Area Info

Aspen, Colorado is the place to come for winter sports, but you’ll find terrific outdoor recreation throughout the year in this affluent mountain community at an elevation of 7,908 feet.

Community

Aspen, Colorado is an affluent community in Aspen Valley along the Roaring Fork River in the Rocky Mountains. It’s the most populous city within Pitkin County, but with a population of about 6,000 people, still offers the visitor the feeling of solitude.

Surrounded by the White River National Forest, any time of year is a good time to arrive. Outdoor recreation, world-class shopping, entertainment, live music and lots of activities for the kids! You’ll find it all here in Aspen.

Weather/Climate

The climate in Aspen, Colorado is quite mild, with year-round sun and low humidity.

  • Spring
    Spring has weather ranging in the 50s to 70s in the daytime hours with lows coming in at 40 degrees and below after the sun goes down. It’s likely you’ll see some rain showers and you may even have a snowfall.
  • Summer
    Summer is warm and dry. Temperatures range from 68 to 70 or even 80 degrees in the daytime, with around 50ºF. or below at night. Frequent rain showers in the afternoon will make it vital to bring your raingear.
  • Fall
    Fall is a lovely time of year, with the Aspen trees in full color at the end of September and the first part of October. The daytime highs are between 60 and 70 degrees with nights falling to about 30 or 40ºF.
  • Winter
    Winter highs are around 20 to 40 degrees in Aspen, but lower on the mountain (from 10 to 30 degrees). Temperatures drop sharply at night and you’ll want to dress warmly. Only informal wear is required in Aspen.

History

Aspen was begun as a mining camp during the Silver Boom in Colorado, and named for the numerous Aspen trees all around. During the early 1800s, many of the beautiful Victorian buildings were constructed. Jerome Wheeler, a businessman from New York, came to Aspen and invested in the railroad, which led to the further success of this mountain town.

In 1893, this silver mining town suffered when silver was demonetized, and the population dropped to 700 or below. But in 1935, all that started to change and hopes were reborn, with Aspen becoming a potential ski area in the eyes of an international corporation. Unfortunately, World War II intervened and dashed those newly found hopes.

It wasn’t until 1946 that the dreams of establishing Aspen as a ski resort came to fruition. The FIS World Championships were hosted in Aspen in 1950 and it’s been growing ever since, with more ski areas added and international recognition.

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