Aspen

Aspen Ski Resort

With four mountains to choose from, a vibrant town as a base and a distinct lack of crowds, Aspen is a must-visit destination in the mountains of Colorado.

Ski lifts have been in place here since just after World War Two and the resort has gone from strength to strength ever since. The four mountains have something for everyone, from the vast cruising terrain on Snowmass to the gentle beginner slopes at Buttermilk, and the World Cup run on Aspen Mountain to the vast off piste potential of Highlands, the options are fantastic. All are linked by an efficient bus service, making getting around easy – there is no need for a car when you arrive.

The town itself has a permanent population of over 7000 and is very vibrant. Numerous bars and restaurants make this a great base for skiing, just be sure to keep an eye on your wallet – Aspen is the destination for the rich and famous and the prices have in many places been set accordingly.

Our Aspen Resort Ratings

• Beginner ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
• Intermediate ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
• Advanced ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
• Snow Reliability ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
• Fast Lifts ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
• Resort Activities ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
• Après ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
• Value ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Aspen Skiing and Snowboarding

Aspen Mountain is the home hill, directly above the town of Aspen itself. The long Silver Queen gondola runs from top to bottom, giving almost 1000m of vertical – all of which can be covered on immaculately groomed blues, or if you’re looking for more of a challenge, steep gullies and tree-lined glades. In what will be a great boost to the ski area, the final go-ahead has been given to build the Pandora chairlift which will add 180 acres of skiable terrain to the upper east side of Aspen Mountain. It is hoped the new ski lift will be in operation for the 2020/21 season.

Highlands is a mountain of two halves. The lower slopes offer some great beginner terrain, but the top of the mountain is what most skiers and boarders come to the sector for. Steep glades and tree runs can be found off the Deep Temerity lift, but the jewel in the crown is Highlands Bowl. This is a vast playground for off piste warriors and is served by a snowcat and a short hike.

Buttermilk is the smallest of the four and is predominantly suited to beginners, who will enjoy the gentle groomed slopes. It is also however home to the world famous terrain park that hosts the X Games each winter – so if freestyle is your thing then be sure to head across to this area.

The fourth area of Snowmass is the largest and could function as a ski area in its own right. You can pick up some huge vertical on mostly uncrowded slopes, which are frequently in immaculate condition thanks to the grooming team. Experts will really enjoy the steep terrain off the High Alpine chair and The Cirque drag, which after fresh snow can offer some of Colorado’s best off piste.

• Total Pistes: 5517 acres
• Beginner: 6%
• Intermediate: 43%
• Advanced: 51%
• Lifts: 40
• Altitude: 2470m – 3813m

Aspen Piste Map

The Snowmass map can be downloaded here.

Aspen Resort

Aspen has long attracted the rich and famous, many of which have vast second homes in the town. As a result, there are some seriously sophisticated (and expensive) bars, restaurants and shops. But you need not spend the entire time rubbing shoulders with the stars – there are numerous locals bars and places to eat that are much friendlier on the wallet.

Lots of accommodation is available in town in the form of self-catered apartments or condominiums. Cheaper options are on offer further down the valley in the towns of Basalt or El Jebel, but having a car would make a difference here. Basing yourself at Snowmass is a good alternative, but you’ll be missing out on the buzz of Aspen town itself.

Season Dates

23rd November 2019 – 19th April 2020

How to get to Aspen

By far the quickest way to Aspen is via Aspen-Pitkin airport, a mere couple of miles from the centre of town. You can connect through many US airports and with over 200 flights a week on offer during winter there are plenty of options to choose from. Alternatively, Denver is around a four hour drive away.

• Aspen-Pitkin airport: 10 minutes
• Denver airport: 4 hours

Aspen Contact Details

• Website: www.aspensnowmass.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Telephone: + 1 970 923 1227
• Facebook: @aspensnowmass
• Instagram: @aspensnowmass
• Twitter: @AspenSnowmass