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Aspen Highlands Bowl

Power of Four: Skiing All 4 Aspen Snowmass Mountain Resorts

January 20, 2023 By //  by Matt Thomas

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Boasting four distinct mountains, Aspen/Snowmass is sure to please all skiers and riders. All of Aspen’s ski resorts all valid on the same lift ticket. Each of the ski areas is located next to the other, nestled in the Roaring Fork Valley.

Nearly every type of terrain can be found on one of Aspen’s four mountains. From epic bowl skiing and steep, long vertical for the experts, to rolling groomers and gentle slopes for the beginners. The trees are excellent and so are the sparse crowds, relative to Summit County’s resorts.

Guide to Four Mountains of Aspen/Snowmass Resorts

Aspen Highlands Bowl Hiking
Hiking up Highlands Bowl.

Aspen’s reputation as a pricey town holds true, but deals can be found if you plan ahead. The resort sometimes sells a multiple-pack of lick tickets before the beginning of each season at a great discount. For the cheapest lodging stay in Carbondale, thirty miles away. After the slopes catch happy hour specials all over town.

Free parking can be found for any of the resorts, but it’s a shuttle ride in from the lot, except at Buttermilk where you can drive right up. All the paid street parking in Aspen is free on Sundays.

Snowmass Mountain

Snowmass is the biggest of Aspen’s 4 mountains, and probably the most popular, in terms of crowds. It features terrain for everyone and endless lifts to access it all.

Snowmass Mountain Village
Heading into Snowmass Village.
Snowmass Mountain
Skiing down to the base.
Snowmass Village Gondola
Village Sky Cab.
Snowmass Village Express
Village Express Lift.
Snowmass Terrain Park
Lowdown Park.
Snowmass Sam's Smokehouse
Sam’s Smokehouse.
Snowmass Mountain
Skiing to the next lift.
Snowmass Up 4 Pizza
Up 4 Pizza and Sheer Bliss Lift.
Snowmass Poma Lift
Poma Lift up to the Cirque.
Snowmass Poma Lift
The Poma takes you to 12,510 feet.
Snowmass Cirque Headwall
Cirque Headwall.
Snowmass Cirque Headwall
Skiing down the Headwall.
Snowmass Mountain Cirque Headwall
Still on the Headwall.
Snowmass Mountain Extreme Terrain
AMF and Gowdy’s double black runs.
Snowmass Gwyn's High Alpine
Gwyn’s High Alpine restaurant in distance.
Snowmass Sheer Bliss Lift
Sheer Bliss Lift.
Snowmass Sheer Bliss
Sheer Bliss blue run.
Snowmas Ullrhof Restaurant
Ullrhof restaurant.
Snowmass Mountain
Sticker board.
Snowmass Park
Snowmass Park.
Snowmass Terrain Park
Skiing through the park.
Snowmass Park Superpipe
Superpipe.
Snowmass Park Jump
Getting some air.
Snowmass Cafe Suzanne
Cafe Suzanne.
Snowmass Two Creeks Lift
Two Creeks Lift.
Snowmass East Branch
East Branch run.
Snowmass Two Creeks Base
Two Creeks base area.
Snowmass Village
Snowmass Village base.
Snowmass Village
More of the base area.
Snowmass Village Mall
Snowmass Mall, just up from the base.
Snowmass Village Mall
Looking for a good happy hour.
Snowmass Village Happy Hour
Found happy hour – Schneider Weisse Aventinus.

It has the most on-mountain restaurants and a bunch more in the large base village. The resort boasts 95% ski-in/ski-out amenities, with a modern village that was built up the side of the mountain.

Buttermilk Mountain

Buttermilk is the beginners’ mountain, with plenty to play on for the more advanced. It really makes the most of its 470 acres, with 3 express lifts, solid grooming, and several terrain parks.

Buttermilk Mountain Lodge
Buttermilk base lodge.
Buttermilk Summit Express.
Summit Express lift.
Buttermilk Superpipe
Superpipe.
Buttermilk Bear Piste
Bear blue run.
Buttermilk Lower Savio Piste
Lower Savio.
Buttermilk Summit Express Lift
Heading to the summit of Buttermilk Ski Resort.
Buttermilk Cliffhouse
Cliffhouse at the top.
Buttermilk Mountain Glades
Black tree run.
Buttermilk Mountain Trees
Through the woods.
Buttermilk West Express Lift
West Buttermilk Express.
Buttermilk Terrain Park
Beginner terrain park.
Buttermilk Terrain Park Jumps
Jumps.
Buttermilk Mountain Bridge
Bridge.
Buttermilk Mountain Base
Main base area.
Buttermilk Buckskin
Buckskin.
Buttermilk Sterner Gulch
Sterner Gulch.
Buttermilk Tiehack Base
Tiehack base area.
Buttermilk Mountain Gong
Gong.
Buttermilk Mountain Cliffhouse
Cliffhouse patio.
Buttermilk Mongolian Snowboarder
Mongolian Snowboarder.
Buttermilk Mountain Highlands View
Highlands would normally be visible from the top.
Buttermilk Savio
Savio.
Buttermilk Upper Tiehack
Upper Tiehack lift.
Buttermilk Mountain Aspens
Aspens.
Buttermilk Mountain Fox
Spot the fox?
Buttermilk Mountain Fox
Fox chilin’.
Buttermilk Mountain Piste Fox
And he’s off.
Buttermilk Mountain Fort
Random fort shack.
Buttermilk McKenney's Inn
Inn At Aspen at the base.

It’s the only Aspen resort boasting free upfront parking, and a small-town local feel. Most of the runs are blue cruisers, with some decent but flattish trees mixed in. Powder often remains untouched in the glades, far longer than at the other resorts.

Village-wise, there is one on-mountain restaurant, two at the base, and some lodging. It’s the smallest village out of the four.

Aspen Highlands

Aspen Highlands is the locals’ choice with lots of double blacks and its signature Highland Bowl.

Aspen Highlands Center
Highlands Center.
Aspen Highlands Village
Aspen Highlands Village.
Aspen Highlands Base
Base area.
Aspen Highlands Willow Creek Bistro
Willow Creek Bistro.
Aspen Highlands Alehouse
Alehouse.
Aspen Highlands Exhibition
Exhibition lift.
Aspen Highlands Bowl Tours
Free bowl tours are offered Wednesdays at 11am.
Aspen Highlands Blue Pistes
Some blues.
Aspen Highlands Merry-Go-Round
Merry-Go-Round self serve restaurant.
Aspen Highlands Loge Peak
Loge Peak lift.
Aspen Highlands Loge Peak Hazy
A little hazy.
Aspen Highland Peak
Highland Peak in the distance.
Aspen Highland Peak Hike
Heading to hike to the top.
Aspen Highlands Bowl Hike
And it begins… (I wish I knew a snowcat would take you 1/3 of the way up.)
Aspen Highlands Bowl Hike
One step at a time.
Aspen Highlands Bowl Hike
So long to go.
Aspen Highlands Hiking Trail
Numerous double blacks exist on the hike.
Aspen Highlands Bowl Hike Midway
Maybe midway.
Aspen Highlands Bowl Hike
Onward!
Aspen Highlands Bowl Hike
Still going…can’t see the top.
Aspen Highlands Bowl Hike
Still no summit in sight.
Aspen Highlands Bowl Hike
There’s the peak.
Aspen Highlands Bowl Hike
Real close.
Aspen Highland Peak Summit
The top! 12,392 feet.
Aspen Highland Peak Whiteout
Cold, windy, and white out. Time to head down.
Aspen Highlands Bowl
Down the bowl.
Aspen Highlands Bowl Trees
Into the trees.
Aspen Highlands Bowl
Fresh pow all the way down.
Aspen Highlands Bowl
The bowl funnels naturally back to the resort.
Aspen Highlands Bowl
Still skiing down…it’s probably 2000 vertical to the lift.
Aspen Highlands Bowl
Expert fun.
Aspen Highlands Deep Temerity
The Deep Temerity lift brings you out of the bowl.
Aspen Highlands Broadway
Broadway.
Aspen Highlands Cloud 9 Bistro
Cloud 9 Alpine Bistro.
Aspen Highlands Gunbarrel
Gunbarrel.
Aspen Highlands
Mid-mountain.
Aspen Highlands Village Aerial
Base area.
Aspen Highlands Chairlift
Back to the top.
Aspen Highlands Pistes
Some expert runs.
Aspen Highlands Steeplechase
Steeplechase.
Aspen Highlands Soddbuster
Soddbuster.
Aspen Highlands Hayden
Hayden in Aspen Highlands.
Aspen Highlands Boomerang
Boomerang.
Aspen Highlands Piste
A fast cruiser to end the day.

From atop the main chair, the bowl hike takes anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes, depending on your pace. It’s a killer hike that leads you straight up the spine for around 700 vertical. The bowl skiing is excellent with a small traverse at the end, suitable for snowboards without unstrapping.

There are a few places to eat on the mountain, but only two at the base in the small Highlands Village.

Aspen Mountain, aka Ajax

Known locally as Ajax, Aspen Mountain is prime for expert skiers and riders. Advanced runs can be found from top to bottom, with everything from steeps and bumps to trees and groomers.

Aspen Mountain
Aspen Mountain…aka Ajax.
Aspen Mountain Silver Queen Gondola
Silver Queen Gondola.
Aspen Mountain Sundeck
Sundeck restaurant at the top.
Aspen Mountain Summit
Summit area.
Aspen Mountain Dipsy Doodle
Dipsy Doodle.
Aspen Mountain Blue Piste
Some blue.
Aspen Mountain FIS Lift
Heading to F.I.S. lift.
Aspen Mountain Ski Area
Ajax summit on right.
Aspen Mountain
Skiing down to town.
Aspen Mountain Strawpile
Strawpile.
Aspen Mountain Base
Base area.
Aspen Mountain Aspens
Heading into the trees for visibility.
Aspen Mountain Trees
Aspen grove.
Aspen Mountain Whiteout
A whiteout.
Aspen Mountain Silver Queen Gondola
Back at the bottom.
Aspen Mountain AJax
Calling it a trip.

The mountain runs right into the classic ski town of Aspen, making it one of the most picturesque around. The Silver Queen Gondola departs from town to the summit, allowing an easy, snow-free ride all the way up.

There are several spots to eat on the mountain, with a large lodge at the top (with reasonably priced food for Aspen). The town itself offers a range of first-class fare, mixed around its historic district.

Matt Thomas

About Matt Thomas

Matt is an avid writer and explorer, who loves to showcase this wild, wondrous world. His favorite place to be is right here in the Centennial State.

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