Snowmass Deals & Travel Info
This is the northernmost resort of the Aspen/Snowmass group. There is a small amount of beginner skiing here and it is all located on the lower portions of the resort. The upper half of the mountain is all for the intermediate and expert skiers. If you are visiting the area for vacation, Snowmass is definitely worth visiting for a day because it has the most diverse terrain of all the resorts in the valley.
Snowmass Ski Resort Highlights
This is the largest resort in the area and it has something for everyone.
- Good expert terrain in the upper mountain areas
- Lots of slopeside lodging
- Diverse terrain
Snowmass for Beginners
Find photos, information and suggestions for beginner skiers and snowboarders at Snowmass.
Rocky Mountain High
Named in honor of John Denver, this is an intermediate trail that descends from the summit of Snowmass.
Elk Camp Gondola
This is the main gondola at Snowmass and it gives skiers access to approx. 1,300 vertical feet of skiing. This is one of two gondolas that run in the summer and winter at this ski resort.
Sky Cab Gondola
The Sky Cab is Snowmass’s free gondola that runs between the lower and upper portions of Snowmass Village.
Snowmass, CO FAQ
Snowmass has double black diamond runs that are tough enough to challenge anyone. The resort also has tons of easy skiing for toddlers and beginners at the base area. The blue circle runs rule the mountain here and this is a great place for intermediate skiers to explore the trees widely.
Snowmass is better for beginners and probably better for experts as well. However, you can’t spin the same top to bottom gondola runs that you can at Aspen, and there is more of a family atmosphere on the mountain at Snowmass.
Sorry. Aspen/Snowmass is on the Ikon Pass.
Sorry, no night skiing at Snowmass.
Snowmass has great terrain parks with small and medium features. If you are in the valley and want to hit the big jump line, head over to Buttermilk and try the top to bottom terrain park where the X-Games are held.
Tips for Skiing & Riding Snowmass
The Cirque Headwall is a fun area for experts to explore. There is steep terrain around the edges heading into the cirque and fun varying terrain down the middle.
Baby Ruth and the Hanging Valley area are gnarly. Take the High Alpine lift to access this area. Beware of big cliffs and other natural hazards.
The T-Bar to the top of the cirque area is in a high alpine environment above the tree line. Expect it to be windy here and much colder than the base area. There is a reasonably tame path down from here, so it is a good place for photo opportunities.
Getting to Snowmass
If you are staying elsewhere in the Roaring Fork Valley the free bus is often the best way to get here. Snowmass is about a 5-minute drive off of Rt. 82. There is a fair amount of parking available in Snowmass Village but the bus is recommended if you are coming from elsewhere in the valley.
In order to get yourself into the valley, we usually recommend that you fly into the Aspen airport if you are coming by plane. Flying into Denver is a long drive in the winter (expect about 3.5 to 4 hrs), and slightly more reasonable in the summer when Independence Pass is open and the route is shorter. See more Snowmass transportation info here.