18 top free things to do in Aspen

01.01.2025 - 15:13 / lonelyplanet.com

Dec 31, 2024 • 12 min read

Aspen is best known as a luxury travel destination for the rich and famous – celebrities, politicians, business tycoons and other A-listers vacation here year-round.

But if you think this mountain town is all about steep ski prices and posh pursuits, you’d be wrong. It packs a punch with budget-conscious activities too, whether its outdoor pursuits or history and art finds.  

While often compared to Vail, which is known for its centralized village and European-inspired architecture, Aspen stands apart with its small-town charm and vibrant arts and culture scene. If you’re planning an affordable trip to Aspen, bookmark this list of free things to do and discover all that the Roaring Fork Valley has to offer.

Riding a bike is one of the best ways to experience Aspen. And, thanks to Aspen’s WE-cycle bikeshare program, you can take short trips on traditional pedal bikes or electric bikes (e-bikes) for free.

WE-cycle offers free, unlimited rides of up to 30 minutes. The bike-share program is designed for short, point-to-point trips – pedaling from a restaurant on one end of town to a museum on the other, for example – but you can ride as many times as you want. (If you’re looking for a longer-term rental or a specific type of bike, there are several bike rental shops in town, too.) Many hotels also offer complimentary bikes to their guests. 

Planning tip: Be sure to familiarize yourself with the 50 WE-cycle station locations in advance, as docking your bike within 30 minutes will keep your ride free. After 30 minutes, the rate goes up to $0.50 per minute for pedal bikes and $5 per minute for e-bikes.

John Denver was one of Aspen’s best-known residents. Though the singer-songwriter famous for “Rocky Mountain High” and other folk hits died in 1997, his memory lives on through the John Denver Sanctuary, located along the banks of the Roaring Fork River in the center of Aspen.

The serene spot, situated within Rio Grande Park, features colorful perennials, grassy knolls, gurgling streams, small waterfalls and native trees and shrubs – even if you’re not a fan of Denver or his music, it’s an idyllic place to have a picnic or spend a contemplative moment watching the hummingbirds flit from flower to flower. The site’s Song Garden is home to several massive boulders with etchings of Denver’s song lyrics.

The sanctuary, which doubles as Aspen’s stormwater filtration system, is free and open to the public. And if you’re looking for other ways to celebrate Denver’s life, consider attending the John Denver Celebration, an annual, multi-day event held each October – many of the gatherings and activities are also free.

Fortune hunters struck it big when they discovered gold just below the Continental