Aspen Snowmass turns 80 this winter, and it has picked a fitting way to celebrate: a new lift on Aspen Mountain, a rebuilt landmark restaurant on Snowmass and a season of parties that starts with lift tickets at 1946 prices. Four mountains, one lift ticket and a town with more history than most ski resorts have runs. If you have been waiting for the right winter to go, this is probably it.
Aspen Snowmass at a glance
- Location: Roaring Fork Valley, around four hours’ drive from Denver
- Terrain: Four mountains and around 5,700 acres
- Best for: Everyone: Buttermilk for beginners, Snowmass for families, Highlands and Aspen Mountain for experts
- Lift passes: Ikon Pass, or Aspen Snowmass Flex Pass
- 2026/27 season: Aspen Mountain and Snowmass from 26 November; Highlands and Buttermilk from 12 December
- Nearest airport: Aspen/Pitkin County, a few minutes from town
What’s New for 2026/27
The headline project on Aspen Mountain is the Nell Bell, a new high-speed quad that replaces both the Bell Mountain and Little Nell chairs. It runs from Gondola Plaza straight to the top of Bell Mountain, so you no longer need to piece together two slow lifts to reach some of the best bumps and glades on the hill.
Over on Snowmass, Ullrhof reopens after a total rebuild reported at around $42 million. The new mid-mountain lodge at the base of the Big Burn lift seats more than 600, adds a bar and lounge level, and is Aspen Snowmass’s first fully electric on-mountain restaurant.
Eighty Years in the Making
Aspen Mountain opened on 14 December 1946 with Lift 1, then the longest chairlift in the world. Eight decades on, the resort is marking the anniversary all season, beginning with a celebration weekend from 12 to 14 December 2026. Lift tickets are $80 across all four mountains on 12 and 13 December (the $3.75 tickets for the 14th, the original 1946 price, sold out almost at once). Expect $19.46 food and drink specials, $80 rentals, après parties and the 75th Wintersköl, Aspen’s long-running toast to the new season.
After that, the calendar stays busy: X Games Aspen, the US Grand Prix, free concerts and, in January 2027, the 50th Aspen Gay Ski Week, the longest-running gay ski week in the world.
The Four Mountains
- Aspen Mountain rises straight out of town. No beginner terrain, lots of fast groomers, mogul runs and the Hero’s glades that came in bounds in 2023.
- Aspen Highlands is the locals’ favourite, home to the hike-to Highland Bowl, which tops out at 12,392ft (3,777m).
- Buttermilk is the gentle one, ideal for beginners and families, and the home of X Games.
- Snowmass is the giant, with more than 3,300 acres on its own and over 4,400ft of vertical. It is larger than the other three put together and has a lively ski-in, ski-out base village. Last winter it gained a new high-speed six-pack in place of the old Elk Camp quad (which now has a second life at Powderhorn), and the Cirque platter became a T-bar that carries twice as many people up to the high terrain.
Together they add up to around 5,700 acres, all on one ticket and linked by free shuttle buses.
Lift Passes
Aspen Snowmass is on the Ikon Pass. For 2026/27 the full Ikon Pass gives up to seven days across all four mountains with no blackout dates, and the Ikon Base Pass now includes five days at Snowmass, with blackouts. For a single-resort trip, the new Flex Pass buys four to seven days, to use whenever you like with no blackouts, from $679 when bought in advance. That works out much cheaper per day than walk-up lift tickets. Our Ikon Pass 2026/27 guide explains the options in more detail.
Season Dates
Aspen Mountain and Snowmass are due to open on 26 November 2026, with Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk following on 12 December. All dates depend on conditions.
Getting There
Aspen/Pitkin County Airport is a few minutes from town and has connecting flights from Denver and other US hubs. Eagle County Airport is around 70 miles away, while Denver is roughly a four-hour drive over the mountains, depending on the weather and the traffic on I-70.
For more information visit aspensnowmass.com.
Aspen Snowmass: Your Questions Answered
Is Aspen good for beginners?
Yes. Buttermilk is one of the best beginner mountains in North America, and Snowmass has plenty of gentle terrain. Aspen Mountain itself has no beginner runs.
Is Aspen Snowmass on the Ikon Pass?
Yes. For 2026/27 the full Ikon Pass includes up to seven days with no blackout dates, and the Ikon Base Pass includes five days at Snowmass, with blackouts.
When does Aspen Snowmass open for 2026/27?
Aspen Mountain and Snowmass are due to open on 26 November 2026, with Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk following on 12 December.