Aspen Ski Vacation Guide

Introduction

A world class ski vacation resort, and winter playground for Hollywood's 'A List', Aspen, Colorado is impressive by any standards. The luxury homes and condominiums help create an opulent, but warm and casual atmosphere—people watching is a major pastime here. Aspen is a city of festivals. January is time for Winterskol — a great winter carnival, June bring the Aspen Food and Wine Classic, and from late June through August the famous Aspen Music Festival is held.

There is an impressive selection of leisure activities in the summer including hang gliding, hiking, helicopter tours, mountain biking and riding. In winter, every type of snow and ice sport can be found. The major ski vacation resorts are Aspen Highlands, Aspen Mountains and Buttermilk.

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Hotels in Aspen
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Some of the most popular hotels and resorts in Aspen are Aspen Meadows and Wildwood Lodge.

Visitors who wish to fly directly into Aspen can arrange to land at Aspen / Pitkin County Airport Sardy Field, 6km (4mi) north of Aspen. A little further afield, Eagle County Airport is 113km (70mi) north of Aspen and has increased services during ski season. American, Delta, United and Northwest Airlines use its airstrips, bringing in vacationers from various US destinations.

To get from Sardy Field to Aspen, you can take a free valley bus. The Roaring Fork Transit Agency (RFTA) buses cover Snowmass Village and the valley to El Jebel north of Basalt, every half-hour. Free in-town shuttles shuffle around the Aspen Highlands Ski Area, Hunter Creek, Mountain Valley and Snowbunny. You can also rent cars to get around Aspen.

Aspen Highlands : Aspen Highlands resort, 2mi (3km) southwest of town, is a web of 115 trails on 714ac (289ha) of uncrowded terrain that is revered by many locals. It offers loads of thrills for the daredevils - at least 75ac (30ha) of expert-level tree-skiing - but also keeps the beginners and intermediates out there happy. At the base of the resort, the Aspen Highlands Village offers many ski and tourist services, restaurants, shops and residential homes.

Aspen Mountain : Aspen Mountain, or Ajax as it's sometimes called by locals, is a serious mountain for serious skiiers. There are no beginner runs, at all, on Aspen Mountain. Approximately 65% of runs are listed as expert and the remaining 35% are rated as intermediate. This hill is best knowns for steep, bump runs only for skiers. Aspen Mountain is closed to snowboarders. On its palate are 76 trails wending through 673ac (272ha). Up top, guides from the Aspen Center of Environmental Studies await to escort you around the natural setting. Trail Map

Buttermilk Mountain : Popular with snowboarders of all levels, this resort is 2mi (3km) west of Aspen. Its 42 trails stretch across 420ac (170ha). With a half-pipe and long-terrain park, riders who want to jump and test out their bag of tricks can do so to their heart's content. The resort is also known as an ideal playground for newbie riders and skiers. Buttermilk has instructors and terrain forgiving enough to get you contemplating snowboarding's toughest black diamond runs before you know it.

Snowmass : Snowmass (not to be confused with the small town of Snowmass Village) is 12mi (19km) northwest of Aspen. Not only is the terrain varied and expansive, but its bowl, The Cirque, has the biggest lift-assisted vertical drop in the country. Nordic skiing at Snowmass is available at the Club Cross-Country Touring Center, featuring 20mi (32km) of groomed trails.

Rio Grande Park : Rio Grande Trail is the place to be if you hike, jog, walk dogs, ride a bicycle or even cross-country ski.