We Asked 3 Travel Experts Their Favorite Ski Destination for People Who Don’t Ski—and They All Picked the Same Place

Learning how to ski as a kid and to snowboard as a teen has brought an immense amount of joy to my life. It’s allowed me to explore some of the world’s most beautiful mountains and backcountry, in all its wintery glory. But visiting the mountains is no less special if you choose not to strap on a board or two planks. You just need to go to the right mountain destination. And according to the pros we spoke to, all of the best ski destinations for people who don’t ski are concentrated in one state: Colorado.

Here are their three top picks in the Centennial State for non-skiers. 

Telluride

Telluride consistently rises to the top of the recommendation list for non-skiers because the mountain experience doesn’t hinge on lift tickets alone. “Telluride offers a wide mix of low-pressure, high-reward winter experiences that let people enjoy the mountains at their own pace,” Jonah Drescher, veteran freestyle ski coach and former U.S. Ski Team athlete, and manager of Christy Sports, told Travel + Leisure. That includes everything from the sledding hill at Town Park to outdoor ice skating in both Telluride and Mountain Village, plus horse-drawn sleigh rides that end with a sit-down dinner.

One more must-do activity in town for skiers on their days off and non-skiers alike is a ride in the town’s free gondola, which Drescher explained, “links town and mountain with incredible views and typically runs until midnight.” This, he added, allows visitors to move between après spots, restaurants, and lodging without ever having to get in a car. 

Mike Hess, the founder of Philantopia, a company that helps nonprofits fundraise by providing vacation travel packages they can sell at charity auctions, agrees that Telluride is the creme de la creme for non-skiers as it’s “smaller and more boutique,” making it easier to navigate. Of course, if you do want to learn, Hess noted that Telluride is home to great beginner slopes. “It actually has one of the longest beginner lifts in the country, called chair 10,” he said.

Steamboat Springs

According to the pros, Steamboat Springs offers its own distinct Colorado charms filled with Western heritage and ease. “Steamboat Springs is one of the best destinations for people looking to experience a true Western mountain town, whether they ski or not,” Drescher said. “It blends a relaxed cowboy culture with full resort amenities, making it especially welcoming for families and first-time mountain travelers. You’ll find the classic ski resort activities alongside some great off-the-beaten-path experiences.” 

Drescher also explained that Steamboat’s lower base elevation makes it more welcoming to those who may be sensitive to altitude, or those traveling with kids and older grandparents. “That lower elevation, paired with the town’s laid-back vibe, helps people settle in quickly and enjoy the mountains without feeling wiped out on day one.” 

Off the slopes, he recommends checking out Old Town Hot Springs, which comes with natural hot spring pools, waterslides, and a full wellness center, as well as the mountain’s tubing hills, sleigh rides, and snowshoe trails. And, for adventurous non-skiers, “a sunrise Champagne balloon ride over the Yampa River Valley delivers unmatched views of the Flat Tops and Western Colorado.” 

Aspen

Aspen is a mountain icon that has long appealed to skiers and non-skiers alike, and that appeal is all thanks to its luxury atmosphere. “Aspen understands that winter luxury isn’t about what happens on the mountain. Winter luxury exists in the atmosphere,” LaDell Carter, founding partner and lead luxury lifestyle travel designer for Royal Expression Travels, told T+L. “The après-ski culture in Aspen is a huge part of the experience. Imagine going for a horse-drawn carriage ride up into the mountains, having a long lunch at Pine Creek Cookhouse, or enjoying a candlelit dinner in the midst of snow-capped peaks that feel like a movie.”

Aspen’s walkability and numerous world-class restaurants and shops are a huge part of this appeal, too. As Hess put it, “There are so many fabulous restaurants and the shopping is world-class and never-ending. You could not ski once and still enjoy everything the city and mountain have to offer.”

However, again, if you do want to try your hand at skiing, Aspen is a great spot to give it a go. “Aspen has four mountains, including one designed specifically for beginner skiers, Buttermilk. It is a smaller mountain that has very gentle runs and a great ski school,” Hess said. “The other mountains are better suited to more advanced skiers. You could spend all weekend on Buttermilk Mountain learning how to ski.”

But, again, as Carter added, “Skiing is merely optional, not mandatory.”