Eagle's Rest / Aspen

Cascading waterfalls.
Open fireplaces.
Home theatre.
Billiard room.
Bar
Steam rooms.
Outdoor Jacuzzi.
Barbecue.

It has become one of the worlds No1 destinations for some of the worlds top business people, celebrities and professional skier's. Aspen, Colorado is a small and very beautiful town. A high alpine village at 8000 ft. at the end of the road. Once the snow hit's the mountains there's only one way in...and...one way out. Aspen means a lot of different thing to different people. The restaurants, the shopping, the art galleries, the Aspen Institute , the night life, the music and culture, the development opportunities, the snow polo. Everyone has their own individual reasons for loving Aspen and their own definition of the Aspen Idea... Body, Mind and Spirit. Aspen has a reputation of being a playground for the rich and famous, of being over-the-top expensive, the glitz and the glamour ...the see and be seen mentality.

Locals call it Ajax and this is the Aspen area's true performance ski mountain. Forget it if you are a beginner; there's nothing for you at Aspen. But there are plenty of intermediate trails and challenging black diamonds. There is Snow cat skiing on the back side of Aspen. Little Nell's is still the place to gather at the base. Lodging is in the form of 8,000 beds at the base of the mountain and 6,000 additional beds within 12 minutes. There is a free shuttle bus service to all ski areas around Aspen.

Aspen Ski areas like Aspen Highlands seem to attract people who love endless pockets of powder and uncrowded slopes, where you can take your skills to the next level. Aspen Highlands boasts slope rankings of easiest - 18%, more difficult - 30%, most difficult - 16% and expert - 36%. And with a 3,635-foot vertical drop and 700 acres, you’ll find this is one ski resort you can’t miss when in Aspen.

Aspen Mountain, known locally as Ajax, is just above the town of Aspen, and offers slopes starting with intermediate. It’s no place for newcomers to skiing. Levels of difficulty are rated intermediate 48%, more difficult 26% and expert 26%. There are 76 runs and 675 acres to explore. With 8 lifts, you won’t waste time off the slopes for long.

Of all US ski resorts, Aspen, Colorado has some of the best, and Buttermilk is no exception, especially for beginning skiers. Located about three miles outside of Aspen, Buttermilk Ski Resort has a vertical drop of 2,030 feet and 44 trails totaling 21 miles. The ratings for the slopes are 35% easiest, 39% more difficult, 26% most difficult and 0% expert. Snowboarders are catered to here as well as those just starting in the ski world.

The best of Aspen skiing resorts for families is Snowmass. There are plenty of lifts and a wide variety of terrain for all levels of skier. Snowmass is just a short drive from Aspen, and offers more than 4,000 feet of vertical drop and 3,132 acres. Slopes are rated 6% easiest, 50% more difficult, 12% most difficult and 32% expert.

Sunlight Mountain features some great cruising terrain for intermediate skiers, and covers more than 470 acres. There are 67 trails, including one of the steepest in the state, Heathen, which slopes at 52 degrees. Slopes are rated at 20% easiest, 55% more difficult, 20% most difficult and 5% expert. Sunlight is in Glenwood Springs, about 40 miles north of Aspen.

Summit: 3417 m
Vertical Drop: 996 m
Trails (Pistes): 76   
Beg: 35%
Int: 35%
Adv: 30%  
Lifts: 8
7 chair lifts
Gondolas / Cable Cars: 1
Terrain Parks: 1
X-Country: 80 km
Halfpipes: 1 
Restaurants: 100  
Bars: 30