Aspen, Colorado is a world famous ski destination, partly because of it's four separate ski mountains, all accessible with the same ski pass. The combined area has a massive amount of terrain at 5,527 skiable acres. The most family and kid-friendly of the four Aspen resorts is Buttermilk Mountain - a relatively easy, beginner-friendly resort. Snowmass is a great resort for all levels, and is most notable for its wide cruiser runs & family-friendly atmosphere. The resort also contains several terrain parks, extensive extreme skiing terrain, mogul runs, and gladed terrain. Aspen Mountain (often called by its former name of Ajax among locals) is the oldest of the four area ski resorts, and is known for its black diamond terrain which covers over 50% of the mountain.
Aspen Highlands is most famous for the Highland Bowl, with a skiable vertical descent of 4,343. Most of Highland Bowl is accessed only by hiking from the top of Loge Peak.
The town of Aspen sits at the foot of Aspen Mountain. The mountain rises from the vibrant heart of downtown Aspen where it all began in 1946 with the single-seat Lift 1, which immediately became the longest chairlift in the world. That mentality of "go big or go home" has always been at the foundation of the mountain they still call Ajax. This quintessential ski town has it all for your next ski trip - four ski mountains, stunning scenery, and many other types of outdoor recreation including snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Top it off with boisterous après-ski parties, excellent hotel and dining choices, and possible celebrity sightings, and you have the makings of an unforgettable mountain getaway.
Getting to Aspen is easy with United Airlines and Delta flights right into Aspen Airport, or you can fly into Denver and drive or take a shuttle 3.5 hours to Aspen. We recommend renting an AWD or a 4x4 vehicle as you'll be driving over mountain passes on the way.
TripOutside has vetted the absolute best shops to save you time and money on your Aspen ski rentals. Our top-rated outfitters have sport, performance and demo packages featuring the best ski brands. Whether you want to pick your gear up on the mountain, in town, or have it delivered straight to you - we've got you covered!