone. Children 6 and under ride the lift and sled with an adult. The maximum combined weight is 300 pounds, closed-toe footwear is recommended, and every rider must complete a release of liability.

Howler Alpine Slide, Steamboat Springs, Colorado

On historic Howelsen Hill, across the Yampa River from downtown Steamboat Springs, the Howler Alpine Slide sends riders down a 2,400-foot track through the bends and curves of the natural landscape after a chairlift ride with views of downtown and Steamboat Resort. Proceeds benefit the young athletes of the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club. Tickets are sold at the slide, and no reservation is needed.

Rules to know: The Howler says children under 2 may not ride and that children under 48 inches ride with an adult. Sleds have a 250-pound weight limit, including an adult and child together, because heavier loads can lose momentum on two flatter sections of track. The operator suggests planning about an hour at busy times and a half hour when it is quieter.

Park City Mountain, Utah

Park City Mountain's Mountain Village Adventure Park, a short walk from historic Main Street, includes an Alpine Slide, a Mountain Coaster, zip lines, mini golf, and more. Visit Park City describes the slide as more than 3,000 feet long and one of the longest alpine slide tracks in the world, with each rider controlling their speed. A family writing for Visit Park City found that even a toddler could ride along with a parent, while an older child happily flew down solo.

Utah Olympic Park, Park City

Park City's second slide is at Utah Olympic Park, a legacy venue of the Olympic Winter Games held in Salt Lake City run by the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation. Its Summer Gold Pass includes unlimited use of the Alpine Slide along with tubing, zip lines, an adventure course, and a scenic chairlift. The park also offers a summer bobsled experience on its Olympic track and two free museums, the Alf Engen Ski Museum and the Eccles museum devoted to the Salt Lake Olympic Winter Games.

Rules to know: Utah Olympic Park says riders must be 48 inches tall to drive, and riders at least 3 years old and under 48 inches may ride as passengers. Total rider weight must not exceed 385 pounds.

Riding at altitude

Every slide on this page sits high in the mountains, and that changes how a day feels. Drink more water than you think you need, especially if you arrived from low elevation the day before. Use sunscreen, even when it feels cool. Carry a layer for the chairlift, because temperatures drop as you climb and clouds can roll in fast. Plan the slide for the morning, after the dew has dried, since mountain thunderstorms often build in the afternoon and lightning closes lifts.

Making a trip of it

Colorado and Utah make it easy to chain slides into a road trip. Winter Park and Breckenridge are both within reach of Denver, Steamboat Springs sits farther north and west, and Durango anchors the southwest corner of the state. From Durango, the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad runs a scenic steam train to Silverton, and Mesa Verde National Park's entrance is about 35 miles west of town. Winter Park is in Grand County, home to Grand Lake, the western gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park. In Utah, Park City is close to Salt Lake City and pairs two slides with a lively mountain town. See national parks near alpine slides and family summer attractions for more.

Sources

Before you go. AlpineSlide.com is an independent guide and is not affiliated with the resorts, parks, and attractions it describes. Seasons, hours, rules, and ticket options are set by each operator and can change with the weather. Confirm the details on the operator’s own site before you travel.
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