January is Learn to Ski Month in Colorado

January is “learn to ski" month in Colorado. If you have been dreaming about learning to ski, now’s the time to take action. Colorado’s resorts are eager to attract travelers with the holidays behind us.

Lodging and Lift Ticket Discounts

January is the month to find discounts on all types of lodging and discounts on lift tickets. With the kids back in school, the family's focus returns to daily business. The result is shorter lift lines, more untracked snow, and untouched groomers waiting for your arrival at Colorado's Ski Resorts.

Lift tickets, package deals, and ski school program discounts are at their best in January. If you missed out on a holiday vacation, now’s the time to make up for it. With a bit of poking around, you will find resorts that offer discount rates or special learn-to-ski packages to fit your budget and meet your learning needs. Check this list of the most affordable places to ski in Colorado.

Learn to Ski, Check the Ski Resort Guide

Check out our Colorado Ski Resort Guide to peruse all of Colorado's resorts and find post-holiday discounts. This will help you choose just the right ski resort. This guide provides detailed information about ski schools and the unique programs that are offered.

For more advanced skiers and riders, our Ski Resort Guide will help you find opportunities such as snowcat and heli-skiing, guided tours, and clinics.

Resort Event Calendars are Full of Action

January 2026 in Colorado resort towns is vibrant and action-packed, serving as a sweet spot between the holiday crowds and the spring break rush. The month is headlined by world-class spectacles, most notably the X Games in Aspen (January 23–25), which brings premier winter action sports and festival energy to Buttermilk Mountain, and Steamboat Springs' beloved 51st Annual Cowboy Downhill (January 19), a chaotic and hilarious tradition where professional rodeo cowboys race down the slopes.

For a more unique winter experience, the Ice Castles in Cripple Creek are set to open for the season on January 10, offering an immersive frozen playground, while climbing enthusiasts flock to the Ouray Ice Festival in the San Juan Mountains.

Travelers can also find excellent value this month; resorts like Copper Mountain and Breckenridge often release "January thaw" lodging specials and advance-purchase lift ticket deals to fill the mid-winter lull, making it an ideal time to snag a luxury stay at a fraction of the peak holiday price.