Aspen Snowboarding – Which Mountain Best Fits Your Style?

The Aspen snowboarding terrain is nothing short of legendary! With 5,507 acres of runs and 12 different terrain parks across 4 mountains, the Roaring Fork Valley is a rider’s paradise for all styles and skill levels. A single lift ticket will get you access to 4 different mountains that all offer a variety of conditions, difficulties, and terrain. 

Which Mountain Resort in Aspen is Best for Snowboarding?

All 4 Aspen, Colorado snowboarding resorts offer unique terrain that will appeal to a different style of rider. 

• Snowmass Mountain – Minimal beginner runs; mostly intermediate and expert. Has 3 terrain parks. 
• Aspen Mountain – No beginner runs; mostly intermediate cruisers with some advanced moguls and expert chutes. 
• Highlands – No beginner runs; mostly intermediate and expert runs, including backcountry access and hike-in areas.
• Buttermilk Mountain – Best mountain for beginners; even the blue and black runs are easier than average. Home to 9 terrain parks. 

Your Aspen adventure awaits! Whether you’re a brand-new rider or an honorary local who makes the pilgrimage to our peaks every year, you’re sure to find endless new ways down the mountains. Read on to learn all about the places you can snowboard next. 

Aspen Snowboarding Terrain: Runs, Bowls, and Parks for Every Style

The slopes in Aspen-Snowmass are well-known as some of the best in the world for snowboarding, both in variety and quality of grooming. This is one of the reasons why celebrities love visiting and why the X Games are hosted in Aspen each year. 

Snowmass

Snowmass Mountain is the largest of the 4 mountains in the Roaring Fork Valley. It has 98 runs spread over 3,362 acres. While other mountains appeal to a certain demographic or skill level, Snowmass has something for every rider.

If you’re a beginner, you’ll be pleased to know that 6% of the terrain is for beginners, namely Elk Camp, Fanny Hill, and Assay Hill. 47% of the terrain is designed for intermediates, so as you hone your technique, you’ll constantly find new ways to get down the mountain.

The other 47% of the mountain is expert runs, designed to challenge and thrill. The Cirque and Hanging Valley areas require a hike to get there, but advanced riders are rewarded in steep chutes, tricky bowls, cliffs, and gullies. 

Shredders normally flock to Snowmass each year to enjoy the terrain parks. Lowdown Park is oriented towards beginners by having smaller features. Makaha is ideal for developing your style on larger features. Snowmass Park is home to a superpipe and 40 other expert-level, ever-evolving features to explore. 

Aspen Mountain (Ajax)

Ajax is essentially the main character of the Aspen snowboarding and skiing scene; it has the longest history (dating back to the 1930s) and so many major local events center around Ajax. If you’re looking for ease of access, Ajax is the place to snowboard. Multiple luxury hotels offer ride-in/ride-out access to the mountain, not to mention the sheer concentration of vacation rentals on the mountain. 

Ajax has no beginner terrain. Out of the 76 runs across 673 acres, 48% are intermediate, 26% are advanced, and 26% are expert. Intermediate riders will enjoy the variety of blue cruiser runs. If you want to hone your pivot turn technique, Ajax is mogul heaven. However, Ajax’s expert terrain doesn’t have cliffs or gullies like Snowmass; the main area for expert runs is the Hero’s area with its 19 double-black chutes. 

Aspen Highlands

Like Ajax, Highlands has no beginner runs. The 1,000 acres that contain 118 marked runs are only for intermediate and expert riders. Among this expert terrain is the legendary Highland Bowl, a hike-in area that forces athletes to really earn their runs. This terrain is best described as steep and deep; slopes can have angles of more than 50 degrees and the glades require both technique and good instincts. 

The middle of the mountain is the best area for intermediate riders. Within the oasis of fluffy powder is Cloud 9, which is a raging après ski destination during the day, then transforms into a cozy alpine dining experience at night. Many first-time visitors are determined to master snowboarding enough to handle the intermediate slopes that would grant them access to this illusive party scene.

Buttermilk

In contrast to the other mountains, Buttermilk is a paradise for beginner riders. Out of the 44 runs on 470 acres, 35% are for beginners, 39% are intermediate, and 26% are advanced. Many of the blue runs feel more like greens and many black runs feel like blues; this makes Buttermilk the perfect place to learn to snowboard. But don’t be fooled by the apparent ease. Buttermilk’s claim to fame in the world of Aspen, Colorado snowboarding is that its terrain parks are the location for the X Games. 

Terrain Parks on Buttermilk:

1. Red’s Rover – 25 small and medium features for beginner shredders; the design was inspired by a skateboard park, so there’s a diverse variety of features. 
2. Eagle Hill – A competition-grade cross course with rollers, berms, and tables. 
3. Main Park – A 2-mile long area for advanced riders with large and medium features; it has the 22-foot Zaugg-cut superpipe used in the X Games, as well as many logs, jumps, banks, and rails. 
4. Teaser – Like Red’s Rover but with larger features, including pyramids and barrel bonks. 
5. Chuck’s – An especially well-groomed area with 15 medium and large features.
6. Jacob’s Ladder – 12 medium and large features, including a unique jib garden.
7. Midway Avenue – An accessible bank track with medium features.
8. Spruce – A creativity-oriented park with medium and large bonks, quarter pipes, ledges, cannons, and step-ups. This area opens mid-February after the X Games. 
9. X Park – The area used for the X Games that has a superpipe and 24 other features that you can shred like your rider heroes. 

When to Go – Aspen Snowboarding Season Breakdown

It’s no secret that Aspen-Snowmass has some of the best snowboarding and skiing in the world; it’s one of the reasons why celebrities flock to the valley each winter. However, such popularity means that the slopes can be crowded, the lift lines can be long, and accommodations can book up fast. 

When you plan your trip, timing is very important both for avoiding crowds and for getting exactly the snowboarding experience you want. 

When Does Aspen, Colorado Snowboarding Season Begin and End?

The exact length of the ski season each year is variable due to local weather. Typically, most ski resorts in Colorado open in late November or early- to mid-December. Currently, the estimated opening and closing dates for Aspen ski resorts are: 

• Snowmass: Opens in late November. Typically closes in late April.
• Aspen Mountain: Opens in late November. Projected to close in mid-April.
• Highlands: Opens mid-December. Projected to close in mid-April.
• Buttermilk: Opens mid-December. Projected to close in early April.

Which Months Offer the Best Snowboarding Conditions?

Different times of year offer different conditions. If you are a powder hound, the best time of year for Aspen snowboarding is early in the season. Typically, December, January, and February have the best powder. As the season goes on, the snow gets heavier and becomes compacted. 

Anyone who enjoys backcountry snowboarding should plan on visiting mid-season because the snowpack has had time to consolidate, thus reducing avalanche risk. 

In the spring, the snow enters a freeze-thaw cycle, which creates “corn” snow that is enjoyable to ride on for its grip and ease of carving. Experienced snowboarders might also enjoy the sometimes slushy conditions that are perfect for pond skimming and other end of season festivities. 

If you are interested in shredding at the terrain parks, the best time to visit is between January and March. Given the volume of snow and maintenance required to make the parks rideable, it’s normal for them to open a month or so after the rest of the resort. 

Which Months are Peak Season?

Peak season is December through February; it’s when the slopes get the best snow and when the most events happen. This means that Aspen implements peak pricing during these months due to the volume of the crowds. 

Some visitors prefer visiting during peak season because they want to attend the winter events and enjoy the camaraderie of a full slope. While other visitors might prefer visiting in March or April after peak season has ended and the crowds have dissipated. 

Please note that accommodations, reservations, and activity passes can book up fast during peak season. If you’re booking things on your own, you may end up losing out on your desired experiences. However, when you book with ALC, our team can leverage our local connections to secure access to everything you want to do. Give Aspen Luxury Concierge a call today to discuss your dream snowboarding trip!

Frequently Asked Questions About Aspen Snowboarding

Here are some answers to the most frequently asked questions about snowboarding in Aspen:

Your Aspen Adventure Awaits!

First time snowboarding? Old pro? No matter what your experience level, Aspen Luxury Concierge can help your trip be the best it can be! Our team provides a single point of contact for all your bookings, from your hotel room and lift ticket to your spa appointment and après ski VIP access. We’ll handle the details while you get to hit the slopes. Get in touch with ALC to start planning your next Aspen snowboarding trip!