I once hosted a guest and her family at the Wolf Den, and a few weeks prior to their trip she wrote to me that her grandchildren were “practicing their Wolf howls!” It made me smile so big to think of their excitement to stay at the Wolf Den. As a young family ourselves, our home is a place where kids can howl, play outside, build forts, collect pinecones and so much more.
To help your family’s planning, I asked my son to help me list his top 10 favorite things (plus a bonus!) to do in Twin Lakes. He’s 8 now, but took his first steps in Twin Lakes. I think his choices apply to all ages!
Keeping little ones entertained during your vacation shouldn’t create more work for mom and dad. The great thing about most of these activities is that you can simply walk out the door and enjoy. We find that the slower paced days spent at the Wolf Den help our family regroup, relax and find joy in the outdoors.
Go hiking! His favorite is the Interlaken Trail, where he loves to ride his mountain bike. We also love to stretch our legs here in wintertime because the trail typically does not require snowshoes.
Go whitewater rafting! Summer snowmelt brings excellent rafting conditions to the Upper Arkansas River. Only about a 10-minute drive from the Den, our favorite outfitter is AVA.
Skip rocks down at the lake or at Mount Elbert Forebay (which is also an excellent fishing spot, too).
Paddle board! Rent a board at Sup and Cycle in Twin Lakes. Depending on how many people are floating, you might want to check out the party barge. Your kids will love jumping off and swimming in the chilly waters of Twin Lakes.
Fishing! Cast a line in Twin Lakes — I’m happy to share a few of our favorite spots — or my son adores Crystal Lakes on Highway 24 towards Leadville. Parents: Purchase a fishing license for yourself before you go. Ice fishing during winter time is also a possibility for those experienced.
Stargaze from the Wolf Den’s back porch on crisp, clear nights and your little astronomers will easily spot the Milky Way and numerous shooting stars. We love using the app “Night Sky” to help identify what we’re looking at.
Roast s’mores in the Wolf Den’s firepit. BYO ingredients, but we provide kid-friendly long roasting sticks to help little ones stand back from the flames.
Go for a train ride aboard the Leadville Railroad and enjoy a front-row view of the beautiful scenery along the route. If your kid is interested in trains, purchase a special ticket to sit in the locomotive.
Play in the snow igloo we constructed for wintertime fun on the back porch (shown above). The structure fills with snow during the season and kids will love pretending to live inside the winter wonderland.
Go sledding using sleds provided in the Wolf Den garage. Ask me about the best spots to sled, and I’m happy to share. No driving necessary. We also love to snow tube at Ski Cooper at the slope built seasonally adjacent to the Nordic Center.
Ski or snowboard at Ski Cooper, where kids won’t feel as though they’re going to get clobbered by fast-paced skiers on busy slopes. The low-key vibe at Cooper makes for a relaxing family-friendly experience. Plus, according to my son, the hot dogs at the Ridgeline Yurt are “to die for.”