Aspen

About Aspen

Aspen lies at the head of the Roaring Fork Valley in the Colorado Rockies, surrounded by high peaks and forests of the trees that gave the town its name. It began as a silver mining boomtown in the late nineteenth century, faded when silver prices collapsed, and was reborn in the mid-twentieth century as a ski resort and cultural retreat. Brick Victorian buildings now share the streets with luxury boutiques and galleries.

In town, the restored Wheeler Opera House anchors a historic core that is easy to explore on foot, and the Aspen Art Museum shows contemporary work in a modern building with a rooftop terrace. The Silver Queen Gondola climbs Aspen Mountain directly from downtown, offering skiing in winter and hiking and views in summer. The John Denver Sanctuary sits along the river near the Rio Grande Trail. Just outside town, Maroon Lake reflects the famous Maroon Bells, and the Crater Lake Trail continues deeper into the wilderness, with road access restricted in summer to shuttles and reservations.

Skiers come for Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk and Snowmass, while summer brings hikers and festival audiences. Independence Pass, open only in the warmer months, climbs past the ghost town of Independence and the Grottos. The quiet Castle Creek Valley leads to the old mining camp of Ashcroft.