Snowmass ski holidays
Established in 1945 the American ski resort Snowmass lies at 2473 metres altitude in the Colorado region of the American Rockies. With the highest lifts and ski slopes at 3813m the area is snow sure. Over ? snow cannons ensure artificial snow making covers ?km of trails, which equates to around 5 of the slopes. The nearest airport transfer to Snowmass is Denver at a distance of 354km or approximately ? minutes driving time. Their season runs from November to April.
SNO-man says
Located 12 miles (18km) from Aspen and sharing its lift pass, Snowmass offers 95% ski-in lodging and free postcards and stamps to anyone wanting to write home about their experiences on North America's longest half-pipe. In 1997 the installation of a high altitude surface lift to access the powder filled bowls of the Cirque, previously only available with the aid of a snowcat or a hike, gave it the highest lift in the USA and the biggest lift-served skiable vertical in the country (taken from Big Sky Montana). The lift operates 60 - 75 days of the year accessing terrain suited to intermediates or experts. The idea of the limited access is to prevent over-exploitation of the terrain and a surface lift can operate in the windy conditions that are sometimes present and which could stop a chair.
Alpine Downhill Runs
Beginner Trails
 ? runs ?km |
?% |
Intermediate Trails
 ? runs ?km |
?% |
Advanced Trails
 ? runs ?km |
?% |
Expert Trails
 ? runs ?km |
?% |
Resort and Holiday Stats
| Beginners |  |
| Intermediate | |
| Advanced/Expert | |
| Snowboarders | |
| Apres Ski | |
| Family/child Friendly | |
| Snow-Sure | |
| Ambience | |
| Value for money | |
| Lift Pass Prices (adult 6 day) | $? - $587 |
Traditional Ski Village / Purpose Built Ski Resort |
| Resort Opens | Nov 2013 |
| Resort Closes | Apr 2014 |
| (snow conditions often influence opening/closing) |
Mountain and Slopes
| Downhill Runs | 237km |
| total length of Snowmass trails |
| Longest Lift-Served Run | 8.5km |
| longest piste or trail reachable by lift |
| Slope Orientation | N, S, E, W |
| direction Snowmass area faces |
| Top Altitude | 3813m |
| top station of highest lift |
| Bottom Altitude | 2473m |
| bottom of lowest run |
| Resort Altitude | 2473m |
| centre of Snowmass ski resort |
| Vertical Drop | 1343m |
| total descent from top lift to bottom piste |
| Skiable Vertical | ^v 1343m |
| can include extra hike up above top lift |
Skiing in Snowmass
91 pistes and trails means approximately 237km of runs. 24 Snowmass lifts have capacity to transport 34497 per hour. The longest run in the American ski resort is over 8.5km.
The mountain has ?% beginner runs or nursery slopes, ?% intermediate, ?% advanced slopes and ?% for experts - the most difficult piste is the ?km Gowdy’s and AMF run, with a steepness/slope angle of 40%. There is no night skiing.
Rating for skiing gets 3 stars out of 5 overall
Snowmass Apres Ski
Off-Slope activities include:
20 apres ski bars 10 restaurants 0 bowling 0 night club 0 cinema 1 billiards / pool 0 games room 1 concert 0 indoor swimming 0 outdoor heated pools 0 saunas 0 hot tubs 0 solariums 0 masseurs 0 indoor ice skating 0 outdoor ice skating 0 indoor sports centre 0 indoor tennis 0 squash racquetball 1 sleigh rides 1 ballooning 0 horse riding 0 prepare winter walks 0 climbing 1 golf 0 fishing 0 museum 0 library Plus these additional apres ski facilities Art Galleries (45), Back Country Skiing, Ballooning, Concerts, Curling, Nature Tours, Silver Mine Tours by Underground Train, Snowcat Tours, Speed Skiing, Theatre (3) , Wildlife Interpretive Center, (Facilities such as Indoor Swimming Pools in many Hotel.
SNO-man says
Besides the on-mountain favourites of skiing and snowboarding, there are numerous high-altitude activities offering guests an opportunity for 24 hours of fun. Ranging from guided naturalist/snowshoe tours and cross-country skiing to biathlon and sledding there is always plenty to fill the 17 hours until the lifts re-open.
The naturalist guided tour provides a general overview of the wildlife including some animal tracks spotting and discussions on winter habitat and diet while the 2-hour snowshoe tour not only helps improve fitness and allows time for some leisurely sightseeing, it will also give an insight into the mountain ecology and loca flora and fauna.
Aspen Snowmass maintains the largest system of free, groomed nordic trails in North America with trails ranging in difficulty from beginner to expert. The groomed trails at the Snowmass Cross Country Centre connect into this vast system. The Centre also has this area's only biathlon range. Combining the skills of marksmanship and cross-country skiing the range is open to beginners and experienced biathletes. Children should be at least 7 years old and under 18's should be accompanied by an adult.
For added convenience guests may trade a day of their Aspen/Snowmass lift pass for a day at the Snowmass Cross Country Centre. An unforgettable Aspen adventure would be a sleigh ride which could be either horse or dog powered. Sleigh rides take you into the Maroon Bells wilderness area - widely regarded as the most photographed peaks in North America. Dog sledding is a 2-hour trip which includes a complimentary 4-course lunch. Horse drawn carriage rides are also available through downtown Aspen.
The more adventurous can try a tandem paragliding trip on Aspen Mountain, no experience is necessary.
Rating for apres ski gets 3 stars out of 5 overall
"Snowmass" by any other name
The American resort is also known as Snowmass Aspen, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk, Snowmass, Tiehack and has common misspellings:
The direction which the various Snowmass slopes face can make or break your ski holiday. To guarantee good snow conditions, choose a resort with piste which face the right way for the time of year you're travelling.
- In the coldest winter months of January and February pick a resort with sunny south facing slopes, so your days on the snow doesn't feel like a polar expedition. Conversely, in the warmest spring skiing months of March and especially April, a resort with cool and shady north facing trails will ensure you're not riding on slush, but benefitting from best late season snow. The best destinations have areas which face in all directions so that you're guaranteed greating conditions whatever the weather. Snowmass has slopes facing N, S, E, W.
Rating for snow gets 4 stars out of 5 overall
Snowmass reviews, 4.3 star rating and information is collated by SNO man from staff experience and customer feedback.