Aspen

A world-class ski and resort town in the Rockies ringed by four ski mountains; in summer see the Maroon Bells and cross Independence Pass, and in fall the aspen groves turn the slopes gold.

Aspen lies in the Elk Mountains of the Rockies in west-central Colorado, at an elevation of about 2,400 m. It boomed with silver mining in the 1880s and began reinventing itself as a ski resort in 1946; today it is one of North America's most prestigious upscale mountain resort towns.

Where to go: ① Downtown—the red-brick historic pedestrian malls, the Wheeler Opera House, the Aspen Art Museum, the John Denver Sanctuary and the Hallam Lake environmental center, all walkable; ② The four ski mountains—Aspen Mountain right next to town (the Silver Queen Gondola runs to the summit), expert-oriented Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk for beginners and families, and Snowmass, the largest; one lift ticket covers all four, linked by free shuttle buses; ③ The surrounding valleys—to the southwest, the Maroon Bells are North America's most photographed mountain view; to the south, the Castle Creek valley holds the Ashcroft ghost town; to the east, Highway 82 climbs over Independence Pass, passing the Grottos ice caves and the Independence ghost town; and in the Crystal River valley to the west stands Redstone Castle.

Seasons: December to mid-April is ski season, with the Winter X Games in January; Jun–Aug is cool and ideal for hiking, with the Aspen Music Festival; in late September the aspens turn gold across the mountains, the best time for photography; May and November are off-season, when many shops close, and Independence Pass is closed from about November to late May.

Getting there: Aspen/Pitkin County Airport is about 5 km from town, with flights to Denver, Dallas, Los Angeles and elsewhere, though winter weather often causes delays; you can also drive from Denver airport in about 3.5–4 hours. RFTA buses between town and the ski areas are free, and summer visits to the Maroon Bells require a reserved shuttle. Plan on 3–5 days (more if you want to ski several mountains). Note: lodging and dining are extremely expensive, and peak-season stays need to be booked months ahead; because of the altitude, stay hydrated, wear sunscreen and avoid strenuous exercise when you first arrive; summer afternoons often bring thunderstorms, so start hikes early and return early.

Top sights

Where to eat

Itineraries