Other Information

Four Mountains... One Lift Ticket!

The four mountains are all quite different in character. As the mountains are not interconnected there is a complimentary shuttle bus which runs between the town and the four ski areas. Here is a lowdown to each area...

Snowmass

With a vertical drop of 1,343 metre (boasting the most vertical in the USA) and 1,267 hectares of terrain, the sheer volume of Snowmass demands repeat visits. After experiencing a slice of all the cruisers, glades, steeps, terrain parks & half pipes (via 21 lifts & 91 trails), we guarantee you'll be back for more.

Season dates: November 26, 2009 - April 11, 2010

Base elevation: 8,104 ft./2,473 m

Summit elevation: 12,510 ft./3,813 m

Vertical rise: 4,406 ft./1,343 m

Terrain: 3,132 acres/1,267 hectares

Number of trails: 91

Miles/km of trails: 147 miles/237 km

Longest run: 5.3 miles/8.5 km

Types of trails: easiest: 6%, more difficult: 50%, most difficult: 12%, expert: 32%

Parks and pipes: 3 terrain parks (Snowmass Park, Makaha and Lowdown), 1 superpipe (new this year, 22 feet high!) and 1 beginner pipe

Lifts: 21 Total: 19 primary: 1 eight-passenger gondola, 1 high-speed six-passenger lift, 1 six-passenger pulse gondola, 7 high-speed quads, 2 quads, 4 ski/snowboard school lifts (including magic carpets); 2 secondary: 2 platter pulls.

Lift hours: The Sky Cab opens at 8 a.m.; the Cirque lift opens at 10 a.m.; the Village Express and Big Burn lifts open at 8:30 a.m.; all other lifts open at 9 a.m. Most lifts close at 3:30 p.m., weather permitting.

Aspen Mountain

Aspen Mountain - and its famous black-diamond terrain - has kept the town of Aspen on the map since 1947, serving up glades, bumps & steeps for anyone who dares to step off the lift.

Season dates: November 26, 2009 - April 11, 2010

Base elevation: 7,945 ft./2,422 m

Summit elevation: 11,212 ft./3,418 m

Vertical rise: 3,267 ft./996 m

Terrain: 673 acres/272 hectares

Number of trails: 76

Miles/km of trails: 64 miles/103 km

Longest run: 3 miles/4.83 km

Types of trails: easiest: 0%, more difficult: 48%, most difficult: 26%, expert: 26%

Lifts: 8: 6 primary – 1 gondola (14-minute ride), 1 high-speed quad, 1 high-speed double, 1 quad, 2 doubles; 2 secondary – 1 quad (Little Nell), 1 double (Bell Mountain)

Lift hours: All lifts open at 9 a.m. and close at 3:30 p.m.

Aspen Highlands

Aspen Highlands, celebrating over 50 years as the locals' favourite, boasts breathtaking vistas of the surrounding Maroon Bells and an abundance of expert terrain and groomed cruisers. Hike to the 3,777 metre summit of Highland Bowl for Colorado's ultimate in-bounds backcountry rush. With the addition of the Deep Temerity lift and over 96 hectares over the last three seasons, Aspen Snowmass are proud to offer some of the most challenging big mountain terrain in North America.

Season dates: December 12, 2009 - April 4, 2010

Base elevation: 8,040 ft./2,451 m.

Summit elevation: 11,675 ft./3,559 m. (top of Highland Bowl 12,392 ft.)

Vertical rise: 3,635 ft./1,108 m.

Terrain: 1,028 acres/416 hectares

Number of trails: 118

Miles/km of trails: 84 miles/135 km

Longest run: 3.5 miles/5.6 km

Types of trails: easiest: 18%, more difficult: 30%, most difficult: 16%, expert: 36%

Lifts: 5: 3 high-speed quads, 2 triples

Lift hours: All lifts open at 9 a.m. and close at 3:30 p.m.

Buttermilk

Famous as the home of the ESPN Winter X Games through 2012 and voted #1 by Transworld Snowboarding Magazine Reader's Poll for best pipe. Buttermilk built its 50-year legacy on wide-open and gently rolling trails that cater to beginners and families. Keep an eye our for Olympians, Winter X Games champs and other park kids braving the new Olympic-caliber, 6.7 meter superpipe in the legendary terrain park.

Season dates: December 12, 2009 - April 4, 2010

Base elevation: 7,870 ft./2,399 m

Summit elevation: 9,900 ft./3,018 m

Vertical rise: 2,030 ft./619 m

Terrain: 470 acres/190 hectares

Number of trails: 44

Miles/km of trails: 21 miles/34 km

Longest run: 3 miles/4.83 km

Types of trails: easiest: 35%, more difficult: 39%, most difficult: 26%, expert: 0%

Parks and pipes: 2 terrain parks: Buttermilk Park has over 100 features including a 22-foot superpipe and an X Games slopestyle course. For the beginner: Panda Pipe and Ski & Snowboard Schools Park (S3 Park)

Lifts: 9: 2 high-speed quads, 3 doubles, 2 handle tows, 2 ski/snowboard school lifts

Lift hours: All lifts open at 9 a.m. and close at 3:30 p.m.