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Aspen Buttermilk's summit reaches 9,902 feet, dropping 2,031 vertical feet to a base at 7,868 feet across 44 runs spread over 469 acres near Aspen, Colorado. Terrain splits 39 per cent intermediate, 35 per cent beginner, 21 per cent advanced and 5 per cent expert. Average annual snowfall runs to roughly 210 inches. The resort carries Ikon Pass and Mountain Collective affiliation. Four lifts, including three quad chairs and one double chair, serve the mountain alongside four surface lifts.
Buttermilk serves as the beginner-friendly counterpart within the four-mountain Aspen Skiing Company portfolio, offering considerably gentler terrain than its sister mountains, Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands and Snowmass. Its role as the host of the Winter X Games has also given Buttermilk an unexpected international profile for a mountain built primarily around learning terrain.
Friedl Pfeifer, the Austrian ski instructor and racing champion who co-founded the Aspen Skiing Company in 1946, sold his interest in the company in 1958 and turned his attention to developing Buttermilk Mountain that same year, giving Aspen its dedicated beginner-focused ski area. Buttermilk subsequently joined the broader Aspen Skiing Company portfolio alongside Aspen Mountain, Highlands and, later, Snowmass.
Aspen Skiing Company's ownership has remained with the Crown family of Illinois since the mid-1980s, following the company's 1977 sale to Twentieth Century Fox and subsequent 1985 transition. Buttermilk continues to operate as the accessible, learning-focused member of the Aspen four-mountain family. Adult daily tickets run from 189 to 259 US dollars, matching pricing across all four Aspen Skiing Company mountains.
Total Runs
44
Total Area
469 ac
189.8 ha
Aspen Buttermilk runs four lifts: one double chair and three quad chairs, serving 44 runs across 469 acres, alongside four surface lifts. This lean, learning-focused lift network reflects Buttermilk's deliberate role as the beginner-friendly member of the four-mountain Aspen Skiing Company portfolio.
The mountain's infrastructure developed following Friedl Pfeifer's 1958 decision to sell his Aspen Skiing Company interest and focus specifically on developing Buttermilk as a dedicated learning mountain, distinct in character from the steep, committed terrain of neighbouring Aspen Mountain.
The three quad chairs distribute skiers across Buttermilk's intermediate-and-beginner-weighted terrain, while the four surface lifts provide extensive dedicated learning-area access, a considerable proportion of the lift network relative to the mountain's modest scale. This configuration supports Buttermilk's role hosting the Winter X Games, requiring reliable terrain park infrastructure.
Under continued Crown family ownership of the Aspen Skiing Company, investment has supported this four-lift network as part of the broader four-mountain portfolio. Specific recent individual lift replacement projects are not confirmed in available resort information. Buttermilk's learning-focused lift configuration remains distinct among the four Aspen mountains.
Total Lifts
8
Lift Types
3
The 2025-26 season at Aspen Buttermilk ran from 14 December 2025 to 5 April 2026, a roughly sixteen-week season supported by average annual snowfall of around 210 inches. Season dates can shift depending on early and late-season weather and terrain park build schedules.
Midwinter, from December through February, typically brings the most consistent conditions to Buttermilk's beginner-and-intermediate-weighted terrain. As an Ikon Pass and Mountain Collective resort, Buttermilk draws families and beginner skiers specifically seeking gentler terrain than neighbouring Aspen Mountain, alongside visitors drawn by the mountain's Winter X Games hosting history.
Buttermilk's terrain parks and beginner-focused infrastructure continue to support strong family and learn-to-ski visitation throughout the season. School holiday periods bring substantial demand given the mountain's accessible terrain profile within the broader Aspen area. Weekend crowds draw from across the four-mountain Aspen Skiing Company visitor base.
Specific event programming beyond standard operations and the Winter X Games is not confirmed in available resort information. Under continued Crown family ownership, Buttermilk continues building on nearly seven decades of history since Friedl Pfeifer's 1958 development of the mountain. Its role as Aspen's dedicated learning mountain remains central to its seasonal identity.
Current Season
2025 - 2026
Opening Day
12/14/2025
Closing Day
4/5/2026
Days Open
113
Aspen Buttermilk sits near Aspen, Colorado, with a base elevation of 7,868 feet and a summit at 9,902 feet across a 2,031-foot vertical drop over 469 acres. This setting places Buttermilk within the broader Aspen ski area cluster alongside Aspen Mountain, Highlands and Snowmass.
Aspen itself offers extensive luxury lodging, dining and shopping within a short drive of Buttermilk, giving visitors access to the town's considerable amenities regardless of which of the four mountains they choose to ski. The broader Roaring Fork Valley surrounds the area with additional recreation.
Colorado State Highway 82 provides access to Buttermilk from Aspen and the broader region. Winter driving conditions on this route can include snow and ice, though the well-travelled highway is regularly maintained given the area's status as a major ski destination. Free shuttle services connect Buttermilk to downtown Aspen and the other three mountains.
Aspen-Pitkin County Airport, within a short drive, offers direct flights from numerous major US cities, making Buttermilk and the broader Aspen area genuinely accessible for fly-in visitors from across the country.
