Aspen
Silver mining money built it. Ski bum culture kept it weird.
3D Terrain
Download 3D Print Kit (.ZIP)Our Take
Aspen Mountain -- Ajax to locals -- is a no-beginners-allowed, 675-vertical-meter shot of adrenaline rising straight out of one of America's most iconic mountain towns. Every run funnels back to a downtown where fur coats share sidewalk space with beat-up Subarus. It's the contradiction that makes Aspen work. The terrain is relentlessly intermediate-to-expert with bumps, glades, and steeps that'll test your technique on every turn. Combine it with the other three mountains on one pass (Snowmass, Highlands, Buttermilk) and you've got 5,700 acres of variety that's hard to beat anywhere.
Nerd Stats
Combined Acres
5,700
Aspen Mtn Vertical
3,267'
Total Lifts (all 4)
41
Summit Elevation
12,510'
Fun Facts
- Ajax has zero beginner runs. Literally zero. You either ski or you don't.
- Hunter S. Thompson ran for sheriff of Pitkin County in 1970 on the Freak Power ticket. He nearly won.
- The Silver Queen Gondola is one of the longest single-stage gondolas in the world at 3,267 meters.
- Aspen hosted the FIS World Championships in 1950 -- the first ever held outside Europe.
Why Aspen?
Aspen is Aspen. Four mountains, a historic mining town that became America's most iconic ski destination, and a cultural scene that includes opera, art, and food that rivals any major city. Yes, it's expensive. Yes, it's worth experiencing at least once.
The Lowdown
Local's Tips
- 1.Aspen Mountain (Ajax) is right in town and expert-oriented. Aspen Highlands is where the locals go for serious terrain without the scene.
- 2.The free bus between the four mountains runs constantly. You don't need a car.
- 3.Highland Bowl hike at Highlands is a mandatory pilgrimage. 45 minutes up for runs that rival anything inbounds in North America.
- 4.Eat at White House Tavern for lunch -- the fried chicken sandwich is the best meal-to-dollar ratio in a town where everything costs $40+.
Don't Miss
Highland Bowl hike
A 45-minute bootpack above the Loge Peak lift at Aspen Highlands. The bowl at the top is over 12,000 feet and the skiing is absolutely world-class. You earn every turn.
Cocktails at the Hotel Jerome bar
The J-Bar has been serving drinks since 1889. The room is gorgeous, the people-watching is elite, and the ambiance is pure Aspen history.
Wheeler Opera House performance
A beautiful Victorian theater right downtown with live music, comedy, and events all winter. Culture after skiing -- it's what makes Aspen different from every other resort town.
Where to Eat
Our picks -- not just the Google results
The White House Tavern
$$-$$$American
Their fried chicken sandwich is absurdly good. Like, people-plan-their-ski-day-around-lunch-here good. Old Victorian house, cozy vibes, and you can actually get a seat if you time it right.
Go at 11:30 before the rush. The lobster mac is also stupid good.
Bosq
$$$$Modern European
Chef Barclay Dodge's tasting menu is one of the best meals you'll eat in any mountain town, anywhere. Seasonal, local-forward, and the kind of place where every course makes you go 'wait, what?' in a good way.
Book weeks ahead. The bar seats are first-come if you're feeling lucky.
Meat & Cheese
$$Charcuterie / Farm-to-Table
Run by the same crew behind Woody Creek Tavern. The charcuterie boards are built with house-cured meats, and the cocktail list is sneakily excellent. Perfect apres spot.
Grab a seat on the patio when the sun's out. Trust the bartender on cocktails.
Hops Culture
$$Pizza / Brewery
Wood-fired pizzas and a rotating craft beer list. It's the closest thing Aspen has to a 'casual hang' that doesn't cost $40 per person. The truffle mushroom pie is legit.
They fill up fast on powder days when everyone comes off the mountain starving.
Clark's Oyster Bar
$$$Seafood
A Texas import that somehow works perfectly in a ski town. Raw bar is excellent, the lobster roll is proper New England style, and happy hour is one of the better deals in town.
Happy hour 3-5pm. Half-price oysters. You're welcome.
Things You Should Actually Do
Beyond the obvious -- our insider picks
Aspen Mountain Silver Queen Gondola Dinner
Dining Experience
Take the gondola up at sunset for dinner at the Sundeck. The views of the Elk Mountains at golden hour are unreal, and it feels way more special than another reservation on Main Street.
Runs select nights in winter -- check the Aspen Skiing Company calendar.
Pine Creek Cookhouse
Adventure Dining
Cross-country ski or take a horse-drawn sleigh to a backcountry cabin for a multi-course dinner in Castle Creek Valley. Sounds touristy, is actually magical. The elk tenderloin is a standout.
Book well in advance. The sleigh ride option is worth the splurge.
Aspen Art Museum
Culture
Shigeru Ban designed this building and it's gorgeous -- wooden lattice exterior, rooftop terrace with mountain views. Free admission. The exhibitions rotate and tend toward provocative contemporary stuff.
The rooftop cafe has surprisingly good coffee and views of Ajax.
Snowmass Ice Age Discovery Center
Science / Quirky
They found actual mammoth and mastodon bones during a construction project in Snowmass in 2010. This little museum tells the story and it's way more interesting than it has any right to be.
Great option for a rest day or with kids. About 15 min from downtown Aspen.
Aspen Brewing Company
Apres
Local brewery with a taproom that feels like a locals' spot (because it kind of is). The Independence Pass Ale is solid, and they usually have something seasonal and weird on tap.
Low-key alternative to the Ajax Tavern scene. Way more chill.
The Vibe at Aspen
Aspen is the rare ski town that actually lives up to its reputation. Yeah, it's bougie. But the skiing is world-class, the food scene punches way above its weight for a town of 7,000, and there's a weird, wonderful creative energy that makes it more than just another rich-people playground.
