Snowmass Mountain is one of the four mountains in the Aspen Snowmass Resort. Like Buttermilk, it embraces a family-friendly spirit, offering terrain for everyone in the family. Like Highlands, however, it has steep terrain, rocky chutes, and lots of powder. Snowmass was the last of the resort's four mountains to open. Developed in 1967 with five lifts, it gained immediate notoriety because of its ability to please everyone.
Black Diamond Skiing
In the last decade, Snowmass has marketed itself more and more to expert skiers. Extreme shots exist along the cliffs of the lower Cirque, and in the upper Cirque, Gowdy's has the steepest pitch -52 degrees - found in the four-mountain complex.
The Hanging Valley Wall
For hardy, and acclimated, skiers and boarders, the ultimate Snowmass experience includes a lap or two in the Hanging Valley Wall, an area on the eastern flank of Snowmass, located above Elk Camp. A complete lap in Hanging Valley requires a short hike, with skis or board on back, to the Hanging Valley Wall gate. At this point, opportunities exist for traversing across the headwall or simply peeling off in several of the alpine chutes that are readily visible. The rewards are sensational, regardless of where the initial turns are made. Steep (and often rocky) terrain gives way to powder, as the wind often loads this area with snow. There are plenty of opportunities for tree skiing and open, scenic expanses of deep snow.
Burnt Mountain and Long Shot
Another experience not to be missed is a trip down Long Shot. This run, the longest on the mountain at approximately four miles, descends 3400 feet from just above the top of the Elk Camp lift down to the base at Two Creeks, traversing through glades of trees, open and powdery conditions, and fairly benign slope angles. Accessing the run requires a short hike to the top of the peak. The reward at the top, however, is a spectacular 360-degree view.
Snowmass Mountain
Snowmass is a huge mountain and it is very easy to get lost within its 3,000 acres. According to the Aspen Skiing Company, Snowmass is the second largest ski area in the country and 36 Disneylands can fit within its boundaries! Needless to say, newcomers to the area are advised to plan ahead. Even locals plan their days starting at one side of the mountain and either staying in that area, or working over to the opposite side. Navigating the mountain, particularly at the end of the day, has become much simpler due to the recent addition of an eight-person Elk Camp gondola. Emerging from the newly redeveloped base area, the gondola moves skiers and boarders quickly from the crowded base area to Elk Camp, where trails and terrain open up to the rest of the mountain.
The mid and lower sections of the mountain consist of rolling wide beginner and intermediate terrain. Vacationers should consider spending two or three days at Snowmass; there is much to choose from.
Statistics (according to the Aspen Skiing Company)
- Terrain: 3,132 acres (easiest: 6%, more difficult: 50%, most difficult: 12%, expert: 32%)
- Base elevation: 8,104 ft./2,473 m
- Summit elevation:12,510 ft./3,813 m
- Vertical rise: 4,406 ft./1,343 m
- Number of trails: 91
- Miles/km of trails: 147 miles/237 km
- Longest run: 5.3 miles/8.5 km
- Steepest runs: Gowdy's and AMF - slope angle of 40 degrees or more
- Lifts: There are 21 lifts total: 1 eight-passenger gondola, 1 high-speed six-passenger lift, 1 six-passenger pulse gondola, 7 high-speed quads, 2 quads, 4 ski/snowboard school lifts, 2 platter pulls.
- Left capacity: 34,497 riders/hour
- Restaurants: Sneaky's Tavern, Sam's Smokehouse, Up 4 Pizza, Two Creeks Mexican Cafe, Lynn Britt Cabin (lunches and snowcat dinner rides), Burlingame Cabin (snowcat dinner rides), Ullrhof, Gwyn's High Alpine and Cafe Suzanne.
- Parking: Vehicles with 4 or more people park for free in the Two Creeks lot and some of the upper lots. Free parking and shuttle service is available from the Rodeo Lot, located at the entrance to Snowmass Village. Closer to the slopes, paid parking is available in smaller lots.
- Bus Service: Free bus service runs between Aspen and Snowmass.
Opening day: November 26, 2009
Closing day: April 11, 2010
