Aspen - Colorado

Skiing in Aspen | Accommodation in Aspen | Après ski Aspen | Four Mountain Ski Resort Area

If you are looking for hollywood on ice and you scratch the surface hard enough, you will eventually find a rich vein in Aspen. On the other hand, this friendly Colorado ski resort can be surprisingly unpretentious.

Aspen Ski Resort, situated in The White River National Forest, in Colorado's Rocky Mountains, is part of the Four Mountain Ski Resort Area, which inlcudes Buttermilk, Snowmass and Highland.

Aspen skiing is not for the faint-hearted nor the absolute beginner, who would be better off aiming for Snowmass, which is nine miles (15 km) away from downtown Aspen and more tuned-in for families. Buttermilk and are nearer—just three miles (5 km) away as the crow flies—and cater to a broader spectrum of skiing ability. Each of the four mountain areas has its own unique feel and appeal; terrain ranges from steep fast mogul runs, open deep powder bowls and chutes, long groomed trails and gentle beginner areas.

Getting There:
Denver: 355km (222 miles).
Eagle County airport: 110km (70 miles).
Aspen has it's own airport, 5km (3 miles) from the resort.

Height:
Snowmass: 2,400m - 3,813m (7,940ft - 12,510ft)
Aspen Mountain: 2,422m - 3,418m (7,945ft - 11,212ft)
Highlands: 2,451m - 3,559m (8,040 ft - 11,675 ft)
Buttermilk: 2,399 m - 3,018 m (7,870 ft - 9,900 ft)

No of Lifts:
Snowmass: 24.
Aspen Mountain: 8.
Highlands: 5: 3 high-speed quads, 2 triples.
Buttermilk: 9.

Marked Pistes:
Snowmass: 19 - 147miles (237km) - easiest: 6%, more difficult: 50%, most difficult: 12%, expert: 32%.
Aspen Mountain: 76 - 64 miles (103 km) - easiest: 0%, more difficult: 48%, most difficult: 26%, expert: 26%.
Highlands: 125 - 84 miles (135 km) - easiest: 18%, more difficult: 30%, most difficult: 16%, expert: 36%
Buttermilk:44 - (21 miles/34 km) - easiest: 35%, more difficult: 39%, most difficult: 26%, expert: 0%.

Longest run:
Snowmass: 5.3 miles/8.5 km
Aspen Mountain: 3 miles/4.83 km
Highlands: 3.5 miles/5.6 km
Buttermilk: 3 miles/4.83 km

Steepest runs;
Snowmass: Gowdy's and AMF - slope angle of 40 degrees
Aspen Mountain: Elevator Shaft section of the Silver Queen run – slope angle of 42 degrees
Highlands: Go-Go Gully, Highland Bowl – slope angle of 48 degrees

Terrain:
Snowmass: 3,132 acres/1,267 hectares
Aspen Mountain: 673 acres/272 hectares
Highlands: 1,028 acres/416 hectares
Buttermilk: 470 acres/190 hectares.

Main Advantages:
Large area with four mountains to choose from; lively towns with good selection of shops and restaurants.

Drawbacks:
Snowmass, the biggest area, is a 20km (12 mile) journey.

Skiing in Aspen | Accommodation in Aspen | Après ski in Aspen