Aspen is one of the most iconic mountain towns in the American West, and it earns that reputation in every season. World-class skiing, jaw-dropping alpine scenery, a thriving arts and culture scene, acclaimed restaurants, and some of the best hiking and biking trails in Colorado all converge in a town of fewer than 10,000 people. In summer, when the snow melts and the wildflowers take over, Aspen transforms into one of the best outdoor adventure bases in the Rockies. Here is your complete guide to the best things to do in Aspen, Colorado, year-round.
For the ultimate summer adventure from Aspen, the Arkansas River is a 2-hour drive east over Independence Pass and it is absolutely worth the trip. Wilderness Aware Rafting has been running trips on the Arkansas for nearly 50 years, and Aspen visitors make the drive every summer to experience some of the best whitewater in Colorado. The route over Independence Pass is one of the most scenic drives in the state, so the journey is half the experience.
Trip options for every ability level:
Maroon Bells is arguably the most photographed landscape in Colorado, and once you see it in person you will understand why. Two 14,000-foot peaks reflected in a still alpine lake, ringed by aspen groves and wildflower meadows, just 10 miles from downtown Aspen. In summer, the access road requires a reservation and shuttle from Aspen Highlands, which keeps the crowds manageable and the experience genuinely special. Hiking options range from the easy paved loop around Maroon Lake to longer backcountry trails into the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness. It is one of those places that belongs on every Colorado itinerary, full stop.
Independence Pass is the highest paved through-road in Colorado at 12,095 feet and one of the most scenic mountain drives in the American West. The road climbs from Aspen through dense aspen forest and alpine tundra to the Continental Divide, with sweeping views in every direction from the summit. It is also the direct route to Buena Vista and our rafting headquarters, so Aspen visitors doing a rafting day trip get to experience it both ways. The pass is typically open from late May through mid-November. Note that it is closed in winter, in which case the route to Buena Vista goes east on CO-82 to I-70, then south on US-24 through Leadville.
Aspen Mountain is world-famous as a ski destination, but in summer it becomes one of the best accessible alpine hiking areas in Colorado. The Silver Queen Gondola runs through the summer months and carries hikers and mountain bikers to the 11,212-foot summit, where trails fan out across the ridge with stunning views over the Elk Mountains. Back in town, the network of free trails in and around Aspen, including the popular Hunter Creek Trail and the Smuggler Mountain Road, offer excellent hiking right from downtown.
Snowmass Village sits just 9 miles from Aspen and functions as a destination in its own right. In summer, the Elk Camp Gondola runs to the top of the mountain for hiking, the Breathtaker Alpine Coaster is a hit with families, and the summer free concert series at the base village is a highlight. The Snowmass Bike Park draws mountain bikers from across the region. In winter, Snowmass has the largest skiable terrain of the four Aspen Snowmass mountains and is particularly well suited for families and intermediate skiers.
The John Denver Sanctuary is a free, peaceful riverside park along the Roaring Fork River honoring the musician who made “Rocky Mountain High” the soundtrack of Colorado. Large inscribed stones feature lyrics and quotes from Denver’s songs, and the setting along the river with mountain views behind it is genuinely beautiful. It connects to Rio Grande Park, Aspen’s main community park, where you will find picnic areas, a skate park, tennis and pickleball courts, and the Rio Grande Trail, a paved path along the Roaring Fork River stretching 42 miles to Glenwood Springs.
The Aspen Art Museum is one of the most architecturally striking contemporary art museums in the American West. Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Shigeru Ban, the building itself is a work of art, and the free rooftop deck offers some of the best views over downtown Aspen and the surrounding mountains. Admission is free, the exhibitions rotate regularly with an emphasis on contemporary international work, and the museum cafe is one of the better lunch spots in town. It consistently surprises visitors who did not expect to find a museum of this caliber in a mountain ski town.
One of the most rewarding and underrated day trips from Aspen, Ashcroft Ghost Town sits 11 miles up Castle Creek Road in a beautiful high-altitude valley with views of the surrounding peaks. Ashcroft was a booming silver mining town in the 1880s that was abandoned after the silver bust, and the preserved remains of its original buildings, including a saloon, hotel, and post office, are open to explore. Entry is free, the drive up Castle Creek Road is spectacular, and the trailhead for the popular Cathedral Lake hike is just a few miles further up the road.
Aspen and the surrounding Roaring Fork Valley offer some of the best outdoor recreation in Colorado across every season.
The trail network around Aspen is exceptional. Top options include the Hunter Creek Trail (a local favorite, accessible from downtown), the Maroon Bells trail system for alpine scenery, Cathedral Lake for a rewarding day hike to a high alpine lake, and Conundrum Hot Springs, a 9-mile backcountry hike to natural hot springs at 11,200 feet that requires advance reservations through Recreation.gov. The White River National Forest surrounding Aspen offers essentially unlimited backcountry options.
The Roaring Fork Valley is one of Colorado’s premier mountain biking regions. The Snowmass Bike Park offers lift-served downhill riding in summer. The Rio Grande Trail runs 42 miles to Glenwood Springs on a paved path. The Government Trail between Aspen and Snowmass is a classic intermediate singletrack route through aspen groves.
The Roaring Fork River and its tributaries are designated Gold Medal fishing waters, some of the best wild trout rivers in Colorado. Multiple guide services operate out of Aspen for half-day and full-day fly fishing trips on both the Roaring Fork and the nearby Fryingpan River, another legendary Gold Medal fishery.
Aspen Snowmass encompasses four mountains: Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk, and Snowmass. Together they offer over 5,500 acres of skiable terrain ranging from beginner runs at Buttermilk to some of the most challenging expert terrain in North America on Aspen Highlands. The ski season typically runs from late November through mid-April.
Aspen is known for world-class skiing across four mountains, the Maroon Bells alpine scenery, a vibrant arts and culture scene, and some of the best summer hiking in Colorado. It is also one of the closest Colorado mountain towns to the Arkansas River, making it a popular base for whitewater rafting day trips.
Top summer activities include hiking at Maroon Bells, driving Independence Pass, riding the Silver Queen Gondola, visiting Ashcroft Ghost Town, mountain biking at Snowmass, fly fishing on the Roaring Fork River, and doing a rafting day trip on the Arkansas River near Buena Vista.
Yes. The Arkansas River, about 2 hours east of Aspen via Independence Pass, offers some of the best whitewater rafting in Colorado. Wilderness Aware Rafting runs multiple trip options from its Buena Vista headquarters, ranging from family-friendly floats to Class IV rapids through Browns Canyon National Monument.
Aspen is approximately 2 hours from Buena Vista via CO-82 East over Independence Pass to US-24 South. Independence Pass is seasonal and closed in winter, in which case the drive via Leadville takes about 2.5 hours.
Independence Pass is typically open from late May through mid-November. Colorado Department of Transportation posts current road conditions and closure dates at cotrip.org.
Summer (June through September) is peak season for hiking, biking, rafting, and festivals. Winter (December through March) is peak ski season. Shoulder seasons offer lower prices but limited activity options as some attractions and the ski areas are closed.
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Choose from a variety of Colorado rivers, day trips, and multi-day trips to find just the right option for you and your crew. Better hustle, because they’re booking up quick!
