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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.

A skier in a red coat smiles in hip deep powder on a sunny power day, at aspen Snowmass

For the 2026–2027 winter season, reservations are not required for Ikon Pass access.Lodging Packages

Ikon Pass Access & Benefits

Do you go to Snowmass where you can find fresh tracks all day across 3,342 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.

For the 2026–2027 winter season, reservations are no longer required for Ikon Pass access.


Which Pass Do You Have?

Both the Ikon Pass and Ikon Base Pass unlock Aspen Snowmass this season. Here's what each one gets you:

Both passes include 25% off Friends & Family lift ticket vouchers to share with your crew.


Ikon Friends & Family Lift Tickets

Ikon Passholders get 25% Off Friends and Family Vouchers

Both Ikon Pass and Ikon Base Pass holders receive discounted Friends & Family vouchers to share. Your friends and family get 25% off lift tickets at Aspen Snowmass when you share your voucher with them — a great way to introduce loved ones to the mountains.

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 Sharing
Ikon Friends & Family Redemption

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.

Save on Stays at Limelight Hotels

Throughout the 2026–2027 ski season, your Ikon Pass or Ikon Base 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. 
Exterior of the Limelight Hotel Aspen

Stay at Limelight Aspen
Limelight Snowmass

Stay at Limelight Snowmass

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.

Pass Access:

Ikon Pass: Full access to all terrain

Ikon Base Pass: 5 days of full access to terrain at Snowmass. Blackout dates: December 26 to 30, January 16-17, Feb 13-14

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 10–11am 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. Locals adore Aspen Mountain for its proximity to town and its hidden runs. Vacationers love it for its mystique. It just feels different.

Pass Access:

Ikon Pass: Full access to all terrain

Ikon Base Pass: Not included

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.

Pass Access:

Ikon Pass: Full access to all terrain

Ikon Base Pass: Not included

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.

Pass Access:

Ikon Pass: Full access to all terrain

Ikon Base Pass: Not included

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. 
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

Make the Most of the Weekend

Now that you’ve got a game-plan in place for your Ikon Pass weekend at Aspen Snowmass, here are a few extras to make it even sweeter.

Winter Activities

Winter Activities

There's more fun to be had on the mountain! Snowbiking, the Breathtaker Alpine Coaster, tubing, ice skating, snowshoe naturalist tours, and snowcat dinners are just a small sample of the winter activities we have available.
Winter Events

Events

Every winter we host the X Games Aspen, a series of raucous concerts, ski races, parties, exhibitions, clinics, and festivals. We just know how to have fun, and you're welcome to join in. Discover our calendar for the upcoming season.

Ikon Passholder FAQs

What's included with my Ikon Pass at Aspen Snowmass?

Your Ikon Pass includes 7 days of skiing/riding across all four Aspen Snowmass mountains (Snowmass, Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, and Buttermilk) with no blackout dates. You also get 25% off Friends & Family lift ticket vouchers to share with your crew.

What's included with my Ikon Base Pass at Aspen Snowmass?

Your Ikon Base Pass includes 5 days of skiing/riding at Snowmass Mountain. New this season — the Base Pass now includes access to Aspen Snowmass. Please note blackout dates: Dec 26–30, Jan 16–17, Feb 13–14.

Do I need a reservation for my Ikon Pass visit?

No. For the 2026–2027 season, reservations are no longer required for Ikon Pass access. Simply show your pass at the ticket window and you're good to go.

How do I share Friends and Family vouchers with my friends?

Log into your Ikon account at ikonpass.com, view your remaining discounts, and click "Share Discount." Enter your friend's name and email, and they'll receive a 25% off voucher to redeem at Aspen Snowmass.

Can I use my Ikon Base Pass at all four mountains?

No. The Ikon Base Pass provides access to Snowmass Mountain only (5 days with noted blackout dates). If you want access to all four mountains, upgrade to the Ikon Pass for 7 days with no blackouts.

What if I want to ski on a blackout date?

You can purchase additional lift tickets at regular rates. Blackout dates for Ikon Base Pass are December 26–30, January 16–17, and February 13–14.

Are there any restrictions on my Ikon Pass?

Ikon Passholders enjoy unrestricted access to all four mountains with no blackout dates during the 2026–2027 season.

Where can I rent gear if I need equipment?

Four Mountain Sports has locations at all four mountains and offers free equipment transfers between mountains and overnight storage so you can explore each peak without hauling gear around. Or, check out Aspen Collection for an elevated rental and fitting experience at their locations in Gondola Plaza (Aspen) and Snowmass Base Village (Snowmass).

Can I get additional discounts as an Ikon Passholder?

Yes. Ikon Passholders receive 20% off stays of 2+ nights at Limelight Aspen or Limelight Snowmass, plus complimentary parking and a $50 F&B credit. Additional discounts may be available — check with our Guest Services.