Aspen/Snowmass Beginner Skiing
Buttermilk is the classic beginner’s mountain because to its flat, rolling slopes. Max the Moose, Fort Frog, and Panda Peak are all favorites among children.
Newcomers visiting Aspen/Snowmass may be startled to hear that Aspen Mountain has no beginning terrain, while Aspen Highlands has just a few green lines. That is OK, since Snowmass and Buttermilk are a beginner’s paradise.
Buttermilk is the finest mountain for beginners: it is just three miles (5 kilometers) from Aspen and is the archetypal learner’s mountain, with easy, rolling slopes. The mountain is divided into three distinct sections: the Main Buttermilk, the Tiehack, and the West Buttermilk.
Main Buttermilk is the heart of the path, with a variety of green and blue trails. Tiehack, situated off the east ridge, is an advanced region where intermediates go to conquer steeper slopes, bumps, and powder. However, be advised that the Tiehack chair is quite sluggish and lengthy; we suggest avoiding it on frigid days. The sloping topography of West Buttermilk is largely composed of simple green trails and is a favorite among first-timers. It’s also a favorite among hikers, snowshoers, and other uphill enthusiasts since it provides an excellent exercise at any time of day or night. At the peak, travelers are treated to spectacular views of Pyramid Peak, Highlands, Snowmass, Capitol Peak, Mt. Daly, and Mt. Sopris.
Max the Moose, Buttermilk’s friendly purple mascot, and Fort Frog, an adventure area with a Western-style fort and Native American Village where children may explore specifically designated pathways, are popular with children. Panda Peak, the learning hill at the foot of Buttermilk, is another kid draw, since it is the location of the children’s ski school’s first turns. Beginners are encouraged to participate in a full-fledged ski experience. Often, people begin in designated beginner-friendly regions and progress to increasingly difficult portions of the mountain as their confidence and skill grow.
Aspen/Snowmass Intermediate Skiing
Almost half of the terrain across all four mountain ski areas is intermediate-friendly, with outstanding cruising on Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, and Snowmass.
At Aspen Highlands, the greatest spot for intermediate skiers is towards the summit, where the Cloud Nine lift connects to trails such as Scarlett’s, Grand Prix, and Gunbarrel. The Golden Horn and Thunderbowl provide pleasant sailing.
The longest intermediate trail is just over five miles (8.5 kilometers) in length and is located in Snowmass, as is another unique offering: the ten-minute hike to Burnt Mountain, which features a backcountry experience for intermediates on Long Shot, a three-mile (5-kilometer) trail that winds through forests. Long groomed intermediate tracks provide good cruising, such as the “mile-wide” Big Burn.
Aspen/Snowmass Expert Skiing
Expert skiing in Aspen consists of moguls and steeps on Aspen Mountain, steep off-piste in Highlands Bowl, and Hanging Valley and Cirque in Snowmass. The expert skiing at Aspen/Snowmass is world-class.
Skiing Expertise at Aspen Mountain
For those looking for moguls and steep, deep couloirs, Aspen Mountain offers short, sharp, and quite steep double black diamond (and extremely difficult) chutes, including the famous “dump trails” such as Bear Paw, Short Snort, and Zaugg Dump, which were created by miners dumping spoil as they tunneled their way into the mountain. The dump trails are narrow, difficult, and steep, and will test even the most seasoned riders. Walsh’s is often regarded as the most difficult path on Aspen Mountain. Bell Mountain, which is a component of Aspen Mountain, offers exceptional mogul skiing options with its multitude of distinct faces, including Face of Bell, Shoulder of Bell, and Back of Bell. As they descend Ajax, skiers are also treated to stunning vistas of downtown Aspen.
Skiing Expertise in Aspen Highlands
Highlands is renowned for its exciting steeps, trees, and powder bowls that test and excite skilled skiers and riders. Between Steeplechase and the Y-Zones, Temerity is the pinnacle of tree riding. In Temerity, the Mushroom Chutes, Thermals, and South Castle Chute are difficult for the faint of heart and are certain to provide glory tales for even the most intrepid skiers and riders. The Olympic Bowl side of the mountain (referred to as Oly by locals) has the appropriately named Deception and No Name Chutes, which provide tough gladed skiing and riding. Highlands is a premier destination for large mountain freeskiing and freeride.
Highlands Bowl offers the steepest off-piste experience of any ski resort in the United States. Skiers and snowboarders have descended to Highlands in droves to sample the new terrain. With the development of Ozone, White Kitchen, and Be One in the early 2000’s, it became feasible to ski on 40 to 45 degree slopes from the bowl’s 12,392-foot (3,782 m) peak. After a blizzard, the bowl provides deep powder skiing and is accessible by a 20–60 minute trek from the top of the Loge Peak chair. The trek may be cut in half by taking the complimentary snowcat from Loge Meadow to the first entry gate. Snowcat service is available from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., weather permitting. More information is available on the board at the summit, which is accessible by both the Loge Peak and the new Deep Temerity lifts.
Dropping in from the peak is one possibility. The Down Y Zones, located 1,000 vertical feet (300 m) lower, have some of the sharpest terrain. There are plenty of alternative options between the Y Zones and the peak. You may enter from any point along the ridge to the left through four entry gates, but you MUST adhere to gate restrictions. Bear in mind that the steep and narrow chutes of Maroon Bowl—to the right of the ridge—are uncontrolled, and avalanches have claimed several lives in this region over the years.
