Illustrative image: a high, snowy ridge among frosted spruce with distant peaks in the Elk Mountains of Colorado.
Most visitors meet Elk Camp through the gondola: the enclosed cabins, the restaurant, the learning area and the coaster. We covered all of that in our Elk Camp Gondola guide and our Elk Camp area guide. This post is about what happens next, when you step out of the gondola and keep going up. Above the gondola, the Elk Camp chairlift climbs to one of the higher points on the mountain, and in both winter and summer it is the way to the views people come back talking about.
The new Elk Camp six-pack
The chairlift itself is new. Aspen Snowmass's recent improvements page describes "a new high-speed six-passenger lift, replacing the Elk Camp quad," and says "It will significantly reduce wait times and improve capacity." It arrived alongside a new T-bar on the Cirque, and the ski area notes that the pair marked "the first time in nearly 20 years" that two new lifts debuted at Snowmass in a single season.
The ski area publishes those descriptions, not a full engineering sheet, so we will not quote speeds or ride times it does not state. What matters for a visitor is simple: six seats, a high-speed lift, and less waiting than the old quad. On the Snowmass mountain page, Aspen Snowmass sums up the reason to ride it in one line: "See the Maroon Bells from the upgraded Elk Camp 6-pack chairlift."
How high it goes
The official Snowmass trail map for 2025-26 labels the top of Elk Camp at 11,325 feet (3,452 meters), and marks the Burnt Mountain Glades just beyond it at 11,395 feet (3,473 meters). For comparison, the same map puts Snowmass Base Village at 8,400 feet and the Snowmass Village Mall at 8,606 feet, so riding to the top of the chair puts you close to 3,000 feet above the village. If anyone in your family is new to altitude, our elevation and altitude guide is worth reading before your first ride to the top.
Winter: what the chair serves
On the trail map, the Elk Camp chair loads near the Elk Camp Restaurant and the top of the gondola and runs up the ridge toward Elk Camp. Most of the terrain that fans back down from the top is marked blue, "more difficult" in the map's legend, which makes this a natural next step for intermediates who have warmed up in the gentler Meadows area below. Our Elk Camp area guide names the individual runs if you want to plan laps.
The top of the chair is also the jumping-off point for terrain on the far side of the ridge. Long Shot, the long, quiet run toward Two Creeks, starts from up here and is covered in its own guide. Two things on the official map are worth knowing before you explore that side:
- A closed area. The map marks a "Closed Area: Lynx Habitat Conservation Area" near Burnt Mountain. Closed means closed, for the animals' sake and yours.
- The ski area boundary. The yellow boundary line runs close along this side of the mountain. Aspen Snowmass is clear that there is no ski patrol or avalanche control beyond the boundary; our powder day guide explains why that matters.
Winter conditions near 11,000 feet can be colder and windier than at the base, and high wind is a common reason for upper lifts to hold, so check the Snowmass lift status page before you plan your day around it. As of today, that page lists hours of operation for Snowmass as 9am to 3:30pm.
Summer: bikes, sightseers and the Summit Trail
The Elk Camp chair is not only a winter lift. In summer 2026, Aspen Snowmass's sightseeing page listed the "Elk Camp Chair 10:30am to 4pm (last ride down 4pm)," running daily from June 21 to September 7 with weekends into early October. The coming summer's dates are not posted yet, so check that page before you plan around them.
For mountain bikers
The Snowmass Bike Park page puts it this way: "Let the brand-new Elk Camp Six-Pack chairlift whisk you to the top of Snowmass," followed by "3,000 vertical feet of freeride and technical riding back to Snowmass Base Village." The summer activities FAQ says bike park lift tickets provide "lift access for you and your bike on both the Elk Camp Gondola and Elk Camp Chairlift." Our mountain biking guide covers riding around the village.
For sightseers
The same FAQ says the summer sightseeing ticket "Includes one ride up and down on either Aspen Mountain's Silver Queen gondola or Snowmass's Elk Camp gondola or chairlift," and the Lost Forest base ticket "includes lift access to Elk Camp gondola and chair." If you are already up for the Lost Forest and the Breathtaker coaster, the chair is a short add-on to a much bigger view.
For hikers: the Summit Trail
Snowmass Tourism's Hike Snowmass site describes the Summit Trail as one that "tops out at the top of Elk Camp Peak and boasts one of the most incredible views around." It starts at the top of the Elk Camp Gondola, and the site lists it at 1.70 miles with 1,506 feet of ascent and gives the top as 11,333 feet. The highlight, it says, is looking down the valley at the Maroon Bells. For the return, the site says you can ride the Elk Camp chairlift down without a ticket and transfer to the gondola, which does require one, or walk back. Rules and tickets can change from summer to summer, so confirm with Aspen Snowmass before you rely on that. Our hiking guide has more trails in the area.
Tips for the top
- Bring a layer. Even on a warm summer day, the top of the chair is close to 3,000 feet above the village, and afternoon storms build fast in the mountains. Plan to be off exposed ground if thunder starts.
- Kids ride with adults. Aspen Snowmass says "All children aged 6 & under must be accompanied by an adult on all chairlifts and gondolas."
- Know the last ride down. In winter, the lift status page notes that the last ride down for foot passengers is at the time listed. In summer, it is listed with the chair's hours.
- Dogs. Aspen Snowmass says "Well-behaved, leashed dogs are welcome on the gondolas in summer." It does not say the same about chairlifts, so ask before you bring a dog up.
Getting to Elk Camp from Stonebridge
Stonebridge Condominiums is ski-in/ski-out, next to the Village Express lift at Fanny Hill. Base Village, where the Elk Camp Gondola loads, is described on our home page as "just a quick 3-5 minute walk away." In winter, on-site ski storage attendants look after your skis between days, and after a day up high there is a heated outdoor pool and two outdoor hot tubs to come back to. In summer, the firepit and barbecue area make an easy evening after a day at the top of the chair.
Planning a winter or summer trip? Check availability or call us at 1-800-323-2577.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of lift is the Elk Camp chairlift?
Aspen Snowmass describes it as a new high-speed six-passenger lift that replaced the Elk Camp quad, and says it will significantly reduce wait times and improve capacity.
How high is the top of the Elk Camp chairlift?
The 2025-26 Snowmass trail map from Aspen Snowmass labels Elk Camp at 11,325 feet (3,452 meters).
Does the Elk Camp chairlift run in summer?
Yes. For summer 2026, Aspen Snowmass listed the Elk Camp Chair from 10:30am to 4pm, with last ride down at 4pm, and bike park and sightseeing tickets covered both the Elk Camp Gondola and the Elk Camp Chairlift. Check the official site for the coming summer's dates.
Where does the Summit Trail go?
Snowmass Tourism's hiking site says the Summit Trail starts at the top of the Elk Camp Gondola and tops out on Elk Camp Peak, listing it at 1.70 miles with 1,506 feet of ascent and views down the valley to the Maroon Bells.
Can I ride the Elk Camp chairlift down in summer?
Snowmass Tourism's hiking site says hikers can ride the Elk Camp chairlift down for free and then transfer to the gondola, which requires a ticket. Confirm current rules with Aspen Snowmass before you go.
Sources
- Recent Improvements — Aspen Snowmass
- Snowmass Ski Resort — Aspen Snowmass
- Snowmass Trail Maps — Aspen Snowmass
- Snowmass Bike Park — Aspen Snowmass
- Summer Sightseeing and Tickets — Aspen Snowmass
- Summer Activities FAQ — Aspen Snowmass
- On-Mountain Safety — Aspen Snowmass
- Lift Status Report for Snowmass — Aspen Snowmass
- Summit Trail — Snowmass Tourism (Hike Snowmass)
