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When To Go

Christmas week, the highest of high seasons, is the stuff of tabloid dreams. Peak season runs from early February to late March. Numerous special events, from free concerts to exciting World Cup and FIS races to Freeride competitions, are held throughout the season. The biggest deal is arguably Winter X Games10, held at Buttermilk each January. Bud Light Spring Jam (annually in March) rocks Aspen and Snowmass with concerts, giant parties, cultural events, big air competitions and more.

Your best shot for avoiding crowds, as well as getting the best bang for your buck and most reliable snow is in January (other than Winter X Games weekend), though spring skiing in late March-early April on cream-cheese slopes can be delightful. The period between Thanksgiving and Christmas week also offers great deals, though the snow conditions are more capricious.

We're focusing on winter, but don't forget that Aspen is also one of the world's premier four-season destinations. As locals love to say, “We came for the winters, but stayed for the summers.” Aspen flourishes in the spring, summer and fall (when those golden “quakies” – as the locals call the Aspens – ignite the mountains). It's the gateway to Colorado's challenging fourteeners (peaks over 14,000 feet), while the Elk Mountain Range and Independence Pass offer some of the most diverse rock climbing, hiking and biking in North America. Fly-fishing is also superior and there are several nearby golf courses, most notably at the superlative Snowmass Club, though duffers are better off in the Vail Valley. The other rocky mountain high season starts cooking with the legendary Food & Wine Magazine Classic at Aspen in mid-June. Other epicurean escapes include July's Taste of Aspen and Healthy Gourmet Festival. Culture vultures will also find plenty to interest them: the Aspen Music Festival & School, Anderson Ranch Arts Center and Aspen Writers' Foundation workshops with renowned figures, Jazz Aspen Snowmass, and the Aspen Institute, where renowned thinkers gather to brainstorm (giving thought-provoking, often provocative lectures to the public). Unique Kids' Day Camps and Adult Learning Vacations in cooking, adventure, and culture make family getaways both educational and fun. A good one-stop resource for what's on when throughout the year is www.stayaspensnowmass.com.

When To Go

High season:
Christmas week, February–March

Low season:
November 15–December 20, January, late March–early April

Best bang for your buck:
First 3 weeks of January

See Aspen Travel Guide