On our second official day of Fall in Aspen/Snowmass, it snowed. It seems like Fall lasted 24 hours and Winter is joining us early this year.
With that first dusting that we all look forward to, comes the excitement for a long white winter. If you’re joining us for a few days on the hill this year, here are a few tips and a bit of local knowledge to make your trip that much better.
Dates to Remember
| Mountain: | Opening Date | Closing Date |
|---|---|---|
| Aspen Mountain: | November 23, 2017 | April 15, 2018 |
| Snowmass Mountain: | November 23, 2017 | April 15, 2018 |
| Aspen Highlands: | December 9, 2017 | April 8, 2018 |
| Buttermilk Mountain: | December 9, 2017 | April 8, 2018 |
If you’re coming to town early in the season (before December 9th) you’ll be limited to Aspen and Snowmass. Luckily, it would take years to explore all of the terrain these two mountains offer. Highlands and Buttermilk open a bit later, when there is sufficient snowpack and the hills are safe to ride.
Opening Day (and Closing Day for that matter) is usually quite the party. 80s ski onesies are almost a requirement for Closing Day at each of the four mountains.
Tips for Each Mountain
Aspen
A classic hill for advanced riders yet not always the most user-friendly. If you’re new to the sport, you may find Aspen to be a little steep for your liking. Known for a wide variety of steep, technical terrain, Aspen is an experts favorite. For a midday après break, be sure to watch (or join) the champagne popping show at Cloud 9.
Snowmass
Snowmass has it all. Wether it’s your first day on skis or a board, or your thousandth, this mountain will have the terrain for you. Looking for a mellow beginner slope? Snowmass has it. Want to drop a few 30 foot cliffs and ski some couloirs? You’ll find it here. With more skiable terrain than Aspen, Highlands and Buttermilk combined, you’ll have everything you need and more on at Snowmass.
Highlands
The locals favorite, Highlands has arguably the most technical inbounds terrain in Colorado. If you haven’t heard of the Highlands Bowl, have a look at this video.
Buttermilk
A perfect mix of two different worlds, Buttermilk is know for its many beginner trails and is generally a great place to learn to ski or snowboard. It’s also home to one of the best terrain parks in the world, hosts the X Games and a favorite freestyle choice for some of the best pros in the world.
Lessons
Whatever your skill level may be, there’s an expert instructor in Aspen to show you the way. First day on the hill? There’s plenty of options of group or private lessons Just have a look at Aspen’s website here. For the best experience, private lessons may be the way to go but may stretch the wallet a bit.
If you’re ready to get out in the backcountry or explore the vast sidecountry of each resort, there a few very experienced and reputable outfitters to show you the way. Aspen Alpine Guides and Aspen Expeditions are both great choices with some of the top guides in the nation.
Now that you have a little local knowledge for where to go and what to do while skiing and snowboarding in Aspen, book your stay today! Winter fills up fast in this area and you don’t want to miss it.
