Experience Aspen Snowmass Like a Local

Aspen Snowmass is famous for a reason, with skiers and snowboarders travelling from all over the globe to try their world-class slopes. However, it's the local Aspen Snowmass community that has been there year in, year out, who really know how to do the resort right - and we're spilling their best kept secrets!

With more than 5,700 acres of world-class terrain spread across four mountains and two beautiful towns, Aspen Snowmass draws travellers from across the globe. Yet beyond the headline runs and well known restaurants, lies a different side to this Colorado icon, one shaped by early-morning rituals, secret powder stashes and relaxed meals with friends. If you want to experience Aspen Snowmass like a local, here is where to begin.

Ski Ajax Like You Mean It

If you want to ski the way locals do, head straight to Aspen Mountain, which rises directly from the town of Aspen and is known affectionately by the Aspen Snowmass community as Ajax. Expect steep fall lines, rolling moguls and terrain that keeps even seasoned skiers on their toes. There are no beginner runs here, just unapologetically challenging skiing that locals adore for its intensity and energy. Ajax is as much about atmosphere as it is about terrain. The buzz at the base area, the familiar faces on the lift and the sense of shared accomplishment at the end of a powder day all combine to create that unmistakable “only-in-Aspen” feeling.

Earn Your Turns in Highland Bowl

For serious skiers, riders and locals alike, hiking the legendary Highland Bowl at Aspen Highlands is a true rite of passage. Rising to 12,392 feet, this vast 270-acre powder playground delivers some of the steepest terrain in Colorado, with every run classified as double black diamond. Reaching the summit is part of the experience. In good conditions, the hike takes around 45 minutes, though a snowcat can shorten the ascent slightly. That said, locals will tell you the finest lines lie further along the ridge, earned properly on foot. The north-facing slopes are known for holding powder for days after a storm, and with no lift access keeping numbers down, the rewards often outweigh the sweat. It is challenging, exhilarating and utterly unforgettable.

Après, the Aspen Way

When the legs begin to burn, the après scene in Aspen Snowmass is just as important as the skiing. Champagne at Eleven212, long sunny lunches or a decadent hot chocolate at Ajax Tavern, this is where the community comes together on Aspen Mountain. Locals gather on the terrace, ski boots still on, swapping stories from the day and soaking up the mountain views. Or for the Highland Bowl conquerors, there is nothing like a long and very well-deserved lunch at Cloud Nine to refuel and refresh.

Join the Uphill Crowd

While Aspen Snowmass is famous for its downhill terrain, locals know the true secret lies in the uphill. Known as alpine touring or skinning, uphilling involves climbing the mountain using specialist bindings and skins before earning your descent. It is a cornerstone of the Roaring Fork Valley’s athletic culture and something Aspen Snowmass has embraced longer than most North American resorts. At the end of the week, locals gather for the much-loved Friday Morning Uphill Breakfast Club at the Cliffhouse on Buttermilk Mountain, a well-earned reward after an early climb. Expect hearty plates of French toast or fried rice, strong coffee and a convivial atmosphere.

Dine Beneath the Full Moon

Winter evenings bring another local favourite, the Full Moon Dinners at Cliffhouse on Buttermilk. Guests skin or hike up beneath an illuminated sky before settling in for live music, a warming meal and an unmatched atmosphere. With head torches lighting the descent and snow sparkling under moonlight, it is a uniquely Aspen Snowmass experience.

Slow Things Down on Snowshoes

For those looking for an activity at a more gentle pace, snowshoeing through the beautiful snow capped trees is another of the Aspen Snowmass community's best kept secrets. Travellers can join guided snowshoe tours on Aspen or Snowmass Mountains, led by naturalists from the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES). These immersive excursions wind through spruce and fir forests along Richmond Ridge and offer a different perspective on the landscape. Along the way, you will learn about winter wildlife, avalanche science and Aspen’s rich history, all while taking in sweeping alpine views.

Winter 2025–26 Operating Dates

• Aspen Mountain: 27 November 2025 – 19 April 2026

• Aspen Highlands: 13 December 2025 – 12 April 2026

• Buttermilk: 13 December 2025 – 5 April 2026

• Snowmass: 27 November 2025 – 12 April 2026

Aspen Snowmass is more than a world-class ski resort. It’s a community shaped by mountain culture, early starts, shared adventures and long afternoons in the sun. Follow the locals, earn your turns and stay for après and you will discover the true spirit of this extraordinary destination.