Aspen Colorado Skiing

Aspen comprises four terrific mountains to ski: Aspen, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk and Snowmass. Any of these areas will ensure a memorable ski vacation!

Aspen Mountain Statistics:

• Best known for: Steep, bump runs; open only to skiers
• Best-kept secret: Groomed, intermediate cruising runs; hundreds of acres open to snowboarders on the backside through Aspen Mountain Powder Tours
• Season: Varies - generally mid-late November to mid-late April.
• Base elevation: 7,945 ft./2,422 m
• Summit elevation: 11,212 ft./3,417 m
• Vertical rise: 3,267 ft./996 m
• Terrain: 675 acres/270 hectares
• Number of trails: 76
• Longest run: 3 miles/4.8 km
• Trails: easiest - 0%, more difficult - 35%, most difficult - 35%, expert - 30%
• Annual snowfall: 300 inches/762 cm
• Lifts: 8 total -1 gondola (the Silver Queen Gondola goes from mountain base to summit in 14 minutes), 1 high-speed quad chair, 1 high-speed double chair, 2 quad chairs, 3 double chairs
• Lodging bed base: 8,000 beds at base of mountain; 6,000 additional beds within 12 miles

Aspen Highlands Statistics

• Best known for: Locals' favorite mountain for expert and extreme terrain
• Best-kept secret: Has terrain appropriate for any level - more green and blue terrain than black- and double-black-diamond terrain
• Base elevation: 8,040 ft./2,451 m
• Summit elevation: 11,675 ft./3,559 m
• Vertical rise: 3,635 ft./1,108 m
• Terrain: 700 acres/280 hectares
• Total number of trails: 125
• Longest run: 3.5 miles/5.6 km
• Lifts: 4 total - 3 high-speed quad chairs, 1 triple chair (none more than six years old)
• Parks and Pipes: 1 terrain park
• Lodging bed base: No beds at base of mountain; 14,000 beds within 10 miles

Buttermilk Statistics:

• Best known for: Being one of the best learning/teaching mountains in the world
• Best-kept secret: Powder stashes on black-diamond runs and gladed trails days after a storm; terrain park and half-pipe for advanced snowboarders
• Base elevation: 7,870 ft./2,399 m.
• Summit elevation: 9,900 ft./3,018 m.
• Vertical rise: 2,030 ft./619 m.
• Terrain: 420 acres Number of trails: 43
• Longest run: 3 miles/4.8 m
• Trails: easiest - 35%, more difficult - 39%, most difficult - 26%, expert - 0%
• Annual snowfall: 200 inches/508 cm.
• Parks and Pipes: 1 half-pipe, 1 terrain park