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Aspen Highlands' summit reaches 11,675 feet, dropping 3,638 vertical feet to a base at 8,038 feet across 144 runs spread over 1,040 acres near Aspen, Colorado. Terrain splits 65 per cent expert, 23 per cent intermediate and 12 per cent advanced, with no beginner-rated runs. Average annual snowfall runs to roughly 240 inches. The resort carries Ikon Pass and Mountain Collective affiliation. Five lifts, including three quad chairs and two double chairs, serve the mountain.
Aspen Highlands is best known for Highland Bowl, a legendary hike-to expert zone that has become one of the most celebrated pieces of extreme terrain anywhere in North America. With 65 per cent of its runs rated expert, Highlands carries the most demanding terrain profile among the four Aspen Skiing Company mountains.
Colorado Ski Hall of Famer Whip Jones founded Aspen Highlands in 1958, developing it as an independent mountain distinct from the Aspen Skiing Company's original Aspen Mountain operation. The Aspen Skiing Company eventually assumed ownership and operation of Highlands in 1993, bringing the mountain into the same four-peak portfolio as Aspen Mountain, Buttermilk and Snowmass.
Under Aspen Skiing Company ownership, now held by the Crown family of Illinois, Highland Bowl received significant lift-served access development, transforming what was once purely hike-to terrain into a considerably more accessible, though still genuinely demanding, expert zone. Adult daily tickets run from 189 to 259 US dollars, with a dedicated Highland Bowl access ticket available.
Total Runs
144
Total Area
1040 ac
420.9 ha
Aspen Highlands runs five lifts: two double chairs and three quad chairs, serving 144 runs across 1,040 acres, with the resort's legendary Highland Bowl reached via a combination of lift access and hiking. This lift network supports one of the most expert-heavy terrain profiles of any major American ski resort.
The mountain's infrastructure developed independently under founder Whip Jones from 1958 before the Aspen Skiing Company assumed ownership and operation in 1993, bringing Highlands into the same four-mountain portfolio as Aspen Mountain, Buttermilk and Snowmass.
The quad chairs carry skiers toward the upper mountain and the approach to Highland Bowl, where a further hike is required to access the bowl's considerable expert terrain, a genuinely demanding combination that has built Highlands' reputation among serious skiers. The double chairs serve the mountain's more moderate intermediate and advanced terrain lower down.
Under continued Crown family ownership of the Aspen Skiing Company, investment has supported this five-lift network and the associated Highland Bowl access infrastructure. Specific recent individual lift replacement projects are not confirmed in available resort information. Highland Bowl's combination of lift access and hike-to terrain remains a defining feature of Highlands' identity.
Total Lifts
5
Lift Types
2
The 2025-26 season at Aspen Highlands ran from 14 December 2025 to 29 March 2026, a roughly fifteen-week season supported by average annual snowfall of around 240 inches. Season dates can shift depending on early and late-season weather and Highland Bowl's typically later seasonal opening.
Midwinter, from December through February, typically brings the most consistent conditions to Highlands' heavily expert-weighted terrain. As an Ikon Pass and Mountain Collective resort, Highlands draws serious, experienced skiers specifically seeking Highland Bowl and the mountain's demanding overall terrain profile, distinct from the more beginner-friendly Aspen mountains.
Highland Bowl access typically depends on favourable avalanche conditions and seasonal timing, meaning the bowl's opening can vary considerably within a given winter. School holiday periods bring some visitation, though the resort's overwhelmingly expert-weighted terrain keeps its visitor base skewed toward experienced skiers throughout the season.
Specific event programming beyond standard operations is not confirmed in available resort information. Under continued Crown family ownership since the Aspen Skiing Company assumed operation in 1993, Highlands continues building on more than six decades of history since Whip Jones' 1958 founding. Highland Bowl's legendary status remains central to the mountain's seasonal identity.
Current Season
2025 - 2026
Opening Day
12/14/2025
Closing Day
3/29/2026
Days Open
106
Aspen Highlands sits near Aspen, Colorado, with a base elevation of 8,038 feet and a summit at 11,675 feet across a 3,638-foot vertical drop over 1,040 acres. This setting places Highlands within the broader Aspen ski area cluster, offering spectacular views toward the Maroon Bells.
Aspen itself offers extensive luxury lodging, dining and shopping within a short drive of Highlands, giving visitors access to the town's considerable amenities. The broader Roaring Fork Valley surrounds the area with additional recreation and some of Colorado's most photographed mountain scenery.
Colorado State Highway 82 provides access to Highlands 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 Highlands 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 Highlands and the broader Aspen area genuinely accessible for fly-in visitors seeking the mountain's legendary expert terrain.
