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Ikon Passholder’s Guide to Aspen Snowmass

Aspen Snowmass is home to four incredible mountains and countless storied experiences to be had. We’ve put together this special guide to give you a little direction.

Do you go to Snowmass where you can find fresh tracks all day across 3,339 skiable acres? Or maybe the steep-and-deep glades of Aspen Mountain, the high-altitude descent of Highland Bowl, or the long and uncrowded cruisers of Buttermilk are calling you instead? Thankfully, there are no wrong answers to these questions. We know that when you visit Aspen Snowmass this winter, there is a high likelihood you’ll fall in love. And that you’ll be back.

Please note that we will require lift reservations for all Ikon Passholders for the 2024-2025 season. Reservations are available now. To make a reservation, login to My Account on the Ikon site, here. Space is limited and may sell out.

Ikon Friends & Family Lift Tickets

Ikon Passholder Friends & Family Sharing Instructions

Friends and Family vouchers will be available using our online store.

Step 1: Log into your Ikon account on https://www.ikonpass.com/
Step 2: You can see how many discounts you have remaining. Click "Share Discount" to send some to a friend.
Step 3: Then, enter your guest's name and email to send the discount to their guest.

Ikon Friends & Family Redemption Instructions

Step 1: Log into your IKON Account using the IKON Portal on the product page. You will be redirected to the IKON login page.
Step 2: Once logged in and vouchers are confirmed, you will be redirected back to the product page.
Step 3: Select your date and age then click add to cart.
Step 4: Complete the checkout flow. In order to complete your purchase, you may be prompted to log in or create an Aspen Snowmass account.

You must have an Ikon Passholder share the Friends & Family voucher with you. Cannot be redeemed by passholder themselves.

A view of a room's interior at the Limelight Hotel at Aspen Snowmass

Save on Stays at Limelight Hotels

Throughout the 2024-2025 ski season, your Mountain Collective or Ikon Pass earns you 20% off stays of 2 or more nights at Limelight Aspen or Limelight Snowmass. Plus, enjoy complimentary parking and a $50 food and beverage credit to fuel your mountain adventures. Must present ski pass at the front desk to redeem offer.

The Mountains

Skier on Snowmass

Skier on Snowmass

Snowmass

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Snowmass from Above
Skiable Acres: 3,342

Vertical: 4,440 feet

The Terrain: A little bit of everything. If Snowmass were a playlist, it would have all your favorites — steep and deep powder runs, smooth groomers, parks and pipes, cliffs, and everything in between.

The Introduction: Take the Elk Camp Gondola then the Elk Camp Chairlift. Stretch your legs on the beautiful cruisers Bear Bottom and Gunner’s View, then for an added challenge, descend some of the steeps off the High Alpine Lift.

The Vibe: Amiable. From family vacationers to jibbers to seasoned locals with an eye for the chutes, everyone is there to have fun … and it feels that way.

Aspen Mountain

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Aspen Mountains from Above
Skiable Acres: 906

Vertical: 3,317 feet

The Terrain: An unusual but thrilling mix of short-and-steep glades and chutes, which can be combined with long, thigh-burning cruisers. The T2B’s at Aspen Mountain are legendary. There are no green runs.

The Introduction:
Ride the Silver Queen Gondola up. Traverse to Bonnie’s for pancakes (they’re free from 10am–11am if there’s 8 or more inches of fresh powder), then Ajax Express back up and take Silver Dip to the Face of Bell for an impeccable glade run. Stretch it out on Spar Gulch to Kleenex Corner and Little Nell.

The Vibe: A true original. Local’s adore Aspen Mountain for its proximity to town and its hidden runs. Vacationers love it for its mystique. It just feels different.

Aspen Highlands

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Aspen Highlands from Above
Skiable Acres: 1,040

Vertical: 3,635 feet

The Terrain: A series of ridges rising from the valley and topping out at 12,392 feet with the crown jewel of Aspen Snowmass — Highland Bowl. From there, perfectly pitched runs, glades and chutes descend in all directions. Secrets (and shrines) abound. Like Aspen Mountain, there are no green runs.

The Introduction: Exhibition Lift to Loge Peak. Warm up on Broadway, Hayden and Meadows, then return via Loge Peak. Above you is the double-black Highland Bowl which requires a brisk hike to access. Do you go for it? Or do you descend the Face of Oly to Lower Olympic? Either way, you ought to end up at Cloud Nine Alpine Bistro by late afternoon. You’ll see why.

The Vibe: The locals’ mountain and eternally Old School. Want to reach the best terrain? Hike in. Want the inside secret on the next run? Ask the townie riding the lift with you. Aspen Highlands still feels like skiing from yesteryear, but with the modern lift service and amenities to drink it all in quicker.

Buttermilk

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Buttermilk from Above
Skiable Acres: 470

Vertical: 2,030 feet

The Terrain: If Aspen Highlands is narrow and hugs a ridge, Buttermilk spreads out and takes a deep breath. In fact, Buttermilk is defined by feeling spacious. There are plenty of beginner and intermediate cruisers in all sectors of the mountain, and some truly invigorating black diamond runs off the Tiehack lift. Buttermilk is the perfect place to start if you’re a new skier or rider looking to get comfortable on snow.

The Introduction: Take the Summit Express up and cruise down Sterner to Sterner Gulch and Eagle Hill. Take the Tiehack Express back up and check off each of the expert runs on skier’s right. Afterwards, if you fancy some Mongolian grill fare lunch at the Cliffhouse with its second-to-none view of Pyramid Peak is a must.

The Vibe: Mellow but for one week of the year. Buttermilk is a paradise for beginner skiers, especially kids who love the playful runs, the beginner terrain park and mid-afternoon breaks on Fort Frog. But in late January, Buttermilk transforms into the home of the X Games Aspen, where the world’s best freestyle snowsports athletes and live musicians take to the slopes.

8 Secrets of Aspen Snowmass

Skiers on powder day

Skiers on powder day

Your Ikon Pass may be the reason you are giving Aspen Snowmass a shot, but these are the things that will make you want to come back again and again.

1. Treat Yourself to Slopeside Lodging

Mountain lodging can be expensive come peak winter season, but you don’t have to resort to crashing on your friend’s couch to make that ski trip happen. Aspen Snowmass offers great lodging deals for their loyal passholders (that means you!) that make it possible to snag first chair, be the first one to the top of Highland Bowl, and have guilt-free apres cocktails a short walk from your hotel.
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2. Use the Free Buses

Fast, timely and efficient, our local network of Roaring Fork Transit Authority (RFTA) buses — known around town as “Rafta” — is the best way to get to the slopes. If you are visiting for the day or staying down valley, the easiest parking is the Brush Creek Lot off Highway 82 and Brush Creek Road. From there, easy bus transfer take you to any of the four mountains. There’s even a direct shuttle from Brush Creek Lot straight to Aspen Highlands, so you’ll never waste time circling the parking lot on a powder day.
Getting Around & Parking Guide

3. Get Tracking with the Aspen Snowmass App

From the moment you clip in to the moment you clip out, the Aspen Snowmass App is the perfect companion to stay on top of your mountain experience. Track your stats, tally your laps in Highland Bowl, and rack up skier days. Claim big rewards with Aspen Snowmass, like a $15 food and beverage credit, $10 to use towards rentals or retail at any Four Mountain Sports location, and even $25 off lessons.
Get the app

4. Be Prepared for Any Weather and Any Mountain

Not sure what the weather is going to do? That makes it pretty difficult to choose which skis to pack, right? Rest easy by renting your gear from us at Four Mountain Sports. We’ll switch out your groomer-friendly skis for a pair of powder skis should a perfect storm roll in. And if you’d rather ski at another mountain on that powder day, we’ll even transfer your equipment to any of our four mountains and store it overnight for free so you don’t have to haul your gear to happy hour.
Four Mountain Sports

5. Find the Best Line

Get the inside scoop on the best powder stashes, best terrain, and secret shrines (if you know, you know) with a lesson from our Pros to really make the most of your time on the mountain. Choose your own adventure with a one-on-one personal guru during a Guided Experience. If you’re looking to meet fellow outdoor enthusiasts while you learn together, a Locals Clinic might be more your style. Either route you go, you’ll return home a better skier or rider (with a few hidden gems up your sleeve to share with friends on your next trip to Aspen).
Visit Lessons

6. Earn Your Turns

Few mountain resorts in North America come close to Aspen Snowmass and its love of uphilling. In fact, it is one of the few resorts to allow uphill skiing in-bounds during hours of operation. All four mountains have designated uphilling routes, but Buttermilk has become the epicenter for local uphillers. Throughout the year on select Fridays, the mountain hosts the Uphill Breakfast Club at 8:45am at Cliffhouse. There are also Full Moon Dinners at the Cliffhouse, where you can ski (or hike) uphill for dinner under a full moon. If you’re new to uphilling and want to give it a try, you can rent all the gear you need from Four Mountain Sports.
View Uphill Policy

7. Get First Tracks

Everybody loves freshies! Our on-mountain staff loves them so much — and wanted to share them so badly — that they created a unique program to get guests on the mountain with them for a single run before the lifts open. First Tracks has become a perennial favorite, and best of all, its complimentary. Reserve in advance.
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8. Apres Like You Mean It

Spend any time at Aspen Snowmass and you’ll see that we’re serious: serious about après-ski that is. We treat the camaraderie and joy of socializing after a day skiing and riding as equally important to the action on the slopes. Happy hours are particularly popular at the Limelight Hotels in Aspen and Snowmass, at the Ajax Tavern at the base of the Silver Queen Gondola, and at the Cloud Nine Alpine Bistro midway up Aspen Highlands.
Apres Guide