Things to Do in Aspen: Top Sights and Original 3, 5 & 7-Day Itineraries
Aspen is a 19th-century silver-mining town turned mountain resort at nearly 8,000 feet in the Colorado Rockies. Behind the luxury boutiques and celebrity chalets you'll find Victorian streets, free music and some of the finest hiking and skiing in North America.
Many of its best experiences cost little or nothing: a lake at the foot of the Maroon Bells, a riverside garden, a pass over the Continental Divide. This guide gives summer and winter versions of each day.
Top things to see in Aspen
Maroon Bells
Twin 14,000-foot peaks reflected in Maroon Lake, perhaps the most photographed mountains in North America. In summer, access is mainly by reserved shuttle or with a timed parking permit.
The four ski areas
Aspen Mountain for experts and views of town, Highlands for steep bowls, Snowmass for sheer size and Buttermilk for beginners and the terrain park. One pass covers all four.
Silver Queen Gondola
Ride from downtown to the top of Aspen Mountain in about 15 minutes. In summer the summit has trails, a picnic deck and free nature talks.
Independence Pass
Highway 82 climbs to 12,095 feet on the Continental Divide (open roughly late May to October), passing the ghost town of Independence on the way.
John Denver Sanctuary
A peaceful garden on the Roaring Fork River where the singer's lyrics are carved into river stones.
Aspen Art Museum
A striking woven-lattice building with free admission and a rooftop café facing Aspen Mountain.
Ashcroft ghost town
Weathered cabins of an 1880s mining camp in the Castle Creek Valley, beautiful in autumn and a cross-country ski hub in winter.
Aspen in 3 days: an original itinerary
1Day 1 · Victorian Aspen
Walk the historic West End and downtown, visit the art museum and its rooftop, then ride the Silver Queen Gondola for late-afternoon light. Dinner and a nightcap on Hyman Avenue.
2Day 2 · Maroon Bells
Catch an early shuttle to Maroon Lake, hike to Crater Lake (about 3.6 miles round trip) and picnic by the water. In winter, snowshoe or join a guided tour on the snow-covered road.
3Day 3 · Mountain day
Ski or snowboard in winter; in summer, hike Hunter Creek or Smuggler Mountain and finish at the John Denver Sanctuary by the river.
Aspen in 5 days
Follow the 3-day plan above, then add these two days:
4Day 4 · Independence Pass
Drive the pass in summer with stops at the Grottos ice caves and the ghost town. In winter, swap for cross-country skiing at Ashcroft.
5Day 5 · Glenwood Springs
An hour away: soak in the giant hot springs pool and, with a permit, hike to turquoise Hanging Lake.
Aspen in 7 days
With a full week, keep days 1 to 5 and finish with:
6Day 6 · Snowmass
Mountain-bike the lift-served trails or ski the endless runs, then relax at Snowmass Base Village.
7Day 7 · Music and slow pleasures
In summer, catch a free lawn concert during the Aspen Music Festival; in winter, enjoy a spa morning and a sleigh-ride dinner.
What to do in Aspen on a weekend
Saturday: Maroon Bells early, then downtown and the gondola for sunset. Sunday: a ski morning in winter, or Independence Pass in summer, before driving out.
What to do in Aspen in the evening
Après-ski is a ritual: slopeside terraces fill up from 3 pm in winter. Later, Aspen has fine dining, cocktail bars and a few late-night clubs.
Summer evenings bring free concerts on the music tent lawn, film screenings and long dinners on outdoor patios.
Aspen for couples
Book a sleigh ride to a backcountry cabin dinner, a couples' spa treatment and a sunset gondola ride. In autumn, the golden aspen groves at Maroon Bells are pure romance.
Aspen with kids
Buttermilk's ski school and terrain park, the free nature programs at Hallam Lake and gentle trails like the Rio Grande make Aspen easy with kids.
Practical tips for Aspen
Best time to visit
December to March for skiing, June to early September for hiking and music, and mid to late September for golden aspens. April–May and November are quiet shoulder seasons.
Getting around
Aspen/Pitkin County Airport is just outside town; Denver is about four hours by car. Free RFTA buses link Aspen, Snowmass and the ski areas, so you rarely need a car.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a reservation for Maroon Bells?
Yes, in peak season you need a shuttle ticket or a timed parking reservation.
Is Aspen only for rich people?
No. Hiking, the art museum, music festival lawn concerts and free buses make it accessible on a budget.
When do the aspen trees turn gold?
Usually from mid to late September, depending on the year.