Colorado, Usa · Ikon / Mountain Collective
Aspen Highlands
1,040 acres, 144 runs near Aspen. Legendary Highland Bowl, expert terrain, Ikon Pass access.
Season 2025 - 2026
Opens
14 Dec 2025
Closes
29 Mar 2026
Days open
105
Annual snow
20ft
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
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.
3,638ft
Vertical
144
Runs
1,040 acres
Skiable
20ft
Annual snow
Ikon / Mountain Collective
Pass
The Terrain
144 runs across 1,040 acres skiable
Aspen Highlands spreads 144 runs across 1,040 acres skiable of terrain. It leans expert at 65%, with 111 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.
Terrain split
144
runs
144 runs across 4 grades
Beginner0 runs · 0%
Intermediate33 runs · 23%
Advanced17 runs · 12%
Expert94 runs · 65%
Time it right
When to visit Aspen Highlands
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.
Season 2025 - 2026
14 Dec 2025
Opens
29 Mar 2026
Closes
105
Days open
20 ft
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to Aspen Highlands, and where to stay
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.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Aspen Highlands, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
Sundance Mountain Resort Is Getting a New High-Speed Quad and More Back Mountain Terrain This Winter
Sundance Mountain Resort's back mountain is finally getting a proper lift. The Electric Horseman Express opens for 2026-27, unlocking a new bowl next to Bishop's Bowl and three expert gladed chutes across roughly 105 fresh acres - on top of the Storyteller ridge run that debuted in preview form last season. It's Sundance's biggest expansion since 1985, and it turns a three-lift slog into a single six-minute ride to Bearclaw Summit.
19 Aug 2026
Nassfeld Invests €13 Million in New 6-Seater Chairlift for 2026/27 Season
Nassfeld is putting €13 million into a new 6-seater chairlift, the Tressdorfer Almbahn, connecting Sonnleitn with the Tressdorfer Alm from December 2026. It replaces three ageing drag lifts and will run through summer too, from June 2027, moving up to 2,500 people an hour on the roughly three-minute ride. It's the latest step in Carinthia's largest ski resort building out a genuine year-round offering, following last year's Gartnerkofelbahn gondola.
17 Aug 2026
Stelvio Glacier Suspends Summer Skiing, Leaving Continental Europe Without a Lift-Served Slope
Italy's Stelvio Glacier has pulled the plug on summer skiing from August 15. It was the last lift-served ski option left standing in continental Europe, and now there's none. Operator SIFAS pointed to persistent heat, storms, and a snowpack that simply wasn't refreezing overnight anymore. The cable car keeps running. Whether skiing comes back later this summer depends on the weather turning - and right now, nobody's promising anything.
15 Aug 2026
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
Fairmont Niseko: New Luxury Resort Revives Stalled La Plume Site for Early 2028 Opening
Fairmont is bringing its second Japanese property to Niseko, and this one's got history. The 165-room resort will rise on the site of the stalled La Plume project, which collapsed into bankruptcy in 2025 before J-Will Partners bought the site for redevelopment. Set between Mount Yotei and Mount Annupuri, it's slated for an early 2028 opening - putting it in play for the 2027/28 season. Expect two restaurants, a spa, onsen bathing, and a kids' club, a short drive from Niseko Village and Hirafu.
12 Aug 2026
Saas-Fee Closes Its Glacier to Summer Skiing as Heat Wave Drags On
Saas-Fee is closing its glacier to summer skiing from Monday, August 10 - the second major Swiss resort to shut in under two weeks after Zermatt suspended operations on August 1. Persistent heat and warm nights that won't let the glacier refreeze are behind the call, per Saastal Bergbahnen. That leaves Italy's Stelvio as the only glacier ski area open in the Alps. Reopening could come as early as August 17, though nothing's confirmed - and racing teams are already looking south instead.
8 Aug 2026
Silvretta Montafon Plans New 10-Person Gondola to Replace Ageing Hochjoch Lift
Silvretta Montafon wants to retire one of its most distinctive lifts. The plan: a single 10-person gondola running direct from Schruns to 1,870 metres, replacing both the two-stage Hochjoch cable car and the 1985 Kropfen chairlift in one move. Capacity jumps from 620 to 3,000 people an hour, and the mid-station transfer disappears entirely. The public hearing lands August 27, 2026 - construction hasn't been confirmed yet, though lift databases are pointing to 2027.
5 Aug 2026
Ski Pass on Your Smartphone: Dolomiti Superski's Plans for the Next Three Years
Dolomiti Superski's general assembly has unanimously re-elected Andy Varallo for a third consecutive term, running through 2029. Alongside the leadership renewal comes a bigger shift: a Smartpass that puts your ski pass on your smartphone, more AI in guest services, and an expanded Dolomiti Supersummer program. The 46-year-old Alta Badia cable car entrepreneur says the region's marketing is moving beyond skiing alone, toward positioning the Dolomites as a year-round destination.
4 Aug 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 Aspen Highlands and the legendary Highland Bowl. Experience expert terrain, bowl skiing, and access to three other world-class mountains.
Buy passYouth 13–17
Teen Daily Ticket
US$169up to US$219 peak
Discounted access for teens to all four Aspen Snowmass mountains. Enjoy Aspen Highlands' challenging terrain and the famous Highland Bowl plus three other mountains.
Buy passChild 7–12
Child Daily Ticket
US$169up to US$219 peak
Child lift tickets for Aspen Snowmass's four mountains. While Highlands offers expert terrain, families enjoy access to beginner areas and four diverse mountains.
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 Aspen Highlands' legendary terrain and three other world-class 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 Highlands and Aspen's premier terrain.
Buy passAdult 18–64
Highland Bowl Hiking Pass
US$189up to US$259 peak
Special access to Aspen Highlands' legendary Highland Bowl requiring a 45-minute hike. Includes full mountain access plus the iconic bowl skiing experience.
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 for Highland Bowl access.
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 including Highland Bowl access. Valid for 10 days from start date with significant per-day savings.
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 Highlands Bowl. 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 Highland Bowl access, with 50% off additional days. No blackout dates at 23 destinations worldwide.
Buy passAspen Highlands lift tickets & passes
The 2025 - 2026 season at Aspen Highlands closed on Mar 29, 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 Highlands day pass cost?
Aspen Highlands day passes range from US$142 to US$259 depending on the date and advance booking.
Can I buy Aspen Highlands 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 Highlands lift ticket?
Full access to all lifts and trails at Aspen Highlands, including mountain safety and patrol services.
What is the difference between Aspen Highlands lift tickets and ski passes?
"Lift tickets" and "ski passes" refer to the same thing at Aspen Highlands - your access to the mountain's lifts and trails for your chosen duration.
When should I buy Aspen Highlands 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 Highlands offer group discounts on lift tickets?
Group discounts are typically available for parties of 10 or more. Contact Aspen Highlands 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 Highlands.
More Aspen Highlands intelligence: snow report, webcams, resort overview.