Snow Skiing, Cross Country Skiing and Snow Board at Aspen Highland Snow Ski Resort, Colorado


Skiable area	619 acres	Beginner slopes	20
Elevation	11,675	Intermediate slopes	33
Peak	11,675	Advanced slopes	0
Mid	9,858	Expert slopes	47
Base	7,871	Longest run	3.73 miles
Verticle drop	3,635	Ski trails	81
		Cross country	Available
		Snowboarding trails	75

Annual snowfall	300 inches	Total lifts	4
Snow making	Yes	Rope tows/T-Bars	0/0
		Double chairs	0
		Triple chairs	1
Handicap access	Yes	Quad chairs	0
Night skiing	No	High speed quad	3
		Trams	0
		Gondolas	0

Snowboard Notes:

Skiers are also permitted in the Terrain Park(s).

There are 20 snowboard shop(s) within 10 miles. Clinics are available. Snowboard clinics offered 7 day(s) per week, 2 time(s) per day.

More steeps, trees, catwalk launchers and lines so tight no skier would dare follow are at the Highlands. Prospector Trail is known locally as Grommets Gulch, and is a natural half pipe packed with hits. Highlands also hosts a multitude of scary steep pitches, including the newly opened Y Zones. Those willing to hike the ridge are rewarded with more than a hundred turns in the heart of the infamous Highland Bowl. Riders who are not afraid to hike, yet thrive on jump turns that drop five feet at a time, will become instant addicts to the wide-open and exposed Highland Bowl terrain.

Ski School Notes

Free, groomed track skiing through beautiful meadows and valleys is available. Instruction, rental and retail shops are located at the Aspen Cross Country Center, which can be reached at (970) 925-2145, and the Snowmass Lodge & Club Cross Country Touring Center at (970) 923-3148.

Privately-owned Ashcroft Ski Touring is 12 miles from Aspen and offers 18 miles of groomed trails. Rentals and instructors available. Call (970) 925-1971 for more information.

Getting There

Aspen's Sardy Field Airport is only 3 miles from Aspen Mountain on US Hwy 82. There are up to 16 daily flights out of Denver International Airport to the ski resort on United Express.

Aspen is 200 miles west of Denver via I-70 to Glenwood Springs, then Highway 82 south to Aspen. Aspen Highlands is three miles outside the town of Aspen, next door to Buttermilk and on the road towards Snowmass.

Area Information

Ski Review - by John Hulettt

Parking is free if you have three in the car. After parking, we rode an escalator up to the main village with minimal walking. We were there on a powder day and the brick pavers were steaming with a heating system to save on shoveling. The village built by Hines for Aspen Ski Co resembles Whistler with the three and four story buildings that have condo's above and retail shops for window shopping on the lower level. The high priced tickets were available at the top of the escalators. Buying discount tickets previous to arrival would be recommended. On the Saturday we skied there were no lines. The high speed detachable quads run the length of the ridge. From the top of the 1st quad, we skied a short distance to catch a ride to the top.

Getting down is limited to moderate groomed runs that follow the lifts up the gentle slope of the ridge, or from the top dropping off the East or West facing down steeper terrain to roads that are long and flat to gain midway lifts. The West exposure provided the softer snow and was preferred on the day we skied. Hikes from the top provide better terrain for those willing to limit the vertical feet skied in a day. We skied some cool tree lines on the West face with round fall away bumps. Lower Stein which is skiers left just above the base area was fun although it is short.

In summary, Aspen Highlands has excellent lifts that are located for the intermediate skiers. The East and West face expert terrain is good for only about 800 vertical feet before having to ride the road back around to the ridge. It would be a better mountain for the expert skiers if their was a lift on the East and West face for those that ski more than a week or two a season.

Aspen Highlands, located three miles outside the town of Aspen, has long been known for its stunning views, 3,635-foot vertical rise and terrain for all the tastes. They have uncrowded terrain appropriate for any level, including more green and blue terrain than black and double-black-diamond terrain. The mountain is actually a long ridgeline, ascending between the Castle Creek and Maroon Creek valleys. Its famous steeps drop off the sides of the ridge toward the valleys far bellow. And beginners and intermediates delight in the long, rolling cruisers that cascade along the ridge itself. New for the 1998/99 season is a triple chair lift from the base village to the top of Golden Horn. The Aspen Highlands Village is underway, a new Boardercross course is located on Heatherbedlam trail, the terrain park moved to Gunbarrel, and an on-mountain restaurant is now located at Cloud Nine. Additional gladed, expert terrain is also being added. With Snowmass, Aspen Mountain and Buttermilk close by there is variety for everyone.

While best known as the locals' favorite among the four Aspen ski areas for advanced and expert skiers and riders, Aspen Highlands actually has more green and blue terrain than black and double black diamonds. Relaxed and gentle Buttermilk is just across the street as well so it is easy to please groups of mixed abilities at Highlands.

Aspen Highlands is actually a long ridgeline, ascending between the Castle Creek and Maroon Creek valleys. Its steeps drop off the sides of the ridge toward the valleys below. Beginners and intermediates can enjoy the long, rolling trails that run along the ridge itself.

With an Aspen area lift ticket, skiers and riders can hit the slopes of Highlands as well as choose from Aspen Mountain, Buttermilk and the big daddy, Snowmass. Just three miles from the center of Aspen town, Highlands is a must for anyone who wants to enjoy the complete Aspen experience.

Aspen Highlands Ski Area was started by Whipple "Whip" Jones. Jones was originally from St. Louis, graduated from Harvard and went on to become a successful member of the New York Stock Exchange. When he began designing the ski area, he turned to local experts Dick Durrance, then general manager of Aspen Mountain; Pete Seibert, a former Aspen Mountain patroller and later founder of Vail; and the world-famous Stein Erickson. Aspen architect Fritz Benedict designed the base lodge, still in use today, around a series of A-frames.

Highlands opened in November 1958 with a rope tow, two chair lifts and a display of aerial back flips by Stein Erickson. More lifts were added, gradually working their way up the mountain, and the majority of terrain that is open today was being skied by 1970.

In 1993, Whip Jones donated Highlands to Harvard University. Developer Gerald Hines bought the ski area and merged it with Aspen Skiing Company. The next season, two new high-speed quads were installed, allowing skiers and snowboarders the ability to go from the base area to the top of Loge Peak in under 20 minutes. In addition to the new lifts, about 75 acres of expert-only tree skiing were also opened. This new terrain added to Highland's reputation as a place where strong skiers and riders can challenge themselves on steep, uncrowded trails.