Aspen Mountain, otherwise known as Ajax, is easily the least skied and least popular of the 4 Aspen-Snowmass resorts.
But least skied also means least crowded, and least popular also means that it retains a true Mom-And-Pop-Resort feel that no other Aspen-Snowmass mountain has.
Remember least popular and least crowded does not mean it is the worst. Actually one could argue that Aspen Mountain, Ajax, is the true hidden gem of the Aspen-Snowmass Resorts.
In this blog, we are giving you a detailed overview of Aspen Mountain, who it is for, and the unique specialness that this resort holds, but don’t forget to read our other guides on the other Aspen Resorts so you can choose the best one for you.
What is Aspen Mountain Ski Resort?
Aspen Mountain is closest to the actual town of Aspen and is the original of The Four Snowmass Resorts.
Steep fast quad-burning groomers and tight tree glades are what you’ll find here, along with the classic “Boujee” style of this famous “Town Mountain”.
When compared to Buttermilk’s X-Games material Terrain Parks, Aspen Highland’s steep Slackcountry terrain, and Snowmass’s mega-resort feel, Aspen Mountain stands much differently apart with its old-time style, a reminiscence of how skiing used to be.
If you are looking for the best corduroy, the chillest vibe, the fastest runs, the tightest glades, the best views, and the nicest on-slope lodges, then you will find all of those and more here at Aspen Mountain.
Aspen Mountain Ski Resort Mountain Statistics
- Skiable Acres…673
- Average Snowfall per year…350“…
- Average Snowbase…40′
- Number of Runs…76
- Top Elevation…11,212
- Lowest Elevation…7,945
- Max Run Length…3 Miles…Deer Park to Spar Gulch to Cleenex Corner
- Vertical Drop ( What is that?…Vertical drop means how “tall” a ski resort is from base to summit )…3,267 feet
- Terrain Parks…0
- Lifts…8 Lifts
- Longest Lift…Silver Queen Gondola
Tips On Travelling To Aspen Mountain
Aspen Mountain Ski Resort is located in the heart of the town of Aspen Colorado. Here are some tips on traveling to Aspen Mountain Ski Resort.
- There is only a one-way road to getting into the town of Aspen in winter. This road comes in from the west and goes east. Normally, in summer, you can drive over Independence Pass which comes in from the east, but because this is not open in winter it can make traveling from Denver or Eastern Colorado Areas long.
- For full-time RVers like us, you’ll be disappointed that there are no campgrounds in Aspen.
- Finding affordable accommodations in Aspen or Snowmass Village is difficult. Aspen is expensive, so we usually stay in Carbondale, 30-40 minutes out of town. If you want an even cheaper option, you can stay in Glenwood Springs, which has much more affordable lodging prices, but keep in mind that you are an hour away from the mountain.
Best Time to Visit Aspen Mountain Ski Resort
January will be your best bet for uncrowded slopes, and besides this month having the least snow coverage, this month is also when the annual X-Games Freestyle competition goes on in the neighboring resort of Buttermilk. (Note: Any pass to an Aspen-Snowmass Resort gets you access to all four of the Aspen-Snowmass Resorts).
February will be the best month for powder days and deep snow, making this the best time to ski the glades at Aspen Mountain Ski Resort.
March is overall the best month to ski in all of the USA, but at the same time, this is the most crowded month where the slopes can get a bit more packed and the lodging prices can be a bit higher.
3 Best Things about Aspen Mountain Ski Resort
There are a ton of cool statistical aspects of Aspen Mountain Ski Resort, but here are 3 personal details I really enjoyed about Aspen Mountain.
- Aspen Mountain Ski Resort is the least crowded of all of the Aspen-Snowmass Ski Resorts.
- Aspen Mountain Ski Resort is a very easy resort to navigate and lacks the headache of getting around that other resorts pose.
- The Sundeck at the top of Aspen Mountain is one of the best Ski Resort Lodges/Restaurants I have ever been to, with amazing views and amazing food.
3 Worse Things about Aspen Mountain Ski Resort
While Aspen Mountain Ski Resort is great, here are the worst things about it.
- Many people call Aspen Mountain the most TIRING of the Snowmass Resorts, and that’s not because of boredom, it’s because Aspen Mountain is literally the most physically exhausting. All the runs are incredibly steep and never let up the whole 3,267 vertical feet you drop every run..
- Aspen Mountain Ski Resort lacks a ton of terrain.
- The monotony of skiing steep runs can get to you if you are going for a long day.
Aspen Mountain Ski Resort For Beginners
Aspen Mountain Ski Resort is not a good beginner mountain. If you are a beginner skier coming to the Aspen area I would highly suggest skiing the resorts Buttermilk and/or Snowmass.
Aspen Mountain, Ajax, is unique for the fact that there is not a single green run on this whole mountain. That combined with the fact that the Blues are very steep and could be considered Black Diamonds at some other resorts only enforces the fact that this is a difficult beginner mountain.
If you are a beginner Skier/Snowboarder and are nevertheless considering coming here to Aspen Mountain Ski Resort, then I would recommend trying the routes Spar Gulch and Summer Road for the easiest terrain on the mountain.
Aspen Mountain Ski Resort For Intermediates
If you are an intermediate skier you will find an abundance of varying terrain here.
The Intermediate glades, groomers, and moguls found here at Ajax are perfect for intermediate skiers looking for improvement-centric terrain that is not too intense.
The amount of blue-rated runs here at Aspen Mountain Ski Resort is hefty and awesome, mouth-watering in fact if you are a high-intermediate skier or an intermediate skier willing to try harder terrain.
For the best intermediate off-trail and glades go try the lifts Ruthie’s and Ajax Express.
Aspen Mountain Ski Resort For Advanced
If you are an advanced skier you will be sheer bliss here at Aspen Mountain.
The varying styles of difficult terrain here are immense, and if you come here in a hard-charging mood, seeking the most intense lines and runs, then you will be happy to find there is no lack of such terrain here are Ajax.
For Advanced Carvers seeking the best corduroy try to get here early, before the slight crowd (If there were any) show up. Try routes such as NorthStar to Copper Bowl and Summit to Spar Gulch for maximum speed and turns on empty slopes.
For Advanced Mogul skiers looking for the biggest and best bumps, try your metal on the Bell Mountain Lift, with routes like Face Of The Bell and Back Of The Bell.
And last if you are seeking the best backcountry and glades go try the epic and legendary trees off of the lift Hero’s and the glades coming off of the run International Road.
There are no Terrain Parks at Aspen Mountain Ski Resort.
Base Area
The base area at Aspen Mountain Ski Resort embodies everything you’d expect from a world-class Aspen experience, living up to its legendary reputation. Boasting more shopping and boutique stores than any other Aspen-Snowmass resort, the Ajax base area is perfect for strolling, exploring, and soaking in the vibrant atmosphere.
Vertical Drop
At only 630 acres of skiing, Ajax finds itself dwarfed by other mountains. But…with its 3,267 feet of vertical drop we find a unique and weird situation at hand.
Being that high yet that small makes this mountain like a funnel, wider at the top and narrow at the bottom, flowing you down the whole mountain to the Silver Queen Gondola where you’ll take the ride up again.
For this I personally love Aspen Mountain, it makes it feel both different from other resorts, and refreshing from the worry of lift logistics and coordination around the mountain that other resorts pose.
Summit
Aspen Mountain has a very iconic summit view, with Castle Peak, Hayden Peak, and all of Aspen Valley before you.
While the view from the top of the mountain is flawless, the skiing from the summit of Aspen Mountain Ski Resort lacks certain things, specifically any cliffs or high-intensity that you could find at Snowbird, Jackson Hole, or even sister mountain Aspen Highlands.
What lack of cliffs and freeride terrain that Ajax has makes up for with its mega-long groomers and highly stimulating and intense glades accessed from the peak.
Also, I love the fact that getting to the summit only requires taking one lift, The Silver Queen Gondola, and from this summit lift you can access every run you wish to take without any lift hopping.
Off-Trail/Glades
The glades at Aspen Mountain Ski Resort are where the mountain truly shines its best light.
Aspen glades here at Aspen Mountain are world-renowned for a reason, and in my opinion, maybe the best glade skiing in all of Colorado, only tied with Steamboat Springs.
A major contributing factor to the amazingness of these glades is the snow quality found within them. The powder prolongs long here even days after storms, this is because of how skier distribution naturally occurs, how much sheer glade terrain there is here, and because of the lack of over-population.
Runs like Walsh’s, Hyrup’s, and Kristi’s offer thrilling descents through these iconic aspen groves littered with numerous jibs and hits, open bowls, and narrow descents, to keep you challenged and entertained again and again.
Grooming
Aspen Mountain competes tightly with Snowmass for the best grooming of the Aspen-Snowmass Resorts..
Now while Snowmass may beat Aspen Mountain in terms of grooming, it is a whole other discussion if Snowmass beats Aspen with their groomers.
While Snowmass’s groomer may be good with their wide open and gradual descents, Aspen Mountain Ski Resort takes the opposite end of the spectrum, with high-intensity corduroy for the fastest ‘carvsters’.
Skiers seeking long, fast runs with flawless corduroy will find Aspen’s groomers exceptional.
Terrain Parks
There are no Terrain Parks at Aspen Mountain, but neighboring Aspen-Snomass resorts, Buttermilk and Snowmass, have some of the best, if not THE best, terrain parks in Colorado.
Lifts
The lifts at Aspen Mountain Ski Resort are placed in ideal, and idyllic, positions on the mountain that takes the worry of lift lostigics and stress of lift-hopping out of your head, leaving more space to have fun exploring the 8 lifts that Ajax offers.
The main lift at Aspen Mountain Ski Resort is the Silver Queen Gondola. The Silver Queen Gondola is a long and cozy gondola situated right at the center of the base area at Ajax, it climbs from the bottom all the way to thetop of the mountain. I love this lift because it is a one-stop wonder for the best groomers on the mountain.
The Hero’s lift, on the left side on the mountain (If looking at Aspen Mountain Ski Resort from a map) is where the best glades and freeride terrain shall be found. This is also where the snow stays the longest as it gets less sun exposure.
Lastly, the smaller lifts on Aspen Mountain Ski Resort consist of the Bell Mountain lift, located below the Silver Queen Gondola and used to lap the Bell Mountain Glades, also Ruthie’s used to lap the glades accessed via the International Road run, and finally, Shadow Mountain where beginners and intermediate will enjoy lapping the easiest routes on Aspen Mountain Ski Resort.
Lodging
The lodging is great in Aspen, there is no argument about that, the argument stems from the pricing for lodging in Aspen
Trying to find affordable housing in Aspen is very tough.
If you desire lodging within the town of Aspen and as close to Aspen Mountain Ski Resort, then try The Little Nell, Aspen’s premier luxury hotel, offering world-class service, sophisticated accommodations, and unparalleled access to Aspen Mountain, or the cheaper Limelight Hotel.
If you want to save a little money, you can stay in Basalt/Carbondale, which is about 30-45 minutes from Snowmass, or for even more affordable options, stay in Glenwood Springs which is about an hour’s drive. For full-time RVers looking for the nearest campground, check out River Dance in Eagle, Colorado but note that this is an hour and a half away from Aspen Snowmass Ski Resort.
Parking
Aspen Mountain Ski Resort happens to have the worst parking situation of all the Aspen-Snowmass resorts. This is because Ajax is located in the heart of Aspen and lacks a massive parking lot.
1: Downtown Parking Meters – The obvious and easiest option is to use the downtown parking meters: These parking meters have a maximum of four hours. Paid parking is in effect from 10 am–6 pm, Monday through Saturday. For more info click HERE
2: Rio Grande Parking Plaza – The Rio Grande Parking Plaza in Aspen provides convenient covered parking just off Main Street, open 24/7 with a clearance of up to 7 feet 2 inches. Parking rates are affordable, starting at $2 for the first hour, $4 for two hours, and $6 for three hours, with a daily maximum of $12. Parking is free from 5:00 PM to 5:00 AM, as well as on Sundays and holidays. Also the facility is equipped with electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.
3: West Buttermilk – The West Buttermilk Parking Lot is a free and easy parking option if wishing to ski at Aspen Mountain Ski Resort. To do so take the shuttle from West Buttermilk to Ruby Park Transit Center.
4: Brush Creek Parking Lot – The Brush Creek Parking Lot is located on Highway 82 and is an overflow parking lot that the RFTA buses will still pick up from.
Bus System
The RFTA Bus System makes visiting Snowmass Mountain Resort super easy. They are clean buses that are made to make handling skis super easy. Best of all, they are FREE!
Crowds
Aspen Mountain is the least crowded of the Snowmass Resorts, offering a peaceful and refined ski experience without the hustle and bustle. Come here to escape the Disneyland-like feel that Snowmass can generate and enjoy a more relaxed atmosphere both on the slopes and in the base area
Best Runs at Aspen Mountain Ski Resort
- Face Of The Bell – Located via the Bell Mountain Lift.
- Spar Gulch – Longest continuous groomed run at Aspen Mountain Ski Resort.
- E=M(Ski)2 Glade – A long name fitting for a long fun run over on the Hero’s side.
Best Things About ASPEN MOUNTAIN SKI RESORT
- STEEPS! If you like steep runs you will be happy to know that all the runs are incredibly steep here and never let up the whole 3,267 vertical feet you drop every run.
- Some of the best (hardest) glade skiing in Colorado.
- Lack of crowds.
- Ease of navigation and a lack of stressful lift logistics.
- Some of the best hard Off-Trail and Groomer terrain in Colorado.
Should You Visit ASPEN MOUNTAIN SKI RESORT?
Aspen Mountain is a very fun resort. It’s never as crowded as Snowmass, The tree terrain is equal to Aspen Highlands, the views are good, if not better than Buttermilks, and it is truly one of the most authentic ski experiences in America.
Though it lacks the intermediate terrain and the sheer size that Snowmass has, the combination of its amazing views of the Elk Mountains, its super-long groomers on the highest-quality corduroy, and an almost European feel makes Aspen Mountain a must-ski on every skier’s list.
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But make sure to check out our Aspen-Snowmass and related blogs before you book a trip to Aspen Mountain Ski Resort.
- Alta & Snowbird
- Mount Bachelor
- Snowbasin
- Keystone
- Breckenridge
- Whitefish
- Indy Pass Resorts
- Idaho Resorts
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