Aspen Attractions

Aspen Ski Resort has a base elevation of 7,945 feet, a summit elevation of 11,212 feet and numerous lifts. It receives an average annual snowfall of 300 inches.

Aspen is known for its black diamond runs and as a result has long been a favorite with expert skiers. A great selection of moguls, steeps, and glade runs make for a wonderful ski day. The ski resort has state of the art lift equipment including a modern gondola. If you've been skiing hard all morning, there are multiple options for grabbing a tasty on mountain lunch, including the Sundeck restaurant at the top and the Ajax restaurant at the bottom.

Aspen is known for its high wattage celebrity status. Each day rumors abound about who's in town and where they were last spotted. Many famous people ranging from Hollywood superstars to famous athletes own property locally. The ski hill is located near the town of Aspen and accommodation and dining choices range from budget right through to very high end.

Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness is found within the White River and Gunnison National Forests. The mountains are noted as one of the country's most photographed spots, with six peaks. The wilderness area attracts climbers, mountaineers, hikers and nature lovers.

The area is known for soaring mountains, rushing rivers, and placid lakes. Many of the peaks exceed 14,000 feet in this 180,000 plus acre wilderness. The Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness has over 100 miles of hiking trails, with some of the steeper trails sure to take your breath away.

In the summer visitors are rewarded with carpets of wildflowers across vast alpine meadows. Wildlife is plentiful here with frequent sightings of mule deer and elk. Maroon Bells-Snowmass is a popular place in the summer time with lots of outdoor enthusiasts out on the trails on warm summer days. The nearby ski town of Aspen transforms itself from servicing skiers to servicing summer visitors. Comfortable accommodation is plentiful and less costly than in the winter season.

Located near the Maroon Bells-Snowmass wilderness are the Hunter Fryingpan Wilderness, Ragged Wilderness, Collegiate Peak Wilderness, and the Holy Cross Wilderness areas.

The Aspen Art Museum in Colorado began in 1979 and is noted for its contemporary art and sculpture exhibits. Housed in an historic brick building on the Rio Grande Trail, the museum features art talks, gallery tours, educational workshops and special events.

Among the finest skiing areas round Aspen are Aspen Mountain, the Aspen Highlands, Snowmass and Buttermilk Mountain.

Aspen Highlands Ski Resort has a base elevation of 8,048 feet, a summit elevation of 11,675 feet and 8 lifts. It receives an average annual snowfall of 300 inches.

Among the finest skiing areas round Aspen are Aspen Mountain, the Aspen Highlands, Snowmass and Buttermilk Mountain.

Buttermilk Mountain Ski Resort has a base elevation of 7,870 feet, and a summit elevation of 9,900 feet. It receives an average annual snowfall of 200 inches.

Buttermilk has long been known as a family destination with largely beginner to intermediate level runs. More recent features, such as a 22-foot superpipe and an X Games slopestyle course have gained the hill a solid reputation with both snowboarders and skiers.

Hotel Jerome is a landmark hotel in Aspen that opened in 1889 and was restored in 1985. Named after Jerome Wheeler, the man who built it, the hotel features a Victorian Grand Ballroom, luxury rooms and views of the Aspen Mountain.

The Wheeler Opera House in Aspen was built in 1889 at the height of Aspen's mining prosperity. Two fires in 1912 caused it to fall into disrepair until it was restored between 1946 and 1960. The history of the building since that time has been somewhat tumultuous.

However, today the Wheeler Opera House is an important cultural institution in Aspen. It presents various stage, film and musical events throughout the year. The Opera House partners with other entities, including the Aspen Institute, Aspen Film, National Public Radio, the Aspen Writers' Foundation, National Geographic, Mountainfilm In Telluride, the Aspen Center for Physics, and the Aspen Music Festival and School.

The Opera House is open year round. Check with the websites events calendar to see what entertainment is being featured.

The Wheeler-Stallard House Museum is the home of the Aspen Historical Society. Built in 1888, this Queen Anne style home now has photographic exhibits about the history of Aspen. The history of the Crystal Palace and the history of early photography in Aspen are two of the latest exhibits.