Tucked between the soaring Rocky Mountains like a sparkling crystal gem, Aspen is the beating heart of North America’s winter sports.
Aspen is one of those ski resorts with bucket list status. Flaunting just the right amount of dazzle to draw the celebs, and enough cool mountain charm to set the mood, Aspen is an enticing ski-world dream.
Arrive in Aspen and you’ll find yourself as bewitched by its silver boomtown history as the towering gullies, chutes and drops that surround it. These legendary slopes hosted the USA’s first ever world skiing competition, and continue to show the world how it’s done with the X Games and the 2017 Alpine Skiing World Cup Finals.
Aspen Resort
Boasting four extensive ski areas, all interlinked and served by a free shuttle bus as well as one ski lift ticket, Aspen is a resort like no other.
Aspen Mountain rises from the heart of an old Victorian boomtown, today a vibrant resort and the soul of the mountain. Lined with historic architecture, chic galleries and a cool, cafe culture vibe, downtown Aspen’s buzz is intoxicating. Once you’ve explored the slopes of Aspen Mountain, just hop on one of the free buses to discover even more on the surrounding mountains of Buttermilk, Highlands and Snowmass.
Resort Statistics
| Base: | 2422 meters |
| Summit: | 3417 meters |
| No. of Pistes: | 336 |
| Total Piste: | 509 km |
| Cross Country: | 90 km |
| Total Lifts: | 35 |
| Gondolas/ Cable Cars: | 3 |
| Chairlifts: | 29 |
| Drag Lifts: | 3 |
Piste Map
Aspen Ski Areas & Slopes
Our quick guide will show you around the key Aspen ski areas, so you’ll know exactly where to head first once you arrive.
Aspen Mountain
Follow in the footsteps of World Cup finalists along the legendary summits of Aspen Mountain. These soaring slopes are suitable for experienced skiers only.
Advanced: Short, sharp and steep double black diamond chutes, demanding high technique and a whole lot of guts.
Aspen Snowmass
The largest Aspen ski area, with a bit of something for everyone and enough sprawling snow to let them all do their own thing, in their own style.
Intermediate-Advanced: Explore some of Aspen’s best expert terrain in a paradise of wooded glades, cliff drops and tantalising ridges.
Beginners: Long, groomed blue and an impressive beginner centre at Elk Camp for those taking their first steps on the Aspen slopes.
Aspen Buttermilk
Home to the X Games and the Red Bull Double Pipe, flaunting two world-class terrain parks and a world-famous 22ft superpipe. Get ready to join the pros.
Intermediate-Advanced: Twisting channels of black diamond runs shoot along both sides of the mountain.
Beginners: Less-seasoned skiers and snowboarders are welcomed alongside the pros with a selection of gentle, confidence-building green groomers.
Aspen Highlands
Vast and varied terrain with the rite-of-passage Highland Bowl, the largest vertical descent in North America and some of the finest in-bounds backcountry skiing around.
Intermediate-Advanced: Take on the double-black steeps of the infamous Highland Bowl, the ultimate Rockies challenge and a true mecca for Aspen’s expert skiers.
Ski Holidays in Aspen
Aspen Ski Passes
Spread across four mountains and their extensive ski areas, the entire Aspen ski resort is accessible on a single ski pass. Aspen Ski Passes can be purchased online in advance as well as at the resort, although usually at higher rates.
Aspen Ski Lift Passes are available from 1 Day ($174) to 12 Days ($1,848) and provide full access to all four mountains and ski areas.
Aspen Child Ski Passes start at $116 per day.
Ski Schools
The extensive range of Aspen ski schools matches the resort’s sprawling network of ski areas, with over 1,000 world-class instructors to choose from.
Every course and programme available at all Aspen ski schools come with a money-back guarantee, so you can rest assured that you’ll master the skills you need to take on the next bigger, faster, steeper slope, whatever level you’re at.
Group ski lessons in Aspen start at US$105 (US$70 for kids) for one day and about US$460 (US$320 for kids) for five days.
Equipment Hire
There are lots of ski hire options in Aspen where you’ll be able to find everything you need, from the very basics to the most niche of snow equipment. Four Mountain Sports should be your first port of call, located in eight different places across the Aspen valley and offering top-of-the-range, rigorously-tested ski and snowboard equipment to hire and purchase. Search for the Aspen ski resort map here to find the closest ski hire spot for you.
Family Fun in Aspen
Aspen is a popular ski resort for families, with an exciting world of adventure for kids (and parents) of all ages to discover. The Treehouse Kids Adventure Center at the base of Snowmass Mountain provides childcare for infants and toddlers, and The Hideout Children’s Center along Buttermilk’s gentle training slopes is the perfect place for kids to learn to ski in Aspen.
Aspen Winter Sports
Snowboarding Holidays in Aspen
Aspen’s reputation as one of Colorado’s hottest snowboarder spots brings the most daredevil riders to its slopes. With four terrain parks and a 22-ft superpipe beast, dozens of jumps, banks and rails, there are plenty of reasons why Aspen is consistently ranked as one of the best snowboarding resorts around.
Cross Country
Aspen is home to the largest free-groomed, cross-country ski networks in North America – and it’s all completely free to access and use. Aspen’s cross-country trails are extensive and picturesque as well as varied, offering something for beginners, experts and everyone in between.
When to Go?
The best time for an Aspen ski holiday is during peak ski season, from December to February, when snow coverage is at its best.
Snow Report
Each year, over 5 metres of snow cover Aspen ski resort in the freshest of powder. Check the current snow coverage on each mountain with the latest Aspen snow report.