Aspen Highlands, though part of the larger Aspen Resorts network (along with Aspen Mountain, Snowmass, and Buttermilk), is somewhat removed from the glam and glitterati found in this Mecca of winterized chic. Quite simply, Aspen Highlands is all about skiing, and because of that its as a locals' favorite, and is consistently ranked as one of the most challenging courses in the United States. Highland Bowl alone is worth the price of the lift ticket, delivering truly epic Rocky Mountain skiing. In the 2008-2009 season, Aspen Highlands will add up to 18 additional acres of skiing and riding in the Deep Temerity area of the mountain between Hyde Park and Mushroom Chutes called Canopy Cruiser, complimenting the 1,000-foot expansion in 2005 of expert-only hike-in terrain. Then there’s the Olympic Glades for fabulous tree skiing and the area nicknamed Steeplechase, with a series of demanding double-black freefalls carved into the mountainside.
Unlike Aspen Mountain, which caters only to intermediates and above, Aspen Highlands also has a number of entry-level slopes—a series of green circles and runs below Merry-Go-Round. But the mountain lends itself to discovery; the trail map is a serpentine maze; a tight-turn run may lead you into a wide, aspen-flanked boulevard bordered with entries into a narrow, tree-lined avenue, a dense bump run, or a gentle groomer. Stick within your skill levels, and Aspen Highlands will win you over. It may even inspire you to ramp up your carving abilities by taking an inviting, if difficult, slope your next run down the mountain. Best of all, unlike other Aspen mountains, you’ll typically see less than 1,000 fellow skiers spread across 970 acres of skiable terrain.
Where: On Maroon Creek Road, which climbs up the valley between Aspen Mountain and Buttermilk, 200 miles from Denver, via I-70 and Colorado 82.
* Resort expense has been estimated by rating the cost of a daily lift ticket during the prime, non-holiday season (
$60 or less;
$60-75;
$75 or more ), this basis also offers some insight to approximate lodging and dining costs, but transportation (airfare, car rental/shuttle, etc.) has not been factored into account.
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