Snowmass Ski Resort

By Amanda May
Staff Writer
Rockies.com

Snowmass is Aspen’s sister resort, just nine miles down the Roaring Fork Valley. Now an entity of its own, Snowmass Resort is consistently rated as one of the best ski areas for families.

Skiers and snowboarders share a high-speed quad chair lift at Snowmass.

The resort is so family-friendly because unlike Aspen, about half of the 3,100 acres of terrain is rated as intermediate. Their wide groomed cruisers will give first timers plenty of space to practice their turns.

But don’t worry advanced skiers and riders: Snowmass also has plenty of mogul fields, off-piste terrain, and challenging bowls.

The resort itself was ranked “#1 Overall Resort” by Transworld Snowboarding Magazine and has beautifully long trails. The utter size of Snowmass begs repeat visits, if only to see everything!

Snowmass has 21 chair lifts to access their slopes, three terrain parks, Super Pipe and rail yard- plenty of fun for the young, young at heart, and extreme.

With 4,000 feet of vertical drop and over 300 inches of yearly snowfall, its no wonder this Colorado Resort is so popular. They are also blessed with tons of bluebird sky days throughout the winter.

Buy a lift ticket at Snowmass and use it there, and at Aspen, Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk. The ticket itself is relatively expensive, but it comes along with access to four fantastic ski areas and a dizzying amount of acres to explore. Free shuttles run between the four resorts.

Staying at Snowmass affords the convenience of ski-on/ski-off access to the mountain. In fact 95% of the lodging at Snowmass Village is right off the slopes!

Twenty restaurants offer a variety of cuisine, from a quick hamburger to haute cuisine. The nightlife is hopping too at Snowmass, with a handful of bars and cafes that are warm and bustling gathering spots.

Get up bright and early to try and catch the first trails, or make sure by signing up with mountain staff. Cutting through the early morning powder is so beautiful you’ll forget how early the alarm clock was ringing!

Off the slopes, cross-country skiers and snowshoers have access to over 80 km of trails near Snowmass. For a unique outing, take a free Snowcat ride with the professionals who do the daily grooming at Snowmass.

Kids love the indoor paintball arena and the tubing hill at Snowmass. All these details that add up to an unforgettable family vacation!

Snowmass is located 220 miles west of Denver International Airport and 70 miles west of Eagle County Airport via Interstate 70 and Colorado Highway 82. It is also just 125 miles east of Grand Junction Regional Airport.