From its snowy ski slopes to its tree-lined hiking trails, it’s no secret that Aspen is a great base for outdoor adventurers.
While Aspen may be best known for skiing (and celebrity sightings), this scenic mountain town in Colorado’s Roaring Fork Valley also has a vibrant arts and culture scene, world-class shopping, luxury hotels and lauded bars and restaurants, making it a crowd-pleasing vacation destination for just about anyone. Whether you’re a frequent visitor or arriving for the very first time, these are the most quintessentially Aspen things to do.
1. Jam out at a concert at Belly Up
Belly Up is an intimate concert venue with a big reputation – it’s been a downtown Aspen staple since 2005 and regularly attracts big-name artists – recent acts include Zach Brian, Wiz Khalifa and Keanu Reeves’ Dog Star. The Colorado venue’s intimate size is a major draw: fans can get up close and personal with their favorite musicians. With a diverse lineup and a jam-packed schedule of performances, you could attend a gig nearly every night of the week and have a different experience every time.
Detour: After a show, enjoy downtown Aspen’s walkability by taking a late-night stroll down Hyman Avenue and grabbing a little something at one of the nearby bars and restaurants that stay open late.
2. Drive or bike over Independence Pass
Topping out at 12,095 feet, Independence Pass is a two-lane (and, at times, one-lane) highway that traverses the Continental Divide. It’s a scenic summertime drive (the pass is closed from October through May), where you’ll encounter blooming wildflowers (orange Indian paintbrushes, lavender Columbines) along the side of the road in July and August. The pass is also popular among road cyclists, though it’s a challenging climb that requires a high level of fitness and constant vigilance for cars. Whether you drive or bike, stop for a break at Independence Ghost Town, where you can wander among restored miners’ cabins and the remains of abandoned buildings from the 1880s.
Detour: If you’re driving the pass, make a pit stop at Grottos Trail. A short hike will lead you to stunning ice caves and cascading waterfalls.
3. Snap a sunrise photo of the Maroon Bells
The Maroon Bells – a pair of 14,000-foot peaks reflecting in an alpine lake near Aspen – are some of the most photographed mountains in North America. Their natural beauty has made them incredibly popular, but you can ditch some of the crowds by waking up before dawn to reach Maroon Lake. Plus, sunrise is a stunning time to photograph the Bells, which become pink and sparkly as the sun hits them. You can also start one of Aspen’s best hikes from there.
Planning tip: The most important thing to know when visiting the Maroon Bells is that you can’t just drive there and park wherever you want – access is strictly controlled. Most visitors will need to park at the Aspen Highlands – it’s very pricey, so we recommend taking the free RFTA bus from Rubey Park in Aspen – and then take a half hour shuttle ride (late May through October). You must reserve shuttle tickets in advance.
4. Find the shrines on Aspen Mountain
Keep your eyes peeled while skiing at Aspen Mountain, aka Ajax, and you might suddenly find yourself immersed in a colorful shrine to Jerry Garcia or John Denver. There are dozens of shrines hidden among the trees at Ajax, as well as Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk and Snowmass, paying homage to everyone from celebrities to beloved deceased locals; there are even shrines honoring dogs who have crossed the rainbow bridge. Some are somber, others are lighthearted and fun – but they offer a window into Aspen’s unique culture and identity.
5. Go mountain biking at Snowmass Bike Park
While there are hundreds of miles of mountain bike trails throughout the Roaring Fork Valley, a good place to start is Snowmass Bike Park, which is open from June through September. In the summer and fall, the snowy ski slopes transform into lush, wildflower-speckled singletrack trails for all skill levels. The bike park makes it easy to spend all of your time going downhill, since you can hop on the Elk Camp Gondola with your bike for the ride up the mountain – no huffing and puffing required (unless you want to ride cross-country!). There are 25 miles of downhill trails spanning nearly 3,000 vertical feet, with terrain for beginner, intermediate and advanced riders. If you’re new to the sport, Snowmass Bike Park is also a great place to take a lesson or sign up for a skills clinic; you can rent gear there, too. Beyond that, there are more than 300 miles of mountain bike trails throughout the valley, which has been designated a gold-level ride center – the highest rating possible – by the International Mountain Bicycling Association.
Planning tip: Plan your ride around the sunset and bring a headlamp for a twilight descent on Bonus Bike Nights. On Tuesdays from June 27–August 8, experience golden hour lighting that makes the trails magical.
6. Enjoy music under the tent at Aspen Music Festival
In the summer, Aspen is brimming with music students and professional musicians from around the world, who travel to the Roaring Fork Valley for the renowned Aspen Music Festival and School (you’ll often hear and see students playing expert-level classical music downtown to make a little extra cash!). Since 1949, students have been able to rehearse and perform alongside principals from major orchestras, attend lectures, participate in masterclasses and listen to panel discussions.
Members of the public, meanwhile, benefit from the hundreds of public performances that students and professionals put on, many of them taking place in the open-air Benedict Music Tent on the Aspen Institute campus. Though the venue seats more than 2,000 people, many concert-goers lounge on the grassy lawn surrounding the tent, with a picnic or a book to read, while listening to the world-class live music.
7. Stroll through the Aspen Art Museum
Designed like a woven picnic basket, the Aspen Art Museum is a great place to spend an afternoon, no matter the season. The museum, one of the many free things to do in Aspen, hosts rotating exhibitions featuring mostly contemporary art; there’s also a gorgeous, sunny cafe on the third floor that’s perfect for a light lunch or catching up on emails. Expect to spend about an hour here – it’s not a very big museum, but the architecture and building design are also inspiring.
Planning tip: After exploring the exhibitions, head up to the rooftop café, Swedish Hill, for mountain views and a light lunch or coffee (note the café closes at 3pm). It has stunning views of the mountain.
8. Go uphilling at Buttermilk
To work up a little sweat while you ski – or “earn your turns,” as some skiers say – try uphilling at Buttermilk, one of Aspen Snowmass’ four mountains. Uphilling is exactly what it sounds like: skiing uphill. It’s a workout for sure, but also allows you to skip the lift lines and avoid many of the crowds, which can make for a more peaceful, serene experience on the snow.
To uphill, you’ll need some special equipment – chiefly, skins, which are grippy strips that attach to the bottom of your skis to prevent you from sliding backward as you glide uphill. There are special hours for uphilling to avoid getting in the way of fast-moving downhillers, and you’ll need to buy an uphill season pass for $69.
A popular route for uphilling is Tiehack, which climbs 1,600 feet to Buttermilk’s east summit. Once you get to the top, take off your skins, tighten your boots and let it rip to ski back down.
9. Eat pancakes at Bonnie’s
Take a break from skiing at Ajax to refuel and warm up at Bonnie’s a cozy, mid-mountain spot that’s known for its pancakes and apple strudel. On bluebird days, it’s also a great place to grab a beer and soak up the sun on the deck while skiers and snowboarders cruise by.
Another must-visit on-mountain restaurant is the Sundeck, located a few paces from the top of the Silver Queen Gondola (the main lift from downtown Aspen). It’s a cafeteria-style setup, but this is far from cafeteria food – perfectly cooked burgers, gourmet pizzas, creative sandwiches and other hearty, fresh foods prepared by the top chefs at the Little Nell, one of the most luxurious hotels in Colorado. Even if you’re not hungry, the Sundeck is worth a stop for the views of the surrounding 14,000-foot peaks.
10. Walk back in time with Aspen Historical Society
Aspen’s active historical society keeps the city’s history alive and relevant with museums and ghost towns. The Aspen Historical Society also offers an array of informative and entertaining walking tours around town, including a Victorian West End walking tour that explores the historical characters and distinctive architecture of the West End neighborhood. The historians are highly knowledgeable and often wear period-appropriate clothing, helping you imagine what Aspen was like decades ago.
11. Ride an e-bike to Pine Creek Cookhouse
Cycling is a popular sport in Aspen, but the city’s already high starting elevation (8,000 feet) and even higher mountain roads can make it a challenge for visitors, particularly those coming from sea level. Enter the electric bike, or e-bike for short, which will give you a little extra oomph while you pedal and is one of the best ways to get around Aspen.
Rent an e-bike for the day from one of Aspen’s many bike rental shops, then begin the 12.5-mile climb toward Pine Creek Cookhouse, a popular lunch restaurant in a log cabin. Even with the electrical assistance of your bike, this ride is still a challenge, so you’ll be hungry by the time you arrive. The ride back to Aspen, however, is a breeze as it’s all downhill: don’t be afraid to eat every last bite of your massive Castle Creek Knife Burger.
In the winter, you can also cross-country ski or take a scenic horse-drawn sleigh ride to the restaurant, which is just up the road from Ashcroft Ghost Town.
12. Go birding at Hallam Lake
Founded in 1968, the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES) is a beautiful 25-acre environmental learning facility and nature preserve – and one of the best spots to go birding year-round in Aspen. Hallam Lake, located on the center’s grounds along the Roaring Fork River, is home to dozens of species of resident and migratory birds, including colorful waterfowl, delicate warblers and impressive birds of prey.
ACES hosts monthly group birding outings led by naturalist and writer Rebecca Weiss – and there’s even a bird club you can join to help support the center’s work.
13. Sip an Aspen Crud at the Hotel Jerome’s J-Bar
The Hotel Jerome has been an Aspen landmark since 1889. Its stately brick building, on the corner of Main and Mill streets, survived the mining boom, the silver crash, the quiet years, the start of Aspen’s ski area, the Hunter S. Thompson years (when gonzo journalist Thompson ran for sheriff in 1970, he made the hotel’s J-Bar his unofficial office) and, finally, the glitz and glimmer of the present day.
The J-Bar, inside the hotel, was also a very popular hangout spot during Prohibition. According to legend, the bartender would surreptitiously toss a few shots of bourbon into a vanilla milkshake for those who asked for “that Aspen Crud.” The boozy milkshake is still on the menu today – and yes, it’s delicious.
14. Ride bikes along the Rio Grande Trail
This 42-mile “rails-to-trails” route connects the communities in the Roaring Fork Valley from Aspen to Glenwood Springs. It’s a popular trail for cycling, running, walking, jogging and rollerblading because it’s protected from vehicle traffic (except for a handful of well-marked spots where it intersects with roads) as it meanders through varied scenery along the Roaring Fork River. The trail, which is mostly paved and relatively flat, can also connect you with dozens of other trail systems, which means you can roam to your heart’s content without needing to rely on a car.
15. Get swept up in a Theatre Aspen show
Head to Hurst Theatre, an elegant enclosed tent structure located right along the Roaring Fork River, to be transported to another time and place during a Theatre Aspen musical or play. The professional theater company puts on Broadway shows like Chicago and Guys and Dolls during its annual summer season.
Detour: Don’t miss the opportunity to explore the nearby John Denver Sanctuary. This peaceful garden with river views is dedicated to the legendary singer-songwriter, with boulders engraved with the lyrics of his most beloved songs.
16. Strap on cross country skis or snowshoes at Ashcroft
Glide through the pristine winter wonderland of Ashcroft, the same location as the Pine Creek Cookhouse, as it is also the perfect spot for Nordic skiing and winter hiking on snowshoes. Ashcroft Ski Touring serves 20 miles of groomed trails through 600 acres of backcountry – it’s a bit more wild than your typical Nordic center. They also rent classic cross-country ski equipment and snowshoes and run guided tours.
17. Visit a ghost town
Next to Ashcroft Ski Touring is Ashcroft Ghost Town, a silver-mining town founded in 1880. What remains are mostly miners’ cottages (log cabins with tin roofs), a couple of broken-down wagons stranded in the waist-high grass, a post office and a saloon. At its height in 1893 about 2500 people worked here, but the silver veins were quickly exhausted and by 1895 the town’s population had plummeted to 100 residents.
At the foot of Independence Pass is another boomtown gone bust, Independence. This one-time tent camp exploded in the summer of 1879, when a lucky miner struck gold on the 4th of July. The site offers the chance to see the remains of the old livery, the general store and a miner’s cabin or three. After its population peaked at 1500 residents, the town fell away during the harsh winter of 1899, when supply routes were severed.
18. Discover the charm of the Wheeler Opera House
Built in 1889 by Jerome B. Wheeler of Hotel Jerome notoriety, the Wheeler Opera House is an iconic venue that is a cornerstone of Aspen’s cultural and social life. Restored to its original grandeur, the opera house hosts an array of performances that cater to all tastes, ranging from live concerts and film screenings to operas (of course), plays and lectures. Visitors can also explore the gallery spaces, which feature exhibitions from local artists.
Detour: Book a pre-show dinner at one of Aspen’s fancier restaurants, such as Prospect at Hotel Jerome or Bosq, where you can choose from two different tasting menus.
19. Take a scenic gondola ride on the Silver Queen Gondola
For amazing views of the Rocky Mountains, hop on the Silver Queen Gondola, located at the base of Aspen Mountain on East Durant Avenue. In 1946, it was the single-seat Lift 1 – the longest chairlift in the world. The 14-minute ride takes you 3,267 vertical feet up to the 11,212 ft summit. In the summer, the summit hosts live music, yoga classes, and other activities, and whether you go up for a hike or to ski, the Sundeck restaurant awaits to fuel you in between.
20. Hike popular – and off-the-beaten-path – trails
The Maroon Bells trailhead is the starting point for some of Aspen’s most famous hikes (the Four Pass Loop, Crested Butte), but if you want to avoid the crowds and shuttle logistics, there are plenty of other trails to explore.
The Hunter Creek Trail leaves right from town (N Mill St to Lone Pine Rd), following the creek northeast for about 4 miles, after which it links up with a plethora of other trails, including the popular network at nearby Smuggler Mountain (10,700ft).
Castle Creek Valley is also a great spot to explore. Here you’ll find the steaming Conundrum Hot Springs, west of Castle Peak (14,265ft), which are the reward for 8.5 miles and over 3000ft of climbing on the Conundrum Creek Trail (USFS Trail 1981). The pools here have outrageous alpine views, including glimpses of steep avalanche chutes and waterfalls. It’s hugely popular, and you must make reservations on recreation.gov in advance to stay at one of the campsites here. Bear canisters are also required.
21. Learn about conservation at ACES
The Aspen Center for Environmental Studies manages the 25-acre Hallam Lake wildlife sanctuary that hugs the Roaring Fork River and miles of hiking trails in the Hunter Creek Valley.
With a mission to advance environmental conservation, the center’s naturalists provide free guided hikes and snowshoe tours, raptor demonstrations (eagles and owls are among the residents) and special programs for families.
Popular guided tours include the Ice Age walk in Snowmass, hikes to Crater Lake in the Maroon Bells and year-round birding excursions.
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