Aspen Leisure

As one of the country’s premier outdoor recreation sites, Aspen encompasses every individual sport imaginable. Each season has its own special activities. Summertime sees the mountain trails open up with wildflowers covering the slopes, but winter has just as much action as many ski competitions take place on Aspen’s slopes.

Diverse outdoor activities

One of the best ways to immerse yourself in the scenery of Aspen is to go hiking. There are hundreds of miles of trails in the vicinity for all levels and lengths of trekking. The White River National Forest office downtown provides trail maps and tips. Mountain bikers will also find some of the greatest downhill rides in the world on the Government Trail and Sunset Trail. More passive biking can be done on the 13 mile paved bike path between Aspen and Snowmass. River rafting is available on the Roaring Fork, Arkansas and Colorado rivers with several companies based in town. There are several stables in Aspen valley offering a variety of horseback rides. From a 2 hour sunset stroll to a multiday pack trip through the wilderness, horseback riders will find some spectacular scenery.  Golfers will not be disappointed either. The public Aspen Golf Course and the Snowmass Club both have dramatic 18-hole courses. 

Skiing options

When most people think of Aspen they think of skiing and with over 300 inches of snow each winter, it’s easy to understand why. Since first hosting the downhill world alpine championships in 1950, Aspen has been on the world’s shortlist of must-ski mountains. There are four mountains in all, each with its own unique character. Aspen Mountain was the valley’s first, and America’s original hard-core ski hill. With a 3,267 foot vertical drop and a third of its trails rated as double-diamond, Aspen Mountain is a pure delight for experienced skiers. The locals’ favourite slopes are on Aspen Highlands. Known for its expert runs in the famed Highland Bowl, this mountain has a good mix of terrain for skiers of all levels. It also has the best views of the famous Maroon Bells. Buttermilk Mountain is a fantastic beginners’ mountain, and one of the best places in the country to learn how to ski. As the smallest of Aspen’s four mountains, Buttermilk mainly offers easy to intermediate trails and a great snowboarding park. The largest of Aspen’s mountains is Snowmass, an all-around intermediate level mountain with 33% more terrain than the other three Aspen mountains combined. Snowmass is actually made up of four distinct areas, each with its own lift system. The terrain varies from easy beginner runs to the Hanging Valley Wall, the steepest pitch in the Aspen valley. Aspen Skiing Company manages all four mountains, so your day ticket will give you access to all of the ski hills.