Silver Queen Gondola - Aspen, CO
The Silver Queen Gondola gives skiers a great option if they want to ski top-to-bottom runs on Aspen Mountain. This gondola has been a core part of this mountain’s allure for almost 40 years. It runs almost year-round, giving visitors to the Aspen area a scenic view of the Elk and Sawatch Mountain Ranges.
Silver Queen Gondola Stats
The ride to the top of the Silver Queen Gondola takes about 15 minutes.
- Cabin Capacity: 6 People
- Vertical Rise: 3,267 Feet
- Opened: December 1986
- Ride Time: Approx. 15 Minutes
Aspen Gondola FAQ
Pets are welcome in select gondola cabins during the summer that will be marked with a paw print. No pets are allowed during the winter months.
Sorry, this is no longer allowed, at least not during busy periods.
Sorry, these cabins do provide shelter from the elements, but they are not heated.
No, there is no wireless internet in these gondola cabins.
The last gondola to the top loads at 3:30 pm.
Summer Gondola Rides
The Aspen Gondola is a popular attraction in the summer. The Sundeck restaurant is open during the day, and there are gorgeous views surrounding the summit area. You’ll find everything from bluegrass music to mountain yoga sessions up here.
While mountain biking is allowed on the Aspen Mountain maintenance road, mountain bikes are not allowed in the Silver Queen Gondola. Snowmass is where you can find gondola access to the resort for mountain bikes during the summer.
Did You Know?
The original gondola cabins were replaced in 2006. The cabins were also reskinned in 2021 with the new Aspen/Snowmass logo.
After the gondola ascends from the base area, the route takes you up and over Bell Mountain (including above the Shoulder of Bell and Ridge of Bell ski trails). You can see this area in the photos below.
Gondola History
Construction of the Silver Queen Gondola began on or around April 14th, 1986, when it had been set to start. The gondola was built by Poma of America, located in Grand Junction where it is still located today.
One person was killed while building the gondola, when he has hit by a log rolling downhill in the Copper Bowl area. The Aspen Ski Co. was fined $810 for the incident. This was the first ever OSHA citation for the Aspen Ski Company.¹
The gondola was officially opened on Dec. 20th of 1986. Along with the opening of the Silver Queen Gondola, there was a protest by the local ski patrollers who wanted a contract between their union and the Aspen Ski Company.
The gondola cabins were replaced in 2006. The old cabins were sold ahead of their replacement, and all 162 gondola cabins sold within 36 hours at a price of $550 each.²
1. Aspen Daily News (Aspen, CO), Volume 9, Number 13, July 15, 1986. Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection. Colorado State Library.
2. Aspen Daily News (Aspen, CO), Volume 28, Number 183, January 2, 2006. Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection. Colorado State Library.
Images Credits: Coloradohistoricnewspapers.org