Best Family Snow Tubing: Snowmass vs. La Plagne Guide (2025-26)

Let’s start with the obvious crowd-pleaser: if you have kids, snow tubing will become their favorite part of the trip. Full stop.

In my twenty years of traveling the Alps and the Rockies, I’ve learned that while skiing is a skill, tubing is a feeling. Modern Alpine resorts have elevated sledding from "something to do after skiing" to a headline experience.

Resorts like Snowmass in Colorado and La Plagne in France operate dedicated tubing parks with conveyor lifts that eliminate the exhausting hike back up. Your kids climb into an inflatable tube, push off, and experience the kind of screaming-with-laughter adrenaline that makes winter memories stick.

Why It Works for Everyone

The beauty? Unlike skiing, tubing has zero learning curve. A three-year-old enjoys it as much as a twelve-year-old. Parents who don't ski suddenly have something to do alongside their children. And the price point? It remains one of the most accessible ways to get on the mountain without paying for a full lift ticket and rental gear.

Pro tip: Book tubing for late afternoon, when the slopes are quieter and the light turns golden. Your kids will thank you.

Here is why these two specific resorts—one in the American Rockies, one in the French Alps—are the gold standard for gravity-fueled fun.

Snowmass, Colorado: The American Gold Standard

If you want the "Disney World" version of snow tubing, you go to The Meadows at Elk Camp in Snowmass. This isn't just a hill; it’s a fully curated winter amusement park tucked into the forest.

The Elk Camp Experience

Located at the top of the Elk Camp Gondola, The Meadows offers multiple lift-served lanes. The magic here is the lighting. Snowmass is famous for its "Ullr Nights," where they illuminate the tubing hill and the surrounding forest, turning the cold night into a winter festival with fire dancers and s'mores.​

The logistics are seamless—magic carpets whisk you and your tube back to the top, so no one gets tired from hiking.

• Restrictions: Riders must be at least 38 inches (96 cm) tall.​

• Cost: Approx. $56 for a tubing-only pass, or bundle it with the coaster for the full experience.​

Bonus Thrill: The Breathtaker Alpine Coaster

While you are at Elk Camp, you can’t miss the Breathtaker Alpine Coaster. This isn't a plastic sled; it's a coaster on rails that winds through the trees at speeds of up to 28mph. It’s open day and night, offering a totally different perspective of the mountain than you get on skis.​

La Plagne, France: Alpine Sledding with a View

Across the Atlantic, La Plagne offers a different kind of thrill. In typical French fashion, they take the sport seriously. They don't just have a hill; they have a run.

The Legendary "Colorado Luge"

Ironically named the "Colorado Luge," this track in Plagne Centre is a beast. It is a dedicated 1.5-kilometer (approx. 1 mile) canyon of snow that offers spectacular views of Mont Blanc before you drop into the twists and turns.​

Unlike the short bursts in the US, this is a long, sustained descent. You steer a sturdy plastic sledge with metal brakes (which you will need!). It’s thrilling, fast, and feels like a real sport.

• The Catch: It’s more intense than American tubing. The minimum height is 1.40m (approx. 4ft 7in), making it better for teenagers and adults than toddlers.​

• Cost: Around €12 per run, or €48 for five runs. No advance booking needed—just show up and slide.​

For the Little Ones & Daredevils

If your kids are too small for the Colorado Luge, don't worry. La Plagne has dedicated "toboggan areas" protected from skiers in almost every village for the little ones.​

For the parents and teens (14+) who want something truly wild, look into the "Super Tyro", a 600m zipline that connects two mountain peaks, or the night-time sledding run from Aime 2000, which is 4km long and done by headlamp.​

Practical Tips for Parents

1. Boots Matter: Do not wear ski boots. For the Colorado Luge in France and the Coaster in Snowmass, you need comfortable winter snow boots with good grip.

2. Helmets are Cool: While not always mandatory for slow zones, helmets are provided and required for the bigger runs like the Colorado Luge. Use them.​

3. Book Ahead (USA): At Snowmass, tubing slots can sell out, especially during holidays. Book your slot online before you fly. In La Plagne, it's usually first-come, first-served.​

4. Check Heights: Measure your kids before you promise them the big rides. 38 inches for Snowmass; 1.40m for La Plagne's big track.​

Conclusion

Whether you are sliding down the groomed lanes of Colorado or navigating the twists of the French Alps under the gaze of Mont Blanc, the result is the same: red cheeks, tired legs, and the kind of shared family joy you just can't buy in a souvenir shop.

Swap the skis for a tube this winter. It might just be the best run of your life.

FAQ

Q: Is snow tubing safe for toddlers?
A: It depends on the resort. At Snowmass (USA), children must be at least 38 inches (96cm) tall to ride. In La Plagne (France), the big "Colorado Luge" is for taller children (1.40m+), but they offer safe, designated toddler areas in the villages for younger kids.​

Q: Do I need lift tickets to go snow tubing?
A: Generally, no, but you need a specific activity ticket. At Snowmass, you purchase a tubing ticket which includes access to the Elk Camp gondola. At La Plagne, you can buy single run tickets directly at the luge track without a ski pass.​

Q: What should I wear for snow tubing?
A: Leave the ski boots at home! Wear warm, waterproof winter boots with good grip. You will also need waterproof pants (salopettes), heavy gloves, and goggles or sunglasses, as snow spray is common.​

Q: Which is better for families: Snowmass or La Plagne?
A: Snowmass is better for younger children (ages 4-10) due to the magic carpets and lower height restrictions. La Plagne is thrilling for families with teenagers who want a longer, faster, and more sporty sledding experience.​