Aspen Highlands Colorado (US)

Ski Resort Review, Information and Guide

Description | Terrain | Terrain Parks | Village & Shopping | Links

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Aspen Highlands
Mountain Summary:

Base:	8,040 ft
	2,451 m
Summit:	11,675 ft
	3,559 m
Vertical:	3,635 ft
	1,108 m
Ski area:	1,040 acres
Runs:	122
Longest Run:	3.5 miles
	5.6 km
Total Lifts:	5
Terrain parks:	0
Snowfall:	300+"
	762 cm
Hours:	9am-4pm
Night Skiing:	no

Lifts:

Quad Chairs:	3
Triple Chairs:	2

Runs/trails:

Beginner:	18%
Intermediate:	30%
Advanced:	16%
Expert:	36%

Daily Report:

2024-12-30 06:00:51
Status:	open
Percent Open:	93%
Lifts Open:	5/5
Base Depth:	34 in
Snow 24hr:	6 in
Snow 7day:	13 in
Snow Surface: Powder
Weekend hrs: Sat/Sun: 9a-3:30p

Currency:	USD

Currency:

USD

Resort Services:

ski rental
ski instruction
food
ski shop
child care 2.5+

Trail Map:

Select to enlarge

Aspen Highlands Reviews:
° Highland Bowl

Aspen Weather:
° Weather Forecast
° Weather Radar

Virtual Tours:

Highland Bowl

Base Village

Aspen Highlands Description:

Aspen Highlands is one of four Aspen area resorts (the other are Aspen Mountain, Snowmass and Buttermilk). Aspen Highlands provides a variety of terrain but for the advanced skier and boarder, its glades, steeps and the signature advanced terrain of the Highland bowl are some of the discriminators which motivate people to ski here. Access to Highland Bowl requires a ride in a snowcat (free) and a hike to the peak. Most of the mountain trails are not structured in an obvious layout and the curious can find themselves spending the day exploring the mountain.

Aspen Highlands Terrain:

As with many resorts, the mountain layout provides the beginner "green" runs and intermediate "blue" runs at the lower elevations on the mountain with the majority of advanced runs at the higher elevations. Highland Bowl requires a hike of 717 vertical feet to its peak of 12,392 ft and has some of the steepest grades on the mountain (over 40 degrees).

Beginners and Intermediates:

Green Run: "Red Onion"

The easiest trails can be found from the Exhibition Lift. If you want to restrict yourself to green runs, be sure to restrict yourself to this lift.

Green Run: "Red Onion", easy, groomed, wide and flat.

The majority of blue runs are accessible from the Cloud Nine Lift. Intermediate skiers may find themselves skiing this lift most of the day. There are a few "blues" accessible from Exhibition and Loge Peak lift as well.

Blue Run: "Broadway" easiest way down from the peak of Loge Peak lift

Advanced Ski Terrain:

The advanced skier will want to explore the upper terrain off of Deep Temerity and Loge Peak lifts as well as to allocate enough time for a hike to Highland Bowl.

Peak of Loge lift will give you access to "Temerity" and Highland Bowl (background).

Tree Runs:

Aspen Highlands has a plethora of generously spaced tree runs and trails not labeled on the trail map but marked as trails on the mountain. You must explore the mountain to find these gems. Most of the prime advanced tree runs can be found off of the top of the Deep Temerity lift or Loge Peak lift. For example, I found "Snyder's Ridge", a double black run which takes you on a journey of moguls to trees and gullys.

Snyder's Ridge: entrance to the run

Trees from Snyder's Ridge

lower moguls from Snyder's Ridge

Other tree run gems include "Temerity" accessible from the top of Deep Temerity lift by the snowcat pick-up area. It is not skied much and is often a fresh powder stash.

Mogul Runs:

Advanced skiers and steep runs are the formula to mogul runs. They are everywhere. Many are not marked on the trail map. You just have to explore the mountain and discover them.

Blue Run: "Scarlett's Run" is a blue mogul run with groomed blue run options on either side. This is a nice training ground for the black diamond and double black diamond mogul runs.

Black Diamond Mogul run

One of the many mogul runs not marked on the trail map.

Gle feeds into this mogul run

Out of Bounds Skiing:

There are a number of guided lift-served back-country descents offered by Aspen Expeditions.

Aspen Highlands Terrain Parks:

None. Head to Aspen's Buttermilk resort for the terrain parks used in the X-Games!

Village, Town & Shopping:

The village at the base of the mountain can take care of most of your skiing and snowboarding needs. Equipment sports shops, a boot tech shop, expedition guides, art shops, restaurants and even a post office can be found in the mountain base village. The town of Aspen can of course offer you more shopping, dining and service options.

A panoramic virtual tour of the base village at Aspen Highlands