Snowmass is located 12 miles from Aspen and sharing its lift pass, Snowmass offers 90% ski-in lodging and free postcards and stamps to anyone wanting to write home about their experiences on North America’s longest half-pipe. In 1997, the installation of a high altitude surface lift to access the powder filled bowls of The Cirque, previously only available with the aid of a snow-cat or a hike, gave it the biggest lift-served vertical drop in the country.
The poma lift on The Cirque operates 60 to 75 days of the year accessing terrain suited to intermediates and experts. The purpose of the limited access is to prevent over-exploitation of the terrain and a surface lift can operate in windy conditions that could stop a chair.
** Nordic: The Snowmass Club Nordic Center has over 80 km of groomed trails, and access to the trails is free. Equipment rental, lessons, snack bar, and health club are available.

Aspen Highlands is best known as the locals’ favorite among the four Aspen ski areas for advanced and expert skiers and riders, Aspen Highlands actually has more green and blue terrain than black and double black diamonds. Relaxed and gentle Buttermilk is just across the street as well so it is easy to please groups of mixed abilities at Highlands.
Aspen Highlands is actually a long ridgeline, ascending between the Castle Creek and Maroon Creek valleys. Its steeps drop off the sides of the ridge toward the valleys below. Beginners and intermediates can enjoy the long, rolling trails that run along the ridge itself.
With an Aspen area lift ticket, skiers and riders can hit the slopes of Highlands as well as choose from Aspen Mountain, Buttermilk and the big daddy, Snowmass. Just three miles from the center of Aspen town, Highlands is a must for anyone who wants to enjoy the complete Aspen experience.

Arising above the town, Aspen is often known as the playpen of the rich and famous (and for good reason) but it does feature some excellent terrain for all ability levels. Littered with steeps and bumps, Aspen Mountain has fantastic groomed intermediate runs as well. Aspen Mountain Powder Tours is a great choice for experts as it provides access to hundreds of acres of terrain off the backside of the mountain. A gourmet lunch is included in the deal.
Aspen town is known as THE place to be seen by the glitterati. Don’t be surprised if you bump into a movie personality as you stroll by the high-end shops and boutiques. One fact of life about Aspen and Aspen Mountain is that that they are not inexpensive. The facilities are world class and the skiing is top notch but bring some extra cash.

Buttermilk was started by Fred Pfifer who was instrumental in building the first lift on Aspen Mountain and was the first director of its ski school. Friedl wanted to develop terrain more suitable for teaching beginners to ski. Walter Paepcke, who helped finance the first lift on Aspen Mountain, urged the Forest Service to approve skiing at Buttermilk, writing that “although I am not a skier, and perhaps because I am not a skier, I have always been extremely interested in providing a large and easy skiing slope for beginners. A great number of my personal friends and many visitors to Aspen have mentioned this as a real lack in the otherwise excellent setup.” Buttermilk Ski Area opened in December 1958 with a $3 lift ticket, a 4,000 foot-long t-bar and a base area restaurant that was replaced in 1993. By the 1962/63 season, the area had two lifts to the top. By the 1968/69 season, there were three double chairs and two t-bars and lift tickets cost $7. Buttermilk West opened in 1965; the Tiehack side opened in 1969. In 1993, the Summit Express high-speed quad was installed.