Are you looking for what to do in Aspen?
Aspen is the skiing capital of Colorado and is full of tourists skiing down the snow-laden mountains in winter. Besides skiing, there is ice-skating, cross country skiing, dog sledding, snowmobiling, hot-air ballooning, fly fishing etc. All that activity is supplemented by a variety of food events and specially-crafted drinks. While the tiny town is buzzing with excitement in the cold weather, it is not completely isolated in the other seasons. Spring is divided between the last days of the snow activities and preparation for the summer. Nature makes a colourful appearance with warmer days and the wonderful bloom of crab apple, crocus and daffodils. Towards the end of the season, people flock here for white water rafting in Aspen’s rivers.
Aspen’s natural beauty is at its peak in summer. This is the perfect season to go for nature walks, hikes, treks, water sports and other mountain events. The Independence Pass is open for visitors during this season and you can often see cyclists zooming up and down the winding path. The season’s produce is proudly displayed alongside the freshest brews in the restaurants here. Fall brings with it the beautiful colours in foliage and Aspen continues to enjoy the last few days of warmth with its summer activities. Throughout the year, Aspen is welcome to visitors with a range of activities and events all based on the season you choose to visit.
- Things to do in Aspen in winter: Aspen’s USP is that it is the number one town in North America for après skiing. The Little Nell, Sky Hotel, Justice Snow’s, Ajax Tavern, Aspen Brewing Company are top spots in town to spend the day skiing and partying. Restaurants like Pine Creek Cookhouse, Sundeck Restaurant and Cloud Nine offer delicious meals to soothe your appetite after a day out on the snow. A visit to this charming town is hardly complete without a ride on the Silver Queen Gondola to the top of the Aspen Mountain. Buttermilk hosts the high-on-adrenaline winter action sports festival, the X Games Aspen. Cheer the participants of the Audi FIS Ski World Cup Finals held on the Aspen Mountain where top skiing champions compete to be the best. Those who are not into heavy sports can enjoy a horse-drawn sleigh ride across the snowy fields near town.
- Things to do in Aspen in fall: This is the best season to go for a trek around Maroon Bells, the 14000-feet-tall twin peaks surrounded by the National Forest. The Independence Pass closes for winter towards the end of the season so you will see bikers and trekkers in large numbers to enjoy the views seen on this pass. There are other routes leading in and out of town that are beautiful too. You will often see people driving up and down these stretches. Lakes like the Cathedral Lake, American Lake, Hunter Creek and Crater Lake are full of hikers enjoying the fall colours. Drive around the Castle Creek Road to explore the length of the gorgeous foliage.
- Things to do in Aspen in summer: The Silver Queen Gondola is active in summer and you can take a ride to see the wonderful colours of summer in Aspen. Saturdays often find the townsfolk and visitors mingling with each other over the fresh produce in the Farmer’s Market. Music, art and food festivals take place almost every day in summer. The Aspen Music Festival and School is active in the summer months and music is all over town thanks to the numerous concerts and music festivals. Paragliding and hot air ballooning is very active around this time too.
- Things to do in Aspen in spring: Spring enjoys the best of both winter and summer as activities around this time are a mix of both. While the mountains enjoy the last snows, the Farmer’s Market starts its display on Saturdays. You can visit the many art galleries here and spend some time chatting up with the locals about their life and adventures. As the snows melt off, hikers and trekkers descend on the freshly-appearing trails to explore the newly-blooming natural beauty. This is also the best time for fly-fishing in Aspen.
- Shopping in Aspen: Shopaholics are likely to have a gala time when visiting Aspen. Much unlike other touristy towns, Aspen is full of shops runs by locals selling goods made here as well as outlets of high-end brands that offer generous deals on purchases. Brands like Fendi, Gucci, Prada, Ralph Lauren have outlets here. Regional brands like Rag & Bone, Filson, Gorsuch, Marmot etc. carry brisk business thanks to a wide interest in their apparels. You will find good quality antiques at the Alpen Antiks. Jewellery and accessories also fill up several shopping bags
- Things to do in Snowmass: Around 15 miles away from Aspen is the tiny village of Snowmass. This town is buzzing with activities throughout the year. Those who love the outdoors should not let go of a trip to Snowmass. There are outdoor concerts and trails in the warmer days while the cold days often see visitors riding snow vehicles and skis. There are sunny decks and hot tubs where you can relax if the snow is not inviting to you.
Below we have a list of things to do in Aspen and the places where you want to spend the best moments of your trip. At the same time, the city offers you the best neighborhoods to explore and new foods to try.
This list should help you in deciding and prioritizing what you should plan on your Aspen getaway. Find a mix of must-see tourist spots, underrated local hangouts, and maybe even a few new experiences you can try out.
Make the most of your trip to Aspen with confidence.
