Aspen

With four mountains to choose from, a vibrant town as a base and a distinct lack of crowds, Aspen is a must-visit destination in the mountains of Colorado.

weather Forecast today: Mainly cloudy

Max temp: -0.2 °c
Min temp: -7.6 °c
Last snowed: Thu 26 Dec

Last Updated: Sat 28 Dec

weather Forecast today: Mainly cloudy

Max temp: -0.2 °c
Min temp: -7.6 °c
Last snowed: Thu 26 Dec

Last Updated: Sat 28 Dec

6%Beginner

43%Intermediate

51%Advanced

Ski lifts have been in place here since just after World War Two and the resort has gone from strength to strength ever since.

The four mountains have something for everyone, from the vast cruising terrain on Snowmass to the gentle beginner slopes at Buttermilk, and the World Cup run on Aspen Mountain to the vast off piste potential of Highlands, the options are fantastic. All are linked by an efficient bus service, making getting around easy – there is no need for a car when you arrive.

Beginner
Fast lifts
Intermediate
Resort Activities
Advanced
Aprés
Snow
Value

Pros and cons

Excellent variety of terrain across four mountains
Loads to do in Aspen (including celebrity spotting…)
Efficient bus service links the mountains

Prices can be expensive in town and on the hill
Although the bus service is good, the mountains are separated
Not the snowiest part of the Colorado Rockies

On the Slopes

The town itself has a permanent population of over 7000 and is very vibrant.

Numerous bars and restaurants make this a great base for skiing, just be sure to keep an eye on your wallet – Aspen is the destination for the rich and famous and the prices have in many places been set accordingly.

Aspen Mountain is the home hill, directly above the town of Aspen itself. The long Silver Queen gondola runs from top to bottom, giving almost 1000m of vertical – all of which can be covered on immaculately groomed blues, or if you’re looking for more of a challenge, steep gullies and tree-lined glades. In what will be a great boost to the ski area, the final go-ahead has been given to build the Pandora chairlift which will add 180 acres of skiable terrain to the upper east side of Aspen Mountain.

Highlands is a mountain of two halves. The lower slopes offer some great beginner terrain, but the top of the mountain is what most skiers and boarders come to the sector for. Steep glades and tree runs can be found off the Deep Temerity lift, but the jewel in the crown is Highlands Bowl. This is a vast playground for off piste warriors and is served by a snowcat and a short hike.

Buttermilk is the smallest of the four and is predominantly suited to beginners, who will enjoy the gentle groomed slopes. It is also however home to the world famous terrain park that hosts the X Games each winter – so if freestyle is your thing then be sure to head across to this area.

The fourth area of Snowmass is the largest and could function as a ski area in its own right. You can pick up some huge vertical on mostly uncrowded slopes, which are frequently in immaculate condition thanks to the grooming team.

Experts will really enjoy the steep terrain off the High Alpine chair and The Cirque drag, which after fresh snow can offer some of Colorado’s best off piste.

In the Resort

Aspen has long attracted the rich and famous, many of which have vast second homes in the town. As a result, there are some seriously sophisticated (and expensive) bars, restaurants and shops. But you need not spend the entire time rubbing shoulders with the stars – there are numerous locals bars and places to eat that are much friendlier on the wallet.
Lots of accommodation is available in town in the form of self-catered apartments or condominiums. Cheaper options are on offer further down the valley in the towns of Basalt or El Jebel, but having a car would make a difference here. Basing yourself at Snowmass is a good alternative, but you’ll be missing out on the buzz of Aspen town itself.

Getting to Aspen

By far the quickest way to Aspen is via Aspen-Pitkin airport, a mere couple of miles from the centre of town. You can connect through many US airports and with over 200 flights a week on offer during winter there are plenty of options to choose from. Alternatively, Denver is around a four hour drive away.

Aspen-Pitkin airport: 10 minutes
Denver airport: 4 hours

Season Dates & Lift Pass Prices

Season Dates

Aspen’s four mountains have varying opening & closing dates:

Aspen Mountain – 28 November 2024 to 20 April 2025
Aspen Highlands – 14 December 2024 to 13 April 2025
Buttermilk – 14 December 2024 to 6 April 2025
Snowmass – 28 November to 20 April 2025

Lift Pass Prices

Aspen’s lift passes are priced according to six different “seasons” ranging from low season (28 November to 8 December) to peak weeks (23 December to 5 January). Prices below display the range from the cheapest low season to most expensive peak season.

Aspen is included under the Ikon Pass, and this is often the best way to save money on your adventure.

*Every multi-day lift pass allows for those days to be used in a 10-day window from date of first scan

//	1 Day	3 Day*	6 Days*
Online Advance Purchase
Adult	$179 – 264	$477 – 732	$774 – 1284
Child/Teen/Senior	$129 – 189	$297 – 507	$474 – 834
In Resort Prices
Adult	$179 – 264	$507 – 762	$894 – 1404
Child/Teen/Senior	$129 – 189	$357 – 537	$594 – 954

Ski for less around the world

This is an Ikon Pass resort

Ski here with the Ikon Pass – buy yours today from the Ski Club and receive an exclusive Members’ discount.

Ikon Pass

Aspen Piste Map

Top (3813m)

	Sat 28 Dec			Sun 29 Dec			Mon 30 Dec			Tue 31 Dec			Wed 1 Jan			Thu 2 Jan			Fri 3 Jan			Sat 4 Jan			Sun 5 Jan			Mon 6 Jan
	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Rather cloudy	Occasional snow	Light snow	Partly cloudy	Generally clear	Mainly fair	Occasional snow	Generally clear	Mainly fair	Partly cloudy	Snow grains	Snow grains	Clear skies	Mainly fair	Generally clear	Mainly fair	Generally clear	Clear skies	Clear skies	Generally clear	Mainly fair	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Partly cloudy	Partly cloudy	Generally clear	Occasional snow	Light snow shwr	Snow grains
Wind
Snow expected	0.4 cm	0.8 cm	2.5 cm	0.1 cm	0.1 cm	0.3 cm	2.1 cm	0.2 cm	0 cm	0.3 cm	0.7 cm	0.4 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0.1 cm	0.1 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0.7 cm	1.7 cm	2 cm	0.2 cm	0.2 cm	0.7 cm	1.3 cm	1.1 cm	0.5 cm
Max temp	-5.4°c	-4°c	-6°c	-0.8°c	0.8°c	-3.6°c	-6.8°c	-7.2°c	-11.4°c	-9°c	-7.6°c	-11.8°c	-10°c	-6.8°c	-11.8°c	-5.8°c	-3.6°c	-8.6°c	-2.8°c	-0.4°c	-5.6°c	-2.8°c	-1.8°c	-6.2°c	-7.8°c	-6.2°c	-10.2°c	-6.8°c	-5.4°c	-9.6°c
Min temp	-10°c	-6.2°c	-6.8°c	-7.2°c	-3.6°c	-7.6°c	-8.8°c	-11.4°c	-17.2°c	-17.4°c	-11.8°c	-17.6°c	-20°c	-11.8°c	-14.6°c	-14.6°c	-8.6°c	-13.2°c	-13.2°c	-5.6°c	-10.2°c	-9.8°c	-6.2°c	-9.8°c	-13.4°c	-10.2°c	-13.4°c	-13.2°c	-9.6°c	-14°c
Feels like temp	-9.6°c	-9.6°c	-6.2°c	-5.6°c	-0.8°c	-3.6°c	-12.2°c	-14.3°c	-16.4°c	-17.4°c	-13.2°c	-16.4°c	-19.8°c	-10°c	-11.8°c	-14.6°c	-5.8°c	-8.6°c	-13.2°c	-2.8°c	-5.6°c	-9.6°c	-2.8°c	-10.2°c	-11.4°c	-12.5°c	-14.8°c	-12.6°c	-11.2°c	-14.4°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Rather cloudy	Occasional snow	Light snow
Wind
Snow expected	0.4 cm	0.8 cm	2.5 cm
Max temp	-5.4°c	-4°c	-6°c
Min temp	-10°c	-6.2°c	-6.8°c
Feels like temp	-9.6°c	-9.6°c	-6.2°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Partly cloudy	Generally clear	Mainly fair
Wind
Snow expected	0.1 cm	0.1 cm	0.3 cm
Max temp	-0.8°c	0.8°c	-3.6°c
Min temp	-7.2°c	-3.6°c	-7.6°c
Feels like temp	-5.6°c	-0.8°c	-3.6°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Occasional snow	Generally clear	Mainly fair
Wind
Snow expected	2.1 cm	0.2 cm	0 cm
Max temp	-6.8°c	-7.2°c	-11.4°c
Min temp	-8.8°c	-11.4°c	-17.2°c
Feels like temp	-12.2°c	-14.3°c	-16.4°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Partly cloudy	Snow grains	Snow grains
Wind
Snow expected	0.3 cm	0.7 cm	0.4 cm
Max temp	-9°c	-7.6°c	-11.8°c
Min temp	-17.4°c	-11.8°c	-17.6°c
Feels like temp	-17.4°c	-13.2°c	-16.4°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Clear skies	Mainly fair	Generally clear
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0.1 cm
Max temp	-10°c	-6.8°c	-11.8°c
Min temp	-20°c	-11.8°c	-14.6°c
Feels like temp	-19.8°c	-10°c	-11.8°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Mainly fair	Generally clear	Clear skies
Wind
Snow expected	0.1 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	-5.8°c	-3.6°c	-8.6°c
Min temp	-14.6°c	-8.6°c	-13.2°c
Feels like temp	-14.6°c	-5.8°c	-8.6°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Clear skies	Generally clear	Mainly fair
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	-2.8°c	-0.4°c	-5.6°c
Min temp	-13.2°c	-5.6°c	-10.2°c
Feels like temp	-13.2°c	-2.8°c	-5.6°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow
Wind
Snow expected	0.7 cm	1.7 cm	2 cm
Max temp	-2.8°c	-1.8°c	-6.2°c
Min temp	-9.8°c	-6.2°c	-9.8°c
Feels like temp	-9.6°c	-2.8°c	-10.2°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Partly cloudy	Partly cloudy	Generally clear
Wind
Snow expected	0.2 cm	0.2 cm	0.7 cm
Max temp	-7.8°c	-6.2°c	-10.2°c
Min temp	-13.4°c	-10.2°c	-13.4°c
Feels like temp	-11.4°c	-12.5°c	-14.8°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Occasional snow	Light snow shwr	Snow grains
Wind
Snow expected	1.3 cm	1.1 cm	0.5 cm
Max temp	-6.8°c	-5.4°c	-9.6°c
Min temp	-13.2°c	-9.6°c	-14°c
Feels like temp	-12.6°c	-11.2°c	-14.4°c

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Resort (2470m)

	Sat 28 Dec			Sun 29 Dec			Mon 30 Dec			Tue 31 Dec			Wed 1 Jan			Thu 2 Jan			Fri 3 Jan			Sat 4 Jan			Sun 5 Jan			Mon 6 Jan
	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Mainly cloudy	Occasional snow	Light snow	Snow grains	Generally clear	Mainly fair	Light snow shwr	Light snow shwr	Mainly fair	Partly cloudy	Occasional snow	Generally clear	Generally clear	Generally clear	Generally clear	Partly cloudy	Mainly fair	Clear skies	Generally clear	Generally clear	Mainly fair	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Broken clouds	Partly cloudy	Light snow	Light snow shwr	Snow grains
Wind
Snow expected	0.2 cm	0.8 cm	0.9 cm	0.1 cm	0 cm	0.6 cm	3 cm	0.7 cm	0 cm	0.2 cm	0.9 cm	0.8 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0.1 cm	0.1 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0.5 cm	2.5 cm	3.5 cm	0.6 cm	0.2 cm	0.6 cm	2.1 cm	1.4 cm	0.4 cm
Max temp	-3.2°c	-0.2°c	-1.4°c	1.6°c	4.4°c	1°c	-3.8°c	-4.4°c	-7.4°c	-7.6°c	-5.4°c	-8.8°c	-8.4°c	-4.2°c	-8.2°c	-4.6°c	-0.8°c	-4.6°c	-1°c	3°c	-1.2°c	-0.8°c	1.6°c	-2.2°c	-6.4°c	-3.6°c	-7°c	-5.8°c	-3°c	-6.6°c
Min temp	-7.6°c	-3.2°c	-2°c	-3.8°c	1°c	-2.4°c	-6.8°c	-7.4°c	-12.8°c	-15.2°c	-8.8°c	-14.2°c	-18.6°c	-8.4°c	-11.6°c	-13°c	-4.6°c	-9.2°c	-10.8°c	-1.2°c	-6.6°c	-8°c	-2.2°c	-6.2°c	-12.2°c	-7°c	-10°c	-12°c	-6.6°c	-10.8°c
Feels like temp	-6.4°c	-3.2°c	-4.6°c	-2.4°c	1.4°c	-2.1°c	-9.1°c	-12.2°c	-7.4°c	-14.8°c	-7.6°c	-8.8°c	-18.2°c	-8.4°c	-8.2°c	-12.2°c	-4.6°c	-4.6°c	-15.5°c	-1°c	-1.2°c	-11.1°c	-0.8°c	-5.5°c	-9.4°c	-10.7°c	-7°c	-10.8°c	-10.5°c	-10.6°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0.2 cm	0.8 cm	0.9 cm
Max temp	-3.2°c	-0.2°c	-1.4°c
Min temp	-7.6°c	-3.2°c	-2°c
Feels like temp	-6.4°c	-3.2°c	-4.6°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0.1 cm	0 cm	0.6 cm
Max temp	1.6°c	4.4°c	1°c
Min temp	-3.8°c	1°c	-2.4°c
Feels like temp	-2.4°c	1.4°c	-2.1°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	3 cm	0.7 cm	0 cm
Max temp	-3.8°c	-4.4°c	-7.4°c
Min temp	-6.8°c	-7.4°c	-12.8°c
Feels like temp	-9.1°c	-12.2°c	-7.4°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0.2 cm	0.9 cm	0.8 cm
Max temp	-7.6°c	-5.4°c	-8.8°c
Min temp	-15.2°c	-8.8°c	-14.2°c
Feels like temp	-14.8°c	-7.6°c	-8.8°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0.1 cm
Max temp	-8.4°c	-4.2°c	-8.2°c
Min temp	-18.6°c	-8.4°c	-11.6°c
Feels like temp	-18.2°c	-8.4°c	-8.2°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0.1 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	-4.6°c	-0.8°c	-4.6°c
Min temp	-13°c	-4.6°c	-9.2°c
Feels like temp	-12.2°c	-4.6°c	-4.6°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	-1°c	3°c	-1.2°c
Min temp	-10.8°c	-1.2°c	-6.6°c
Feels like temp	-15.5°c	-1°c	-1.2°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0.5 cm	2.5 cm	3.5 cm
Max temp	-0.8°c	1.6°c	-2.2°c
Min temp	-8°c	-2.2°c	-6.2°c
Feels like temp	-11.1°c	-0.8°c	-5.5°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0.6 cm	0.2 cm	0.6 cm
Max temp	-6.4°c	-3.6°c	-7°c
Min temp	-12.2°c	-7°c	-10°c
Feels like temp	-9.4°c	-10.7°c	-7°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	2.1 cm	1.4 cm	0.4 cm
Max temp	-5.8°c	-3°c	-6.6°c
Min temp	-12°c	-6.6°c	-10.8°c
Feels like temp	-10.8°c	-10.5°c	-10.6°c

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Resort Conditions

Snowfall	Last Snowfall	26/12/2024
Snowfall	Next 3 days	18.3 cm
Depths	Upper piste depth	61 cm
Depths	Lower piste depth	25 cm
Snow conditions	Snow quality	Artificial snow
Lifts	Lifts open	6 out of 9
	Resort opening date	Sat 23 Nov 2024
	Resort closing date	Sun 20 Apr 2025

Snow Overview

USA

Updated 24/12

A sliver of low pressure finally manages to breakdown the stranglehold high pressure has so far had on the Left Coast for most of this season, with unsettled weather hitting the PNW and across the Rockies this week and weekend. The PNW will see the best of this, with steady snowfall falling throughout this week and temperatures remaining cool-to-cold – expect 60cm at least down at Mt Bachelor. The Sierras see a few hits moving across the region, but with more sun and warmer weather this will be more limited in scope.

Elsewhere across the Frontiers and Tetons, this unsettled weather makes landfall later in the Christmas Week and continues to bring snow with it. Jackson will see steady snowfall from Thursday evening onwards, with 50cm expected down between then and Sunday. Temperatures will remain cold but climbing, hovering around freezing at mid-mountain level by the weekend.

The Ice Coast swaps roles this week, with mild and steady conditions moving in throughout this week. A cold Christmas Day then ushers in positive temperatures at mid-mountain for the remainder of the week, with plenty of sun to boot. Cloud and rain will move in over the weekend.

The Ski Club office is closed on Friday 28 December – there will be no overviews published on this date, returning Tuesday 31 December. The Ski Club wishes you a Merry Christmas!

Snow & Weather Forecasts Avalanche Forecast