Where To Ski In Aspen: Four Mountains

As legendary as Ingmar Stenmark, Alberto Tomba, and Bode Miller, Aspen Mountain is a snowcapped oasis, an iconic mountain featuring a mad swath of killer runs and knee-high powder stashes. Host to numerous World Cup races, Aspen is famous for its avalanche of celebrity glitz and glamor. Downtown Aspen is a colorful village with a throwback hippie meets Nordic tech vibe. Ski bums and vacationers who dream of one day becoming ski bums flock to Aspen to catch powder and get the spectacular ski in and ski out experience. The mountain also offers all sorts of events and activities for visitors of all ages. Snow shoeing, snow tubing, snow biking, snow yoga, indoor and outdoor eating, live music, and nighttime bonfires are all part of the Aspen Mountain experience.

Snowmass is snowmassive. The 12,510-foot mountain is the largest of Aspen’s four mountains and ski areas and boasts 150 miles of trails. Snowmass is one of the 10 biggest ski resorts in the United States. It’s a sprawling mountain that features both beginner and expert terrain including High Alpine, the Cirque, and Burnt Mountain Glades. Located at the base of Snowmass Mountain and just 8 miles from downtown Aspen, Snowmass Village features upscale hotels, condos, and retail shops. An array of slopeside shops and restaurants gives visitors abundant nighttime entertainment once the sun goes down. Still, the variety of terrain is the mountain’s selling point. Snowmass is a place where family-friendly karma coexists with extreme skiing and riding. Come for a week and you’ll never want to leave!

Aspen Highlands is a maverick mountain that tests the mettle of the best skiers. It isn’t the biggest or splashiest of the four ski areas at Aspen Snowmass, but it offers some of the most exhilarating steep-gladed trails in Colorado, twisting runs that spill off the mountain’s long, dragon-tail spine. Highland Bowl is the highlight of Aspen Highlands. The flagship expert terrain has more than two dozen above-tree-line runs and a stunning view of the Maroon Bells, an iconic pair of 14,000-foot peaks that look as if they were carved by giants in Norse mythology. Other popular runs include Soddbuster and Kessler. More than one third of Aspen Highland’s terrain is double-black diamond. At the end of the day, warm up and grab a bite at Merry-Go-Round or the Cloud Nine Alpine Bistro.

If Buttermilk were a ski trick, it would be a "Daffy.” The 44-trail, 470-acre mountain has the same type of split personality as the classic aerial stunt. Powderhounds love the fact that Buttermilk hosts ESPN’s Winter X Games. Freestyle riders looking to follow in Shaun White’s footsteps descend on the mountain’s parks and pipes in search of big air. Buttermilk is also the ideal mountain to learn how to ski and ride. It’s a beginner’s paradise of spacious, tree-lined runs, and scenic views. With no double-black diamond trails, the experience at Buttermilk is mellow and easy-going for novice skiers and families. Youngsters can master the tricks of the trade at The Hideout, Buttermilk’s innovative learning center. Dinning options at Buttermilk include The Cliffhouse, which specializes in Asian cuisine, and Bumps, a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant.