Colorado, Usa · Ikon / Mountain Collective
Aspen Buttermilk
469 acres, 44 runs near Aspen. Winter X Games venue, beginner-friendly terrain, Ikon Pass access.
Season 2025 - 2026
Opens
14 Dec 2025
Closes
5 Apr 2026
Days open
112
Annual snow
17ft
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
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.
2,031ft
Vertical
44
Runs
469 acres
Skiable
17ft
Annual snow
Ikon / Mountain Collective
Pass
The Terrain
44 runs across 469 acres skiable
Aspen Buttermilk spreads 44 runs across 469 acres skiable of terrain. It leans intermediate at 39%, with 15 beginner runs to find your feet and 11 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.
Terrain split
44
runs
44 runs across 4 grades
Beginner15 runs · 35%
Intermediate17 runs · 39%
Advanced9 runs · 21%
Expert2 runs · 5%
Time it right
When to visit Aspen Buttermilk
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.
Season 2025 - 2026
14 Dec 2025
Opens
5 Apr 2026
Closes
112
Days open
17 ft
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to Aspen Buttermilk, and where to stay
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.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Aspen Buttermilk, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
Maverick Mountain's Only Chairlift Destroyed as Sand Creek Fire Tears Through Montana Ski Area
Firefighters saved every base building at Maverick Mountain, Montana, but the resort's sole chairlift didn't survive the Sand Creek Fire. Owners Erik and Kristi Borge say the lift is "most likely" out for the 2026/27 season after flames tore through the mountain on August 8. The wildfire has since grown past 27,700 acres with zero percent containment. It's a gutting result for the tiny, one-lift operation near Dillon - though the lodge, groomers and equipment all made it through untouched.
15 Aug 2026
Spain Moves to Ban Smoking at Ski Resorts Under New Tobacco Law
Spain's government has approved a draft tobacco law that would ban smoking across a wide range of outdoor spaces, including sports venues - a category Spanish winter sports media expect to cover ski resorts, potentially extending to slopes and lifts themselves. The rules would also apply to e-cigarettes and vaping devices, even nicotine-free ones. The bill still has to clear the Spanish parliament before any ban, signage, or fines can take effect.
22 July 2026
South Tyrol Approves New 16-Person Ciampinoi Gondola in Val Gardena
South Tyrol has approved a full rebuild of the Ciampinoi cable car in Selva di Val Gardena, replacing the current 12-person gondola with a 16-person cabin and a new mountain-station restaurant. Capacity is capped at 3,200 people an hour rather than the 3,600 the operator wanted, and 250,000 euros must go toward compensatory measures. No construction or opening date has been set, though the upgrade is partly aimed at clearing bottlenecks before the 2031 Alpine Ski World Championships.
22 July 2026
Resort Spotlight: Hoshino Tomamu - Corporate Japan's Mountain Playground Revisited
Hoshino Tomamu is the ski resort equivalent of a conference hotel that happens to have excellent powder. Built for corporate retreats and package tourists, it offers genuine Hokkaido snow on surprisingly limited terrain - 29 runs spread across 585 vertical metres.
21 July 2026
La Thuile's New Cable Car Replaces Two Ageing Chairlifts
La Thuile is spending 38.7 million US dollars on a new 10-person cable car linking Les Suches to Chaz Dura, replacing the La Combe and Chaz Dura chairlifts after nearly forty years of service. Built by Leitner, the new cable car runs 1,950 metres to a top station at 2,576 metres, carrying up to 3,000 people an hour with a six-minute ride. It also improves the connection to La Rosiere in France via the Petit-Saint-Bernard Pass, and is on track to open for the 2026/27 season.
21 July 2026
The Remarkables Adds Scarpa Bowl to Its Inbounds Terrain
The Remarkables is adding new inbounds terrain for winter, bringing the Scarpa Bowl - known locally as the Toilet Bowl - into its lift-accessed network after years as backcountry-only ground. The roughly 500 metre run is reached by bootpacking from the top of the Sugar Bowl chairlift, with a shuttle picking skiers up from the road at the bottom. It's a smaller, faster addition than the resort's planned Doolans expansion, though the new terrain hasn't opened yet due to a lack of snow this season.
21 July 2026
Ski Portillo Cut Off After Storm Dumps More Than 4.5 Metres of Snow
Ski Portillo remains isolated after an extended storm buried the Chilean resort under more than 4.5 metres of snow, with both ground and air access suspended since Tuesday while crews monitor avalanche hazards and worsening weather. Resort officials say further snowfall is expected in the coming days and haven't set a timeline for reopening the mountain road. Once access resumes, the scale of the snowpack could set up a strong season at one of the Southern Hemisphere's most historic ski resorts.
21 July 2026
Resort Spotlight: Lotte Arai - Japan's Corporate Ski Anomaly With 22 Metres of Annual Snowfall
Lotte Arai receives 22 metres of annual snowfall - exceptional even by Japanese standards - but its corporate ownership model and limited terrain create an unusual cost-benefit equation. Here's what the numbers actually mean on the ground.
19 July 2026
Lift tickets
Ikon / Mountain Collective10 pass options
Single-day passes
Adult 18–64
Adult Daily Ticket
US$189up to US$259 peak
Full-day access to all four Aspen Snowmass mountains including Buttermilk, home of the Winter X Games. Experience world-class terrain parks, beginner-friendly slopes, and access to Aspen Mountain, Highlands, and Snowmass.
Buy passYouth 13–17
Teen Daily Ticket
US$169up to US$219 peak
Discounted access for teens to all four Aspen Snowmass mountains. Enjoy Buttermilk's renowned terrain parks, X Games venues, and beginner-friendly terrain plus three other world-class mountains.
Buy passChild 7–12
Child Daily Ticket
US$169up to US$219 peak
Child-friendly lift tickets for Aspen Snowmass's four mountains. Buttermilk offers excellent learning terrain and ski school programs, plus access to Aspen's legendary skiing.
Buy passSenior 65–99
Senior Daily Ticket
US$169up to US$219 peak
Senior discounted daily lift access to all four Aspen Snowmass mountains. Enjoy Buttermilk's gentle terrain and three other world-class Colorado ski areas.
Buy passChild 0–6
Kids 6 & Under Free
Free
Complimentary lift access for children 6 and under at all four Aspen Snowmass mountains. Free skiing with proof of age at Buttermilk and Aspen's world-class terrain.
Buy passAdult 18–64
Military Daily Ticket
US$142up to US$194 peak
25% discount for active duty, retired military and dependents at all Aspen Snowmass mountains. Must present valid military ID at ticket office.
Buy passMulti-day passes
Adult 18–64
4-Day Lift Ticket
US$676up to US$916 peak
Four-day access to all Aspen Snowmass mountains with significant per-day savings. Valid for 10 days from start date, perfect for Aspen ski vacations.
Buy passAdult 18–64
7-Day Lift Ticket
US$1,183up to US$1,603 peak
Seven-day access to all Aspen Snowmass mountains including Buttermilk's X Games terrain. Maximum savings for extended Aspen ski vacations.
Buy passSeason passes
Adult 18–64
Ikon Pass Access
US$1,009up to US$1,109 peak
Aspen Snowmass is included with Ikon Pass providing 7 days of access to all four mountains including Buttermilk. Reservations required, includes 70+ destinations worldwide.
Buy passAdult 18–64
Mountain Collective Access
US$579up to US$649 peak
Mountain Collective Pass provides 2 days at Aspen Snowmass including Buttermilk, with 50% off additional days. No blackout dates at 23 destinations worldwide.
Buy passAspen Buttermilk lift tickets & passes
The 2025 - 2026 season at Aspen Buttermilk closed on Apr 5, 2026. Check back for next season's opening date and ticket pricing.
Day passes start from US$142, with peak rates up to US$259.
Lift tickets FAQ
How much does a Aspen Buttermilk day pass cost?
Aspen Buttermilk day passes range from US$142 to US$259 depending on the date and advance booking.
Can I buy Aspen Buttermilk lift tickets online?
Yes, you can purchase tickets directly from the resort website or at the resort ticket office.
Are there discounts for multi-day passes?
Yes, multi-day packages typically offer significant savings compared to individual day passes. The per-day cost decreases with longer stays.
What is included with a Aspen Buttermilk lift ticket?
Full access to all lifts and trails at Aspen Buttermilk, including mountain safety and patrol services.
What is the difference between Aspen Buttermilk lift tickets and ski passes?
"Lift tickets" and "ski passes" refer to the same thing at Aspen Buttermilk - your access to the mountain's lifts and trails for your chosen duration.
When should I buy Aspen Buttermilk lift tickets for the best price?
Purchase tickets at least 7 days in advance for the best rates, and consider weekday visits for further savings over weekend rates.
Does Aspen Buttermilk offer group discounts on lift tickets?
Group discounts are typically available for parties of 10 or more. Contact Aspen Buttermilk directly for group booking information and rates.
How can I check current conditions before buying tickets?
Before purchasing, check the live snow report and mountain webcams to see current weather, snow conditions, and lift operations at Aspen Buttermilk.
More Aspen Buttermilk intelligence: snow report, webcams, resort overview.