Aspen Attractions

Winter Activities

Aspen is a legendary winter playground for skiers, snowboarders, and winter sports enthusiasts thanks to its surplus of snow and four world-class ski mountains. Aspen Mountain rises out of the heart of downtown Aspen, and is famous for its steeps, bumps, and double-black diamond runs. Snowmass is known for its variety, boasting nearly 3,100 acres of cruisers, steeps, terrain parks, and half pipes. Aspen Highlands is the locals’ favorite, thanks to its extreme terrain, impeccably groomed trails, and breathtaking views. Buttermilk is the best spot for beginners, with a wealth of easy and intermediate trails. The fabulous terrain of these mountains is the reason Aspen is the home of the ESPN Winter X Games through 2010, the world’s premier winter extreme sports event. In addition to the skiing and snowboarding action, visitors to Aspen enjoy a wealth of opportunities for snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and guided adventure tours via dogsled, horse drawn sleigh, and snowcat.

Top Winter Activities in Aspen:

Skiing & Snowboarding
	From gentle beginner slopes, to steep chutes, to well-groomed Nordic trails, Aspen offers skiers and snowboarders a wealth of world-class terrain. One ticket unlocks the door to Aspen Mountain, Snowmass, Buttermilk and Aspen Highlands, which combined allow access to a staggering 4,993 acres of terrain, 42 lifts, 335 trails, thousands of feet of vertical drop, and several state-of-the art snowboard and cross-country parks.
Snowmobiling
	Snowmobiling enthusiasts find plenty of opportunities to get out and play in Aspen. Well-maintained trails and off-the-beaten-path routes offer adventurous types unbeatable photo-ops of Pyramid Peak, the Maroon Bells and fascinating ghost towns. Tours via dogsled, horse-drawn sleigh, snowshoe and snowcat are all great ways to soak in Aspen's winter beauty.
ESPN Winter X Games
	The annual ESPN Winter X Games are slated to take place in Aspen/Snowmass every winter through 2010. The televised-live event features athletes from around the world in heated ski, snowboard and snowmobile competitions.

More Winter Activities in Aspen:

Ice Skating

Rinks at the Aspen Recreation Center and the Aspen Ice Garden allow skaters to take a spin on the ice.

Tube Town at Snowmass

Located on Assay Hill on Snowmass, Tube Town offers kids of all ages the chance to zip down snowy slopes on inflated inner tubes.

Snowshoeing & Cross-Country Skiing

Snowshoeing is the easiest way to explore Aspen’s scenic backcountry. Guided nature tours of the area offer curious visitors insights into the area’s history and ecology.

Summer Activities:

Aspen's winter scenes grace more postcards, but its summer season is no less legendary. In addition to its busy schedule of festivals and events, Aspen offers nature lovers and sports enthusiasts a nearly endless array of opportunities for outdoor recreation, from golfing and tennis to horseback riding and rock-climbing. Hiking and biking fanatics take advantage of the extensive trail system in the 2.3 million-acre White River National Forest, as well as a 13-mile bike path that connects Aspen with Snowmass. Avid anglers and rafting enthusiasts hit the banks of the Colorado, Arkansas and Roaring Fork Rivers, where prize trout catches can be found around one bend, and raging rapids can be found around the next. In addition, the ski areas at both Snowmass and Aspen Mountain turn into family-friendly adventure zones in the summer, offering everything from bungee trampolines and paintball to climbing walls and skateboarding bowls.

Top Summer Activities in Aspen:

Fly Fishing
	Aspen is a playground for avid anglers, thanks to its premier trout fisheries on the Colorado River, Frying Pan River and Roaring Forks River. Aspen's gold-medal fisheries offer year-round fishing and a variety of water types, from shallow stretches perfect for wading, to deeper stretches better suited to leisurely days of float fishing.
Whitewater Rafting & Kayaking
	Aspen's storied rivers are magnets for kayaking and whitewater-rafting enthusiasts. Class II, III, IV and V rapids await visitors on the Colorado River, Arkansas River and Roaring Fork River. Aspen's whitewater outfitters guide visitors on both thrill-a-minute routes and family-friendly "float trips" that wind through open meadows at a leisurely pace.
Hiking & Mountain Biking
	Hiking and biking enthusiasts enjoy hundreds of miles of scenic trails in and around Aspen. The 2.3 million-acre White River National Forest boasts an extensive trail system, with a popular 15-mile hike that winds past the Maroon Bells to Crested Butte. Aspen's local bike shops and mountain outfitters offer gear, maps and guided tours.
Golf
	Aspen's outstanding collection of fine public, private and resort courses offer golfers superior designs and breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains. High-altitude golfing means that most players will improve the length of their shots in Aspen's high and dry air.
Guided Summer Adventure Tours
	Aspen summers offer visitors a smorgasbord of adventures, including horseback trail riding, Jeep tours, hot air balloon trips, paragliding and guided fishing trips. Local outfitters offer a wide array of guided adventure tours that allow families and large groups to safely enjoy all the thrills of a backcountry tour without all the hassle of planning and packing.

More Summer Activities In/Around Aspen:

Scenic Gondola & Lift Rides

The Burlingame Lift in Snowmass Village and the Silver Queen Gondola in Aspen offer breathtaking summer views of the surrounding valley.

Disc Golf

18-hole disc golf courses on both Snowmass Mountain and Aspen Mountain offer players great scenery, rugged terrain and challenging play.

Horseback Riding

Aspen-area stables offer private riding lessons and guided half-day, full-day and overnight pack trips to Maroon Bells, Hunter Creek and Buttermilk ski area.

Tennis

Aspen and Snowmass provide players with a variety of public and private courts, many with player matching, tournaments and lessons.