Aspen’s Power of Four: Aspen Snowmass is made up of four different ski areas offering an enormous selection of terrain and runs for everyone. Ski on the ESPN X-Games terrain park on Buttermilk, blast down the runs used on Ajax (Aspen Mountain) for World Cup, join the locals hiking up Highlands Bowl on a powder day, or spend days with the family on the biggest ski area here, Snowmass! These are top Aspen ski and board resorts for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy! It’s no wonder that Aspen skiing is known around the world as some of the best conditions and variety available all in one place. See below for descriptions and links to maps and conditions at all of the mountains, as well as McCartney Property Management’s local tips and hints.
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Lift Tickets, Rentals, and Ski School
Your lift ticket is good for any of the 4 Aspen Snowmass ski areas! 7 days or more in advance, you can contact us via phone (970) 925-8717 or by email to book your lift tickets and have them ready for you when you check-in, or you can purchase them online by clicking on the link below. You can also line up rental equipment and instruction and be ready to hit the slopes as soon as you get here.
There are savings with the advance purchase, and for greater discounts, multiple day passes are available!
Skiing Aspen Mountain
Local’s Tip: While the Sundeck at the top of the mountain has spectacular views over the surrounding mountain ranges, check out Bonnie’s restaurant on a blue bird day. The big decks are a favorite! Of course, Ajax Tavern at the base of the mountain is the perfect apre ski location.
Also, we like doing top-to-bottom laps with a rest on the way back up on the gondola! Just look out: your quads will feel it!
Skiing Snowmass
The Snowmass ski area is just a few miles outside of Aspen. This is the biggest of the Aspen Snowmass ski areas, and it has everything from easy slopes for beginners, to beginner AND advanced terrain parks and half pipes, to intermediate cruisers, to steeps, bumps, and trees. Simply said, there’s something for everyone, and there is enough terrain that you could never repeat a run all day if that’s what you’d like! The base village offers a fun “still in the ski boots” apre scene with local music and brews.
Local’s Tip: There’s a new High Alpine lift coming the season of 2015-16! This new high-speed lift will make the trip up quicker and more comfortable for all.
Try the Two Creeks/Elk Camp side of the mountain for easy cruising runs. For those craving some more excitement, runs from High Alpine and the Cirque offer up steeps and bumps for advanced skiers.
Skiing Buttermilk
Buttermilk is home to ESPN’s Winter X-Games in January with a huge terrain park. However, it’s a fantastic mountain for beginners and kids, or just those out for a relaxing day cruising and enjoying a blue sky day and lots of sun! It’s a short shuttle ride from downtown Aspen.
Local’s Tip: the side of the mountain closest to Aspen is Tiehack, and it’s steeper than the rest of the mountain. You can get fresh tracks on powder days all day long over here as the rest of the town flocks to the steeps on Snowmass, Aspen, and Highlands.
Skiing Aspen Highlands
Local’s Tip: Well, obviously the Bowl on a powder day! However, even if you’re not up to that, the rest of the mountain has tons of terrain. Cloud Nine Bistro serves great food (check out the fondue) and sometimes has the local freestyle kids or ski patrollers throwing tricks and air by the deck. One of the McCartney staff learned how to throw a 360 on a jump there when she was a kid!
Highlands is home to the Aspen Valley Ski Club, so you’re likely to see a lot of ripping kids any day of the week on the mogul course or race courses set up on Thunderbowl.
Aspen Ski Rentals
No Aspen ski and board trip is complete without tuning done by qualified, experienced technicians for your best performance. One-stop shop for rentals, demos accessories, logo wear, lift tickets and ski/snowboard school. Snowboard sales.
Aspen Sports & North Face Store
Aspen Sports and North Face Store have the latest equipment of brands such as K2, Volkl, Rossignol, Burton to the best outdoor clothing and accessories from Kjus, Nils, Obermeyer, North Face and much more. Be sure to get the best equipment for your Aspen ski and board trip!