Aspen Mountain (Ajax)

Aspen Mountain (sometimes called Ajax) is one of the four ski resorts that collectively make up Aspen Snowmass. Aspen Mountain Ski Resort has the longest history of the Aspen ski areas, and even though snowboarding is now permitted, Ajax still retains a culture rich in the tradition and soul of skiing.

Aspen Mountain Ski Resort looms above the mountain town of Aspen Colorado, a name that originated from the abundance of aspen trees growing in the area. Aspen was formed in the late 1800s as a silver mining camp. Whilst Aspen still retains some historic character, the town can now largely be characterized as an upscale tourist mecca and a playground for the rich and glamorous.

Pros & Cons of Aspen Mountain Ski Resort

Pros 

• If you’re staying in downtown Aspen, Aspen Mountain is the easiest of the Aspen Snowmass ski resorts to access.
• Staying in the town of Aspen is fabulous. Aspen shopping in itself is enough reason to visit Aspen, and another highlight is the Aspen restaurants and the nightlife.
• The après ski scene is pretty impressive at both the Aspen ski area and in town.
• The Aspen Mountain Ski Resort has particularly good terrain for strong intermediates.

Cons

• Aspen Mountain has no beginner terrain and only a small amount of expert terrain.
• For such a high profile ski resort that charges so much for lift passes, Ajax surprisingly has some very slow lifts.
• As with the other Aspen Snowmass ski resorts, you’ll need a healthy balance on your credit card.
• Aspen Mountain isn’t particularly family oriented.

Pro or Con Depending on Your Perspective

• If you love moguls then you’ll be in heaven at this Aspen ski area.
• It’s at a slightly lower elevation than Snowmass so the snow quality may be slightly inferior, although seaside dwellers may find it a fraction easier to breathe.

Aspen Mountain Ski and Snowboard Terrain

At 675 acres (273 hectares), Aspen Mountain is a petite ski area and only a fifth of the size of Snowmass. It has 76 trails packed into a narrow area that has a vertical drop of 3,267 ft (996m).

Aspen Mountain has no beginner runs at all and is well known for the many blue cruisers for strong intermediates, and the black diamond steeps and bumps. The terrain split is 48% intermediate, 26% advanced, and 26% expert (double black), although in reality there is only a smidgeon of gnarly terrain, so true experts may prefer to head to Snowmass or Aspen Highlands. Along a similar vein, terrain park addicts should head elsewhere.

The lift infrastructure is OK. The main lift is a gondola that ascends from the Gondola Plaza in town up to the top of the ski resort in only 14 minutes, whilst Aspen Mountain also has an express quad, an express triple, and 5 fixed grip chair lifts.

Aspen receives an average of 300 inches (7.6 metres) of snowfall per season, which is “middle of the road” for a Colorado ski resort. The quality of the powder is also typical for Colorado, towards the light end of the spectrum, but during dry spells the slopes can become pretty slick.

Aspen is certainly not a hush hush destination where powder hounds can easily find fresh powder lines at 4pm, but thankfully it’s not ridiculously crowded like many of the ski resorts near Denver that score the horrid weekend crowds.

Where is Aspen Mountain Ski Resort?

Aspen Mountain sits to the south and above the town of Aspen Colorado. The town of Aspen is 220 miles southwest of Denver International Airport. Aspen-Pitkin County Airport is another gateway airport which is about 3 miles (5km) from Aspen. See the Aspen travel page for more information.

Aspen Hotels & Lodging

Aspen is a historic ski town with a wide variety of accommodations to suit most budgets and tastes. If you want to spend a fortune on lodging in this town you certainly can, but there are also various options for those looking for moderately priced lodging. Aspen has hotels, condos, bed and breakfasts, and vacation rentals. See our Aspen hotels and lodging page for more information on where to stay.

Aspen Winter Activities

Other than skiing and snowboarding, things to do in Aspen include ice skating, paragliding, hot air ballooning, day spas, or a soak in hot springs. Other on-snow activities include snow shoeing and cross country skiing. Or powder hounds could head out cat skiing with Aspen Powder Tours for plenty of fresh lines.

Aspen is also heaven for any shop-a-holic with designer clothing shops, gift shops, and galleries. There are also plenty of Aspen ski shops and snowboard shops.

However you don’t need to partake in organized activities to make the most of Aspen. People-watching on the streets or in restaurants is amazing darhling and an activity in itself.