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Aspen, Colorado
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Things to do in Aspen

By Sarah

Hikes and rides

  • Maroon Bells Scenic Area

    Reservations are required in season. Ride the shuttle from the Welcome Center at Aspen Highlands, or book a parking spot and arrive outside shuttle hours. There is no water at the trailhead and no cell service. Severe accidents are common on the peaks, whose routes need mountaineering skills. Do not approach wildlife. Dogs must be leashed, and the chamber says they are barred from the Scenic Loop.

    Best for:
    The postcard view, with a plan made ahead
    When:
    In 2026 the shuttle ran May 22 to October 18, and drivers had to arrive before 8 a.m. or after 5 p.m. Parking reservations ran May 15 to October 31. Maroon Creek Road closes November 10 and typically reopens May 15. Check visitmaroonbells.com for 2027 rules.
    Where:
    Maroon Creek Road, Aspen
    More info

    Checked November 2026

  • Crater Lake Trail

    A rocky trail from the Maroon-Snowmass Trailhead at Maroon Lake. Aspen Snowmass puts it at 3.5 to 4 miles round trip with about 490 feet of gain. Camping nearby needs an advance permit.

    Best for:
    A first wilderness hike at the Bells
    When:
    Follows Maroon Bells access rules.
    More info

    Checked November 2026

  • Maroon Creek Road by bike

    Bikes can ride this road at any time, with no reservation and no fee. E-bikes pay a fee. Aspen Snowmass lists 9 miles and nearly 1,600 feet of climbing from Aspen Highlands. Ride single file on the right and wear a helmet. Bikes are not allowed on wilderness trails.

    Best for:
    Strong riders who want the Bells without a shuttle
    When:
    Maroon Creek Road closes November 10 and typically reopens May 15.
    More info

    Checked November 2026

  • Cathedral Lake Trail

    About 6 miles round trip with 1,980 feet of gain to a lake at 11,866 feet. The trailhead is about 12 miles up Castle Creek Road, and the last 0.6 mile is dirt. Thunderstorms are common in July and August, so start early.

    Best for:
    A hard morning hike
    Where:
    Cathedral Lake Trailhead, off Castle Creek Road
    More info

    Checked November 2026

  • Hunter Creek Trail

    Starts a short distance from downtown and reaches Forest Service land. The first mile gains more than 700 feet. To Van Horn Park it is 5 miles round trip with 960 feet of gain. Wildflowers are best in mid-summer.

    Best for:
    A hike with no drive
    Where:
    Hunter Creek Lane, Aspen
    More info

    Checked November 2026

  • Rio Grande Trail

    A multi-use trail from Aspen toward Glenwood Springs, mostly asphalt with some compacted gravel. Dogs must be leashed. Only Class 1 e-bikes are allowed between Emma Road and Aspen. The chamber says riding to Glenwood is 44 miles and mostly downhill.

    Best for:
    An easy ride or run
    When:
    Winter maintenance varies: sections may be groomed or left unmaintained.
    More info

    Checked November 2026

  • Snowmass Bike Park

    Sixteen lift-served trails, rated green to double black, descending about 3,000 vertical feet to Base Village. First-timers start at the Meadows area. Rentals are at Base Village.

    Best for:
    Lift-served riding at any level
    When:
    In 2026 the Elk Camp Gondola ran daily June 21 to September 7, then weekends through October 4.
    Where:
    Snowmass Base Village
    More info

    Checked November 2026

Ski and snow

  • Aspen Mountain

    The Silver Queen Gondola rises from town to 11,212 feet at the Sundeck. The operator notes limited beginner terrain, so it suits intermediates and experts.

    Best for:
    Strong skiers staying in town
    When:
    2026-27: November 26 to April 18.
    More info

    Checked November 2026

  • Aspen Highlands and Highland Bowl

    Highland Bowl is 270 in-bounds acres, all double black, with pitches of 38 to 48 degrees. The hike gains about 782 feet to 12,392 feet, usually in about 45 minutes, on a ridge that is narrow in places. It usually opens around 10 a.m. and closes around 2:30 p.m., later after storms for avalanche work.

    Best for:
    Experts only in the Bowl
    When:
    2026-27: December 12 to April 11.
    More info

    Checked November 2026

  • Buttermilk

    A learning mountain, with a free Panda Peak chairlift at the base, gentle greens and blues, and kids' lessons. It also hosts X Games Aspen.

    Best for:
    First-timers and kids
    When:
    2026-27: December 12 to April 4.
    More info

    Checked November 2026

  • Snowmass

    The operator says it is larger than its other three mountains combined. Terrain runs from wide groomers to the Cirque. The bus from Aspen to Snowmass Village is free.

    Best for:
    Mixed-ability groups
    When:
    2026-27: November 26 to April 11.
    Where:
    Snowmass Village
    More info

    Checked November 2026

  • Aspen Snowmass Nordic Trail System

    Ninety kilometers of free cross country ski and snowshoe trails between Aspen, Snowmass and Basalt. A few, including Trail 40 and Bernese Boulevard, are marked dog friendly.

    Best for:
    A free ski without a lift ticket
    More info

    Checked November 2026

In and around town

  • Silver Queen Gondola

    A ride of about 15 minutes from town to about 11,200 feet. At the top are views, hiking trails and The Sundeck.

    Best for:
    Views without the hike
    When:
    In 2026: weekends from May 23, daily June 20 to September 7, weekends through October 4. Hours 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., last ride down 4:30 p.m.
    More info

    Checked November 2026

  • Aspen Art Museum

    An art museum in a building by design architect Shigeru Ban, completed in 2014. Admission is free. Swedish Hill Aspen is the cafe on Level 3.

    Best for:
    A free stop on a bad-weather day
    When:
    Galleries open Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
    Where:
    637 E Hyman Avenue, Aspen
    More info

    Checked November 2026

  • Wheeler/Stallard Museum

    A Queen Anne Victorian built by Jerome B. Wheeler around 1887 to 1888, run by the Aspen Historical Society. Admission is free.

    Best for:
    Mining-era history
    When:
    Tuesday to Saturday, noon to 5 p.m., closed major holidays.
    Where:
    620 W Bleeker Street, Aspen
    More info

    Checked November 2026

Festivals

  • Aspen Music Festival and School

    Concerts at the Michael Klein Music Tent, Harris Concert Hall and the Wheeler Opera House. Seating outside the tent on the Karetsky lawn and in the Kaye garden is always free.

    Best for:
    Classical music on a summer evening
    When:
    The 2026 season ran July 1 to August 23. Check the festival for 2027 dates.
    More info

    Checked November 2026

  • X Games Aspen

    Winter action sports at Buttermilk. In 2026 daytime admission was free until 4 p.m., and evening events needed a ticket. Check the 2027 rule with X Games.

    Best for:
    Winter sports fans
    When:
    January 29 to 31, 2027.
    Where:
    Buttermilk, Aspen
    More info

    Checked November 2026

Day trips

  • Independence Pass

    A 12,095-foot pass on Colorado 82 with tight curves and single-lane segments. Vehicles over 35 feet, trailer included, are prohibited at all times. Watch for rockfall and cyclists. The Forest Service's Grottos area, 9 miles east of Aspen, has waterfalls and an ice cave, and it warns that high spring runoff can be very dangerous. Independence Ghost Town is 16 miles east of Aspen.

    Best for:
    A summer drive in a normal-size vehicle
    When:
    CDOT says it typically closes on or near November 7 and reopens the Thursday before Memorial Day, weather permitting. Check COtrip.org.
    More info

    Checked November 2026

  • Ashcroft Ghost Town

    A silver town that grew after an 1880 strike and had under 50 residents by 1912. The Aspen Historical Society runs it under a Forest Service permit. Admission is on the honor system, and dogs are not permitted.

    Best for:
    An easy history stop near Cathedral Lake
    When:
    A docent is onsite 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in summer.
    Where:
    11 miles up Castle Creek Road
    More info

    Checked November 2026

  • Glenwood Springs hot springs

    Less than an hour north of Aspen on Highway 82, per the chamber. The Glenwood Hot Springs big pool runs about 90 to 93 degrees and its therapy pool about 104. Iron Mountain Hot Springs pools run about 98 to 108.

    Best for:
    A soak after a big hike
    Where:
    Glenwood Springs
    More info

    Checked November 2026

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