Aspen Highlands
The Locals' Secret
There are little resorts all over the world that only locals
know. You hear the names whispered in bars, on chairlifts, in cafés. Aspen Highlands, Colorado (White River National Forest, 3 miles from downtown Aspen; 800/308-6935,
970/925-1220; day passes from $78; aspensnowmass.com), remains a relative secret in perhaps the most recognized ski valley in the world, a small spot with some of the best slopes and ski-centric culture in the Rockies.
The affable vibe extends to the ridge off the backside of the mountain leading to Highlands Bowl. There, skiers hike 30 to 45 minutes to views of the 14,000-foot maroon Bells and Pyramid Peak. Then it’s deep-powder skiing down the bowl or through the trees. Highlands is an advanced ski area with a whopping 3,635 vertical feet and 1,010 acres of steep, mogul-lined runs. The serious skiing keeps crowds down and made it a great setting for 1993 cult ski movie Aspen Extreme.
For lunch, folks convene up at 10,740 feet at the Cloud Nine Alpine Bistro (Highlands; 970/923-8715, 970/544-3063; prix-fixe menu from $24; aspensnowmass.com/onmountain/dining), which might be the most authentic old-world, on-slope dining this side of St. Moritz. Specialties of the house include venison ragout, pheasant breast, and raclette. Boisterous chef Andreas Fischbacher often plies his patrons with a gratis shot of schnapps.
Highlands regulars live in the area, so there are no hotels at the base. The Hotel Jerome (330 E. Main St., Aspen; 800/331-7213, 970/920-1000; rooms from $225; hoteljerome.com) offers a good excuse to dip into Aspen’s glitz 20 minutes away. It emanates the Highlands’ authentic vibe and its mahogany J-bar was one of gary Cooper’s favorite watering holes. The gems of Aspen—including the Annabelle Inn (232 W. Main St., Aspen; 877/266-2466, 970/925-3822; rooms from $119; annabelleinn.com), Hotel Lenado (200 S. Aspen St., Aspen; 800/321-3457, 970/925-6246; rooms from $200; hotellenado.com), and Hotel Durant (122 E. Durant Ave., Aspen; 877/438-7268, 970/925-8500; rooms from $135; durantaspen.com)—are all less expensive choices with excellent service.
The town of Aspen offers a myriad of side trips, like classes with celebrity chefs at The Cooking School of Aspen (414 E. Hyman Ave., Aspen; 970/920-1879; cooking classes from $75; cookingschoolofaspen.com) or a customized facial at St. Regis’ Remede Spa (315 E. Dean St., Aspen; 970/429-9038; treatments from $85; remede.com). Gourmands looking for a can’t-miss dinner should head to Montagna (3675 East Durant Ave., Aspen; 970/920-4600; entrées from $34; thelittlenell.com), the restaurant at the Little Nell, to indulge in local artisanal cuisine and the 15,000-bottle private wine cellar.
Getting to Aspen Highlands
Factor in 6 hours flight time from New York City to Aspen , Colorado, and 2 hours from Los Angeles. The Hotel Jerome offers a free airport shuttle for the 15-minute
drive into town.
