Feb 2, 2025 • 8 min read
16.01.2025 - 11:11 / insider.com / Winter Park / Aspen Snowmass / Aspen Mountain
It's hard to pinpoint what makes Colorado's ski town Snowmass stand out.
I could argue that it's the mountain itself. As one of the state's largest ski mountains, people spend entire days on the slopes, hitting every type of terrain and avoiding a single crowd.
I could say it's the community. It's impossible to avoid a friendly conversation with your waiter or the couple sitting next to you sipping après margaritas.
Maybe it's the town's casual nature. Sure, Snowmass has high-end restaurants and luxury lodges, but no one bats an eye if you eat $88 sashimi in Crocs and sweatpants.
Sara Stookey Sanchez, Snowmass' public relations manager, told me that it boils down to a "vibe."
"What I think makes us so special, and it's truly a terrible answer, but it's a vibe," she said. "The community lives and breathes Snowmass."
With Snowmass sitting just 15 minutes from Aspen, the town is rarely mentioned without reference to its glitzy neighbor. But after spending three days in Snowmass, I discovered what Stookey Sanchez meant.
Although both towns have their appeal, I'll stick to Snowmass for future ski trips.
Colorado is dotted with ski towns, and over the past four winters, I've checked more than a dozen off my list.
I've headed to Vail, where I felt transported to Europe. As a snowboarder living in Denver, Winter Park and Breckenridge have become favorites thanks to their proximity to the city. During my first Colorado winter, I spent three nights exploring Aspen while keeping my eyes peeled for celebrities.
Each destination has its highlights, but in terms of the actual mountain, Snowmass stands out.
Snowmass is one of the four mountains that make up the Aspen Snowmass Ski Resort. The other three include Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, and Buttermilk.
Snowmass was ideal for me, an intermediate snowboader. There was plenty of terrain to explore, and for a full day, I rarely lapped a ski run. Instead, I breezed through empty lift lines and carved fresh tracks across the mountain.
Plus, the mountain seemed suited for all levels of experience. There are terrain parks, bunny hills, and plenty of black runs.
Meanwhile, I couldn't even snowboard during my trip to Aspen. While Aspen is known as a popular ski town, Aspen Mountain's terrain is limited to intermediate and expert skiers who can get down steep runs. When I visited a few years ago, I wasn't comfortable on the mountain. Even today, I'm sure I could get down the mountain, but I'm not sure I'd enjoy it.
During my three-day stay, I heard this from others. Skiers and snowboarders raved about Snowmass, and plenty mentioned that although they stayed in Aspen, they were coming to Snowmass every day to ski.
The town of Snowmass is split into two areas: Snowmass
Feb 2, 2025 • 8 min read
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