Aspen Winter Activities

When the winter rolls around and the champagne powder starts falling, everyone knows about the world-renowned Aspen ski areas.  But, some people don’t know about the many amazing off-mountain winter activities in and around the beautiful mountain towns of Aspen and Snowmass Village. Once you’ve made some turns on our four mountains, explore some of these other winter activities set among the breathtaking scenery of Colorado’s Elk Mountain Range.

Take A Hut Trip – Aspen is surrounded by the 10th Mountain Division Huts; a system of 29 backcountry huts in the Colorado Rocky Mountains connected by 350 miles of suggested routes.  This is a unique opportunity for backcountry skiing and snowshoeing while staying in comfortable cabins. Their name honors the men of 10th Mountain Division of the U.S. Army, who trained during World War II at Camp Hale in central Colorado.

Watch A Concert – Aspen’s Belly Up attracts chart topping and Grammy winning artists. From cover bands to rappers, rockers, DJs, soul, jazz, country, bluegrass and funk bands, the Belly Up is the place for live music.  Whether you want to hear Nas rhyme or Clint Black sing, a night at the Belly Up is sure to be fun. 

Go Shopping – Shopping in Aspen offers everything from outdoor outfitters, to the latest in haute couture, to locally owned and operated souvenir shops, and everything in between. Aspen is a place where you truly can shop till you drop.

Go Skating - The Aspen Ice Garden and the open-air Silver Circle Ice Rink are both in the shadow of Ajax, and are great places to go skating with the family.

Enjoy The Culture – The Aspen Art Museum and the numerous galleries in town offer quite an extensive arts scene to explore.  Highlights include Peter Lik’s breathtaking landscape photography, the Elliot Yeary Gallery and the Baldwin Gallery, among many others.  Catch a play, watch an independent film, or watch one of the world’s elite dance companies perform at the historic Wheeler Opera House.

Enjoy The Dining – One thing is for sure, once you arrive in Aspen, you are sure to be well fed. Jimmy’s has unbeatable comfort food and a great selection of tequila, Matsuhisa offers world-class sushi, and La Creperie Du Village brings you delicious French cuisine.  

Get Romantic – A trip to the Pine Creek Cookhouse in the upper Castle Creek Valley makes for a romantic outing that any couple is sure to enjoy.  Having a reservation helps, so be sure to plan ahead. 

Go Cross-Country Skiing – Drop into the Aspen Cross Country Center at the Aspen Golf Course, which is located on the 60 km of free trails of the Aspen Snowmass Nordic Trail System.  The center is a convenient spot to demo gear, take a lesson or head out on a guided tour. After skiing, you can relax in the lounge, gear up in the retail shop and ski school, get your skis tuned and repaired, use the public waxing room, and the men’s & women’s locker rooms.

Get Pampered – After a day on the slopes or a night on the town, you deserve to be properly pampered.  The Aspen Club & Spa offers a full menu of spa and beauty services along with a complete gym, pool, hot tube, sauna, tennis and racquetball.