Aspen Highlands Ski Resort

Famous for the Highland Bowl, an in-bounds backcountry experience, and the spectacular panorama of the Maroon Bells and Pyramia Peak, Aspen Highlands will leave no visitor unsatisfied. The vertical rise of 3635 feet makes it easy to guarantee a season from December until mid-April. Ski & Snowboard schools provide the necessary help for ski novices and help to improve the skills of experienced skiers and riders. The small size of the resort makes it pretty easy to navigate and you'll find terrain for every ability level.

Pretty convenient in Aspen Highland, you have access right from the Highlands Village. Grab the Thunderbowl lift to hit some serious blacks like Audacious and the Lower Golden Horn. You can also ski the Upper Jerome that turns into the regular Jerome and later descends back in the base. There´s one designated green trail as well. The Park Avenue off the Thunderbowl will please all beginners. By taking the Exhibition High-Speed Quad you will make it higher than mid-mountain. It brings ski novices to their personal paradise. Long greens, that are partly combined with tree-skiing will make every beginner's heart race faster.

To really get up to the peak and have the fantastic trails to your disposal you´ll have to switch to either the Lodge Peak lift or Cloud Nine lift. A few intermediate runs can be found here as well. Those are still doable for most beginners. Off the Logde Peak lift, experts will find challenging terrain only. Beginners and intermediates should probably steer clear.

Cloud Nine lift takes you up to intermediate runs in abundance. Find more than 10 blues to your disposal, all of them give you a great view of the surroundings. Last but not least, the Highland Bowl, a must for all backcountry skiing fans. Even if this terrain is not serviced by a lift, the trip up is pretty worthwhile.

There are just two on-mountain options throughout the resort but with these two you won´t feel as if you are missing out. The Cloud Nine Alpine Bistro is more on the pricier side but the Alpine-style cabin is best known for a welcoming atmosphere and the specialties that European mountain huts are so famous for. On the menu, especially look for raclette, fondue, schnitzel, or their famous black truffle gnocchi. Enjoy your day on the slopes and indulge with a strudel as a tasty dessert.

Merry-Go-Around is for those who do not want to spend a fortune to get a good lunch in the snow. It´s best known for being super healthy and organic and by featuring vegetarian and vegan options. Located on the midway between the Highland Bowl and the base area, you´ll love the immense variety of dishes in the cafeteria-style. The fireplace makes it to a super cozy hangout and the bar gives you with alcoholic beverages and coffee specialties everything you could possibly ever ask for.

The Aspen Recreation Center is a must-see for families with kids. Indoor pool, slides, rock climbing on the tower, an ice rink and so much more expect you here. Guided adventures are a great alternative. Jeep tours, guided horseback rides or hikes will help you to get to know the surrounding area. As a treat after a long ski day it´s a blast for kids to come to the Aspen Candy Company. This one has 800 types of candy in stock. Right across the street you will also find the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. Your kids will be in heaven!

Moreover, you have a few Spas & Health Clubs to choose from. The Aspen Alps Health Spa offers great massages to relax your muscles after a long and exhausting ski day. Hot Stone Therapy, sauna, steam rooms, Pilates classes - here you can have it all. The Aspen Club & Spa is where health and performance meets luxury and adventure. The 75,000 square feet give tired skiers everything that they need after a day on the slopes.

Shopping is another huge topic in Aspen town. You might think that it is just suitable for designer lovers but in fact you will find a ton of functional clothes as well. You can also shop antiques, art, books, and so much more. Seasonal events complete the range of non-skiing activities, so you will always find something to do.

There is plenty of nightlife for skiers to enjoy after they are done in the snow. The big nightlife in Aspen town starts straight ahead after closing times. Belly up Aspen is a great spot to start off your party night. It has a state of the art lightning and sound system so it can host pretty much every musician and band you can imagine.
The Caribou Club is a club that is pretty exclusive and by welcoming the world´s best DJ´s you´ll always have a blast on the dance floor. A great option on the slopes is the Chair 9 at the base of the Ajax, which is right inside The Little Nell Hotel. There´s never a shortage of live music since band are always rocking the bar from 4-7 pm daily.

The 39 Degrees Lounge in the Sky Hotel is also more on the sophisticated side but welcomes everyone with open arms. It´s a great place to come for mixed drinks and cocktails, not so much for rocking the dance floor until the crack of dawn.

Foodies will appreciate the wide variety of restaurants in Aspen town. Element 47 gives visitors an exclusive spot to enjoy good wine and food that speaks to all taste buds. It´s open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and they are awarded with 5 stars for it. They serve fine American cuisine and are happy to prepare dishes for people with food allergies, intolerances and special diet requests. The SteakHouse No. 316 is Aspen´s only Prime Steak House. With its extensive wine list you´ll always find the right wine to accompany the awesome dishes.

Going out for dinner with little children can be challenging. Not in Aspen! Many restaurants serve to the need of families. For example the Hickory House Ribs is a great place to come as a family. It has authentic American classics on the menu and pleases the whole family with special kids combos. The Red Onion also welcomes families with wide open arms. It´s pretty steeped in history since it established in 1892 offering amazingly fresh food and a huge drinks menu.

The closest Airports are Aspen County Airport, Eagle County Regional Airport and Denver International Airport. Book Shuttles, use ground transportation or get a rental car - there are so many possibilities to make it to the resort.

By car you just have to take the I-70 and after change onto the 82. You will find some free parking lots like in the main parking structure at the base of Aspen Highlands. Daily parking fee is 11 Dollars and on holidays you have to expect a fee of 22 Dollars. A free skier shuttle runs between the different Aspen resorts runs that doesn´t apply any extra costs with a valid ski pass.