Snowmass Mountain
At 4,406 vertical feet, Snowmass has the most in the country. And with 3,132 acres of terrain, 91 trails, 21 chairlifts and access to your choice of cruisers, glades, steeps, terrain parks and halfpipes, you’ll have to come back for more.
Base elevation: 8,104 ft./2,473 m
Summit elevation: 12,510 ft./3,813 m
Vertical rise: 4,406 ft./1,343 m
Terrain: 3,132 acres/1,267 hectares
Number of trails: 91
Miles/km of trails: 147 miles/237 km
Longest run: 5.3 miles/8.5 km
Types of trails: easiest: 6%, more difficult: 50%, most difficult: 12%, expert: 32%
Parks and pipes: 3 terrain parks (Snowmass Park, Makaha and Lowdown), 1 superpipe (new this year, 22 feet high!) and 1 beginner pipe
Lifts: 21 Total: 19 primary: 1 eight-passenger gondola, 1 high-speed six-passenger lift,
1 six-passenger pulse gondola, 7 high-speed quads, 2 quads, 4 ski/snowboard school lifts (including magic carpets); 2 secondary: 2 platter pulls
Aspen Mountain
Aspen Mountain, and its famous black-diamond terrain, has kept us on the map since 1947. Inbounds you’ll get a variety of glades, bumps and steeps. For an out-of-bounds experience, Aspen Mountain Powder Tours will hook you up with fresh tracks on the backside. While the mountain hasn’t changed much, you’ll appreciate the new gondola, great views & food at the Sundeck at the summit and Ajax Tavern at the base, where the après rivals the skiing and snowboarding.
Base elevation: 7,945 ft./2,422 m
Summit elevation: 11,212 ft./3,418 m
Vertical rise: 3,267 ft./996 m
Terrain: 675 acres/273 hectares
Number of trails: 76
Miles/km of trails: 64 miles/103 km
Longest run: 3 miles/4.83 km
Types of trails: easiest: 0%, more difficult: 48%, most difficult: 26%, expert: 26%
Lifts: 8: 6 primary – 1 gondola (14-minute ride), 1 high-speed quad, 1 high-speed double, 1 quad, 2 doubles; 2 secondary – 1 quad (Little Nell), 1 double (Bell Mountain)
Aspen Highlands
With breathtaking 360-degree views of the Maroon Bells and an abundance of expert terrain as well as groomed cruisers, it’s no wonder Aspen Highlands has been the locals’ favorite for over 50 years. Hike the 12,392 feet to the summit of Highland Bowl for the ultimate inbounds backcountry rush. Or take the Deep Temerity lift to access the recently-added 237 skiable acres. It all adds up to some of the most challenging big-mountain terrain in North America.
Base elevation: 8,040 ft./2,451 m.
Summit elevation: 11,675 ft./3,559 m. (top of Highland Bowl 12,392 ft.)
Vertical rise: 3,635 ft./1,108 m.
Terrain: 1,028 acres/416 hectares
Number of trails: 118
Miles/km of trails: 84 miles/135 km
Longest run: 3.5 miles/5.6 km
Types of trails: easiest: 18%, more difficult: 30%, most difficult: 16%, expert: 36%
Lifts: 5: 3 high-speed quads, 2 triples
Buttermilk
Buttermilk built its 50-year legacy on wide-open and gently rolling trails that cater to beginners and families. Today it’s famous for hosting the ESPN Winter X Games through 2012 and being voted #1 by Transworld Snowboarding Magazine Reader’s Poll for best park and pipe. The 22-foot superpipe in the legendary terrain park does not disappoint, as many X Games winners, Olympians and up-and-comers can attest.
Base elevation: 7,870 ft./2,399 m
Summit elevation: 9,900 ft./3,018 m
Vertical rise: 2,030 ft./619 m
Terrain: 470 acres/190 hectares
Number of trails: 44
Miles/km of trails: 21 miles/34 km
Longest run: 3 miles/4.83 km
Types of trails: easiest: 35%, more difficult: 39%, most difficult: 26%, expert: 0%
Parks and pipes: 2 terrain parks: Buttermilk Park has over 100 features including a 22-foot superpipe and an X Games slopestyle course. For the beginner: Panda Pipe and Ski & Snowboard Schools Park (S3 Park)
Lifts: 9: 2 high-speed quads, 3 doubles, 2 handle tows, 2 ski/snowboard school