Away from the hustle and bustle of Aspen is the sleepy hamlet of Snowmass Village. Snowmass was originally a ranching community until the opening of Snowmass Ski Area in 1968. The largest of the four mountains Snowmass is a good option for families and those looking to focus on skiing and outdoor pursuits. All the essential amenities are offered by Snowmass Village including a post office, grocery store, liquor stores, shopping and restaurants.
You’ll get a traditional Colorado ski town experience in Snowmass Village. The largest ski school and most intermediate terrain are located at Snowmass making it a popular base for visitors. A variety of lodging options abound. From large houses ski in, ski out on Two Creeks neighborhood to a multitude of condo options near the new base village. From hotels to private homes there is quite a variety of lodging to choose from.
In summer Snowmass offers world class golf, tennis, a new recreation center, mountain biking (a course was recently constructed by G4), paragliding, hiking, horseback riding and more. There are miles and miles of trails for cross country skiing, biking, and hiking. In spring the elk come in droves to calve right on the ski area. Bears, lynx, marmots, cougars, fox, and moose are regulars in the community. You can even hike from Snowmass Village to Aspen on the Government Trail, approximately 9miles through the pristine White River National Park wilderness.
An impressive events schedule keeps the town alive with vitality. Through-out springtime there’s the Bud Light Big Air Fridays and concert series. To kick off every summer in mid-June the Chili Brew Fest takes place in the town park, a tasting of chilies and brews from all over Colorado. Every Labor Day JAS Aspen holds a 3 day concert series outdoors with headliners such as The Black Eyed Peas, Bob Dylan and Earth Wind and Fire. Every September there is the Hot Air Balloon Festival in conjunction with the Snowmass Food and Wine Classic. Every Thursday in summer there is a free outdoor concert. No matter the time of year there is always something going on.
Snowmass Village is a unique and independent town, with all the benefits of Aspen being right up the road. RFTA offers free bus service from Snowmass Village to Aspen.