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Aspen Highlands Bowl

Power of Four: Skiing All 4 Aspen Snowmass Mountain Resorts

March 3, 2020 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 are located next to each other, nestled in the Roaring Fork Valley.

Nearly every type of terrain can be found 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 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 sells a four pack before the beginning of each season at a steep 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.

Heading into Snowmass Village.
Skiing down to the base.
Village Sky Cab.
Village Express Lift.
Lowdown Park.
Sam's Smokehouse.
Skiing to the next lift.
Up 4 Pizza and Sheer Bliss Lift.
Poma Lift up to the Cirque.
The Poma takes you to 12,510 feet.
Cirque Headwall.
Skiing down the Headwall.
Still on the Headwall.
AMF and Gowdy's double black runs.
Gwyn's High Alpine restaurant in distance.
Sheer Bliss Lift.
Sheer Bliss blue run.
Ullrhof restaurant.
Sticker board.
Snowmass Park.
Skiing through the park.
Superpipe.
Getting some air.
Cafe Suzanne.
Two Creeks Lift.
East Branch run.
Two Creeks base area.
Snowmass Village base.
More of the base area.
Snowmass Mall, just up from the base.
Looking for a good 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 base lodge.
Summit Express lift.
Superpipe.
Bear blue run.
Lower Savio.
Heading to the summit.
Cliffhouse at the top.
Black tree run.
Through the woods.
West Buttermilk Express.
Beginner terrain park.
Jumps.
Bridge.
Main base area.
Buckskin.
Sterner Gulch.
Tiehack base area.
Gong.
Cliffhouse patio.
Mongolian Snowboarder.
Highlands would normally be visible from the top.
Savio.
Upper Tiehack lift.
Aspens.
Spot the fox?
Fox chilin'.
And he's off.
Random fort shack.
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.

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

Aspen Mountain...aka Ajax.
Silver Queen Gondola.
Sundeck restaurant at the top.
Summit area.
Dipsy Doodle.
Some blue.
Heading to F.I.S. lift.
Ajax summit on right.
Skiing down to town.
Strawpile.
Base area.
Heading into the trees for visibility.
Aspen grove.
A whiteout.
Back at the bottom.
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, weather 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.

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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