Aspen Snowmass is shorthand for a certain kind of excellence — the rarefied air of a mountain town where everything is done to an extraordinary standard. The skiing is legendary. The golf is exceptional. And the town itself, with its Victorian-era architecture and Roaring Fork Valley setting, provides a backdrop unlike anything else in American mountain culture.
The Skiing: Four Mountains, One Pass
Aspen Snowmass is actually four distinct mountains — Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk, and Snowmass — all operating under one lift pass. Each has its own personality. Aspen Mountain (Ajax) is steep, serious, and directly above town. Highlands is home to the legendary Highland Bowl. Buttermilk hosts the X Games. Snowmass is the family mountain — vast, varied, and loaded with ski-in/ski-out accommodation.
- 5,527 combined skiable acres across four mountains
- Highland Bowl: hike-to expert terrain with some of the best skiing in Colorado
- Snowmass: 3,342 acres with the best intermediate skiing in the Rockies
- Aspen Mountain: 675 acres, no beginner terrain — serious mountain only
- Average snowfall: 300 inches per season
Hire a local mountain guide for your first day. They know which lifts have no wait, which runs have the best snow, and how to navigate four mountains efficiently. Aspen Snowmass Guide Service offers half-day and full-day options.
The Golf: Aspen Golf Club
The Aspen Golf Club is a municipal course with a private-club feel — and a setting that would be extraordinary anywhere in the world. Set at 7,900 feet of elevation in the Roaring Fork Valley with the Elk Mountains as a backdrop, every hole plays against one of the most dramatic mountain panoramas in American golf.
The course is a par-71 design of 6,283 yards from the tips. High altitude means the ball flies significantly further — expect 10-15% more carry distance than at sea level. Club selection becomes an art form here.
Course Notes
- Elevation: 7,900 feet — add 10-15% distance to all clubs
- Course length: 6,283 yards, par 71
- Best holes: Holes 10-14 frame the Elk Mountains magnificently
- Pro shop: Excellent rental sets available if traveling without clubs
- Book 30+ days ahead in July and August — demand is high
A 5-Day Ski & Golf Itinerary
- 1Day 1: Arrive, acclimatize, evening stroll through Aspen town
- 2Day 2: Full day skiing Snowmass — best introduction to the terrain
- 3Day 3: Morning at Aspen Mountain, afternoon round at Aspen Golf Club
- 4Day 4: Hike to Highland Bowl (expert) or ski Buttermilk, then spa afternoon
- 5Day 5: Dawn patrol on Ajax, lunch in town, afternoon golf round before departure
When to Visit
- Skiing: January–March for best snow conditions
- Golf: June–September, peak July–August
- Best combo trip: Late May or early October — spring skiing plus golf in the same week
- Events: X Games (January), Food & Wine Classic (June), Jazz Aspen (September)
"Aspen is the only place I've skied powder at 10am and played golf in the afternoon sun the same day. That combination is addictive." — Emma Rodriguez
Emma Rodriguez
Emma Rodriguez is a PGA-certified instructor with 12 years of experience coaching players from beginners to scratch golfers. Her structured improvement programs have helped over 500 golfers break their scoring barriers.