Colorado, United States

Aspen

Spend two days: one for Maroon Bells and town, one for Independence Pass and a gondola ride. Silver-mining town with four ski mountains; 2–3 nights for Aspen Mountain, Highlands and Snowmass. Below: 2 sights, 5 activities and 4 outdoor spots, plus how Aspen fits into a longer trip.

Plan Aspen with friends Browse 18 places

Places: 18
Curated routes: 2
Best season: Jun – Sep
Warmest month: July
Coolest month: January
Wettest month: April

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.

Things to do in Aspen

18 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.

See

2 sights worth building a day around in Downtown.

Photo: Bkthomson16 · CC BY-SA 4.0
See
Aspen Art Museum
Free contemporary art museum with a rooftop cafe and mountain views.
- Downtown
- Free
- 60 min
- Afternoon
Photo: Wolfgang Moroder · CC BY-SA 3.0
See
Wheeler Opera House
Sandstone opera house built in 1889 by silver baron Jerome Wheeler, now hosting concerts, comedy and films.
Tip Check the winter calendar; holiday weeks usually have shows most nights.
- Downtown
- $$
- 2 hr
- Evening

Do

5 activities for when the group wants to do more than look across Maroon Creek Valley, Downtown and Snowmass Village.

Photo: Andre · Google
Do
Crater Lake Trail
3.6-mile round trip from Maroon Lake to a quieter lake right under the Bells.
- Maroon Creek Valley
- Free
- 2.5 hr
- Morning
Photo: Aspen Colorado · Google
Do
Silver Queen Gondola
Ride from downtown to the 11,212-foot summit of Aspen Mountain in about 15 minutes.
Tip Runs summer (mid-June to early Oct) and ski season (late Nov to mid-Apr); closed in between.
- Downtown
- $$$
- 1.5 hr
- Midday
Photo: AspenSkiingCompany · CC BY-SA 3.0
Do
Aspen Mountain
Ski mountain rising straight from downtown Aspen, reached by the Silver Queen Gondola, with no beginner runs.
Tip Ride the historic Lift 1A side for quieter laps and views over town.
- Downtown
- $$$$
- 6 hr
- Morning
Do
Aspen Highlands
Ski area west of town known for Highland Bowl, a steep bowl reached by a hike along the ridge from the top lift.
Tip Free snowcat rides cover the first part of the Highland Bowl hike when conditions allow.
- $$$$
- 5 hr
- Morning
Photo: Wolfgang Moroder · CC BY-SA 3.0
Do
Snowmass
The largest of the four Aspen Snowmass mountains, with long groomed cruisers and the Elk Camp Gondola.
Tip The free shuttle from Aspen takes about 25 minutes.
- Snowmass Village
- $$$$
- 6 hr
- Morning

Outdoors

4 outdoor spots for fresh air across Maroon Creek Valley, Highway 82 and Rio Grande Park. 3 of them are free.

Photo: Rhododendrites · CC BY-SA 4.0
Outdoors
Maroon Bells
Twin 14,000-foot peaks reflected in Maroon Lake; the Scenic Loop is easy.
Tip Road access requires a shuttle or parking reservation in summer; book early.
- Maroon Creek Valley
- $
- 2 hr
- Sunrise, late Sep for aspens
Photo: Mark Donoher from ???. Cropped and color-corrected by Daniel Case prior to uploa · CC BY 2.0
Outdoors
Independence Pass
12,095-foot Continental Divide crossing with short tundra walks at the top.
Tip Hwy 82 over the pass closes for winter (early Nov to late May).
- Highway 82
- Free
- 2 hr
- Jun–Sep
Photo: Jahjahfue (Jahjahfue) · Google
Outdoors
Grottos Trail
Short loop to smooth river-carved rock caves and cascades on the Roaring Fork.
Tip Rocks are slick; skip the ice cave scramble if wet.
- Highway 82
- Free
- 60 min
- Afternoon
Photo: Randolfo Santos · · Google
Outdoors
John Denver Sanctuary
Quiet riverside park with lyrics carved into stones along the Roaring Fork.
- Rio Grande Park
- Free
- 30 min
- Morning

Eat

Where we would book a table in Aspen across Aspen Mountain base, Downtown and Aspen Highlands.

Photo: Ajax Tavern · Google
Eat
Ajax Tavern
Slopeside patio at the base of the gondola, known for its truffle fries and burger.
Tip Patio seats go fast at après hour.
- Aspen Mountain base
- $$$
- 75 min
- Lunch or après
Photo: Alaina Culbertson · Google
Eat
White House Tavern
Small tavern in an 1883 miner's cottage, known for crispy chicken sandwiches.
Tip No reservations; go at opening or mid-afternoon.
- Downtown
- $$
- 60 min
- Lunch
Photo: Wolfgang Moroder · CC BY-SA 3.0
Eat
Cloud Nine Alpine Bistro
Mountain hut on Aspen Highlands serving fondue and raclette, known for its lively afternoon lunch seating.
Tip Reservations are required and open well before the season; book the moment they do.
- Aspen Highlands
- $$$$
- 2.5 hr
- Lunch
Eat
Matsuhisa
Nobu Matsuhisa's restaurant in a Victorian house on Main Street, a downtown fixture since the late 1990s.
Tip Book as soon as your dates are set; holiday weeks fill early.
- Downtown
- $$$$
- 2 hr
- Dinner

Drink

Our picks for a drink in Aspen in Downtown.

Photo: J-Bar · Google
Drink
J-Bar at Hotel Jerome
Classic 1889 hotel bar, home of the Aspen Crud bourbon milkshake.
- Downtown
- $$$
- 60 min
- Evening

Stay

2 places to stay we would book in Downtown.

Stay
Hotel Jerome
Downtown hotel opened in 1889, with a busy bar, the J-Bar, that has been Aspen's living room for generations.
Tip Even if you stay elsewhere, have a drink in the J-Bar.
- Downtown
- $$$$
Stay
The Little Nell
Ski-in, ski-out hotel at the base of the Silver Queen Gondola on Aspen Mountain.
- Downtown
- $$$$

How to fit Aspen into a trip

Aspen shows up on 2 of our curated routes, so you can work it into more than one kind of trip.

Stop 3 of 3
Colorado Rockies
Mountains, trails & alpine lakes
Trip length
6 days
Best season
Jun – Sep
Pace
moderate
- Before: Rocky Mountain NP
See the full itinerary
Stop 3 of 3
Breckenridge, Vail & Aspen
Colorado ski towns from Main Street to the bowls
Trip length
7 days
Best season
Dec – Mar
Pace
moderate
- Before: Vail
See the full itinerary

Getting here and onward

Vail to AspenVail is about 63 km / 39 mi away in a straight line
Rocky Mountain NP to AspenRocky Mountain NP is about 161 km / 100 mi away in a straight line

Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.

Aspen month by month

Average daily highs run from -1°C / 30°F in January to 27°C / 80°F in July. April is the wettest month, with about 51 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Aspen weather and the best time to visit →

Near Aspen

8 other destinations from our guides within about 300 km (186 mi), measured in a straight line.

Aspen questions, answered

How many days do you need in Aspen?

Our route notes suggest 2 days or 2–3 nights in Aspen. On our Colorado Rockies route it is stop 3 of 3 in a 6-day trip. The listed visit times for our 18 places add up to roughly 37 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is Aspen best known for?

Spend two days: one for Maroon Bells and town, one for Independence Pass and a gondola ride. Standouts on our list: Aspen Art Museum (Free contemporary art museum with a rooftop cafe and mountain views); Wheeler Opera House (Sandstone opera house built in 1889 by silver baron Jerome Wheeler, now hosting concerts, comedy and films); Maroon Bells (Twin 14,000-foot peaks reflected in Maroon Lake; the Scenic Loop is easy).

When is the best time to visit Aspen?

Our routes through Aspen are best Jun – Sep or Dec – Mar. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in July (27°C / 80°F), the coolest in January (-1°C / 30°F) and the most rain in April (about 51 mm).

What are the best things to do in Aspen?

Start with Maroon Bells, Crater Lake Trail, Silver Queen Gondola, Independence Pass and Grottos Trail. Our guide lists 18 places in all, from 2 sights, 5 activities, 4 outdoor spots, 4 places to eat, 1 bar or café and 2 places to stay.

Where should a group eat in Aspen?

Our picks: Ajax Tavern (Aspen Mountain base); White House Tavern (Downtown); Cloud Nine Alpine Bistro (Aspen Highlands); Matsuhisa (Downtown). Patio seats go fast at après hour (Ajax Tavern).

What is near Aspen?

The closest destinations in our guides are Vail (about 63 km / 39 mi), Breckenridge (about 74 km / 46 mi) and Rocky Mountain NP (about 161 km / 100 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan Aspen with your crew

Open the Colorado Rockies route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 18 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

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