The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Aspen Snowmass's summit reaches 12,510 feet, dropping 4,393 vertical feet to a base at 8,117 feet across 98 runs spread over 3,342 acres near Aspen, Colorado. Terrain splits 48 per cent intermediate, 30 per cent expert, 17 per cent advanced and 5 per cent beginner. Average annual snowfall runs to roughly 230 inches. The resort carries Ikon Pass and Mountain Collective affiliation. Twenty lifts, including ten quad chairs and one six-person chair, serve the mountain alongside one double chair, two gondolas, four surface lifts and two t-bars.
Snowmass is the largest of the four mountains within the Aspen Skiing Company portfolio by a considerable margin, and its scale and terrain variety have made it a genuine family and destination-skiing counterpart to the more specialised Aspen Mountain and Highlands. Its considerable 4,393-foot vertical drop ranks among the largest of any American ski resort.
The Aspen Skiing Company, founded in 1946 by Friedl Pfeifer, Walter Paepcke and their partners, opened Snowmass, then known as the Snowmass-at-Aspen Ski Area, in 1967, more than two decades after the company's original Aspen Mountain operation. This later development gave the company a considerably larger, more varied fourth mountain to complement its original downtown-adjacent terrain.
Aspen Skiing Company ownership has remained with the Crown family of Illinois since the mid-1980s, following the company's 1977 sale to Twentieth Century Fox. Snowmass continues to anchor the broader Aspen Skiing Company portfolio as its largest and most family-oriented mountain. Adult daily tickets run from 189 to 259 US dollars.
4,393ft
Vertical
98
Runs
3,342 acres
Skiable
19ft
Annual snow
Ikon / Mountain Collective
Pass
The Terrain
98 runs across 3,342 acres skiable
Aspen Snowmass spreads 98 runs across 3,342 acres skiable of terrain. It leans intermediate at 48%, with 5 beginner runs to find your feet and 46 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.
Terrain split
98
runs
98 runs across 4 grades
Beginner5 runs · 5%
Intermediate47 runs · 48%
Advanced17 runs · 17%
Expert29 runs · 30%
Time it right
When to visit Aspen Snowmass
The 2025-26 season at Aspen Snowmass ran from 28 November 2025 to 5 April 2026, a roughly nineteen-week season supported by average annual snowfall of around 230 inches. Season dates can shift depending on early and late-season weather.
Midwinter, from December through February, typically brings the most consistent conditions across Snowmass's varied terrain and considerable 4,393-foot vertical drop. As an Ikon Pass and Mountain Collective resort, Snowmass draws substantial family and destination visitation, distinct from the more specialised, expert-focused character of sister mountains Aspen Mountain and Highlands.
Snowmass's considerable scale and variety continue to support strong visitor capacity during peak weekend and holiday periods, aided by extensive on-mountain village amenities. School holiday periods bring substantial family visitation given the resort's varied terrain across beginner through expert skiing and considerable base area infrastructure.
Specific event programming beyond standard operations is not confirmed in available resort information. Under continued Crown family ownership of the Aspen Skiing Company, Snowmass continues building on nearly six decades of history since its 1967 opening. The mountain's considerable scale and family-oriented character remain central to its role within the broader Aspen Skiing Company portfolio.
Season 2025 - 2026
28 Nov 2025
Opens
5 Apr 2026
Closes
128
Days open
19 ft
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to Aspen Snowmass, and where to stay
Aspen Snowmass sits near Aspen, Colorado, with a base elevation of 8,117 feet and a summit at 12,510 feet across a 4,393-foot vertical drop over 3,342 acres. This setting places Snowmass within the broader Aspen ski area cluster, though with its own dedicated village and base area.
Snowmass Village provides substantial on-site lodging, dining and shopping directly at the mountain's base, giving Snowmass a genuinely self-contained destination-resort character distinct from the other three Aspen mountains. Aspen itself lies within a reasonable drive, offering additional amenities.
Colorado State Highway 82 provides access to Snowmass Village 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 Snowmass 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 Snowmass and the broader Aspen area genuinely accessible for fly-in visitors from across the country and internationally.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Aspen Snowmass, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
FIS Weighs Holding World Championships in Almost Every Winter, Starting 2032
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation is looking at a major shake-up to its title events calendar. From 2032, World Championships could run not just in odd-numbered years but in every non-Olympic winter too, effectively putting a global title event on the calendar almost every season. The FIS Council has approved the concept following a feasibility study, though an accelerated rollout as early as 2028 is also under consideration.
4 Sept 2026
Mount Buller Becomes Latest Australian Resort to Call Time Early on 2026
Mount Buller closes out its 2026 season this Sunday, joining Falls Creek, Hotham and Charlotte Pass in a cluster of closures landing almost simultaneously and roughly a month ahead of schedule. The culprit is stark: Spencers Creek's benchmark snow depth hit 31.2cm on 3 September, just 18% of the 73-year average and an all-time low for this point in the season. Six of Victoria and NSW's best-known resorts will have shut their lifts early within a span of about two and a half weeks.
4 Sept 2026
Tremblant to Add New Timber Summit Ski Sector for 2027/28 Season
Tremblant has confirmed a major expansion of its Quebec ski area, with a new Timber Summit sector adding 62 acres of terrain, eight trails and a high-speed quad chairlift for winter 2027/28. It's part of a CAD 42.5 million investment that also includes a new beginner learning zone at Versant Soleil opening this coming season. The project has grown considerably since it was first announced back in 2020, when it carried a far smaller budget and an opening date that never eventuated.
2 Sept 2026
Mount Hotham to Close for the 2026 Season on Sunday, September 6
We knew when the Bird Bath Pond Skim showed up on Hotham's Instagram that the season was on its way out. It's been a rough one - I only managed two days on snow all year, at Falls Creek - and now Baw Baw, Selwyn and Hotham have all called it, possibly the worst Australian season I've seen in a decade. Hotham's last day of lift operations is Sunday, 6 September, with a Retro Day, Father's Day après and closing sales before the lifts stop turning for good.
1 Sept 2026
Thredbo to Replace Ageing Gunbarrel Quad With New Six-Seat Chairlift for 2028
Thredbo Alpine Resort has confirmed plans to replace its 37-year-old Gunbarrel quad chairlift with a new six-seat Doppelmayr D-Line, targeting winter 2028. The AUD 35 million project will keep travel time roughly the same but lift capacity from 2,800 to 3,000 skiers per hour. It's part of a broader investment push that also includes doubled snowmaking capacity at Friday Flat for 2027, with the ageing Kosciuszko Express now flagged as the resort's next major lift replacement after Gunbarrel.
31 Aug 2026
Aerial Tram Collides With Crane at Alpe d'Huez: 23 Injured
An aerial tram carrying around fifty passengers struck the boom of a construction crane on the route to Pic Blanc at Alpe d'Huez on Wednesday morning, injuring 23 people, three seriously. The cabin tipped on impact before the operator reversed it to right the car. Most of the injured were treated on site, with five taken to hospital in Grenoble, including a pregnant woman assessed as a precaution.
28 Aug 2026
Why Glaciers Are Collapsing - And What Happens When They Do
A deadly flood on the Nepal-China border, a decade-old tragedy on Italy's Marmolada, and an unstable glacier right now above a village near Zermatt - three very different mountain ranges, the same underlying story. Warming ice is destabilising terrain that was considered settled for generations, and the results range from catastrophic floods to slow-motion monitoring situations that could go either way.
27 Aug 2026
Pitztal Glacier Set to Reopen for the 2026/27 Ski Season on 26 September
Tyrol's highest ski area is gearing up to open a full month ahead of most of the Alps. The Pitztal Glacier is scheduled to start its 2026/27 season on Saturday 26 September, running through to 2 May 2027, with the lower-altitude Rifflsee area following in December. High-altitude terrain up to 3,440 metres gives the glacier a head start on snow, though as always, the actual opening extent will depend on how September's weather plays out. Early online ski pass bookings can save up to 30%.
26 Aug 2026
Aspen Snowmass Webcams
4 live angles across the mountain. Tap any camera to go full-screen.
About Aspen Snowmass's live webcams
Check live conditions across Aspen Snowmass with 4 real-time webcams showing snow, weather, and lift operations, updated every 10 minutes. Check high-elevation cams for powder visibility and base-area cams for crowd levels before you head up.
Camera guide
- Aspen Snowmass Snow Stake10,607ft
- Monitor snow conditions across Colorado's largest ski resort with this commanding Aspen Snowmass webcam positioned at 3233 meters elevation. Track both 24-hour and continuous storm totals as they accumulate across an impressive 3,342 acres of diverse terrain spanning four mountains. This strategic Aspen Snowmass live cam provides crucial intelligence for planning your perfect day exploring the resort's remarkable 98 trails that range from gentle beginner slopes to challenging expert terrain. Essential for families and advanced skiers alike, this live snow cam delivers the data needed to navigate one of North America's most comprehensive ski experiences.
- Aspen Snowmass Sam's Knob10,617ft
- Discover the western expanse of Colorado's most family-friendly major resort through this high-elevation Snowmass webcam perched at 3236 meters elevation. Serving as the central viewpoint for the western side of the mountain, this panoramic Aspen Snowmass web cam offers sweeping vistas across legendary terrain including the resort's famous tree skiing zones. Monitor changing conditions in real-time while taking in spectacular Rocky Mountain views, helping you navigate the perfect route through Snowmass's extensive trail network that has been welcoming families for over five decades.
- Aspen Snowmass Elk Camp9,816ft
- Survey the family-friendly heart of Aspen Snowmass from this strategically positioned webcam at 2992 meters elevation. This crucial Snowmass live cam offers comprehensive visibility across the resort's eastern terrain network, featuring immaculately groomed intermediate runs and gentle learning slopes. Perfect for assessing mid-mountain conditions before committing to your day's adventure, this Aspen Snowmass webcam helps families and intermediate skiers maximize their experience across terrain that has earned recognition as one of North America's premier family ski destinations with world-class amenities and instruction programs.
- Aspen Snowmass Village Express Line8,468ft
- Monitor access to Colorado's premier family resort through this base area Snowmass webcams feed positioned at 2581 meters elevation. Track real-time Village Express operations and queue lengths at this critical access point to the mountain's expansive terrain network. Essential for timing your mountain access perfectly, this Aspen Snowmass live cam helps maximize your experience across one of North America's most comprehensive family resorts, ensuring more time exploring the 98 trails and world-class amenities and less time waiting in line. Perfect for families planning their approach to this legendary destination.
Aspen Snowmass snow cams FAQ
How often do Aspen Snowmass snow cams update?
All Aspen Snowmass snow cams and webcams update every 10 minutes with fresh images showing current mountain conditions. This frequent update schedule ensures you have access to near real-time conditions for planning your ski day at Aspen Snowmass.
Which Aspen Snowmass webcam shows the best powder conditions?
The high-elevation Aspen Snowmass Sam's Knob webcam at 3,236m provides the clearest view of powder conditions and snowfall. These Aspen Snowmass webcams capture fresh snow accumulation and visibility better than base area cameras.
Can I see Aspen Snowmass lift queues on the webcams?
Yes. Multiple Aspen Snowmass snow cams specifically show lift queue areas and chairlift operations, helping you time your arrival and avoid peak queue periods.
When is the best time to check Aspen Snowmass snow cams?
Check Aspen Snowmass webcams early morning (7-8am) for overnight snowfall assessment, and mid-afternoon for current crowd levels and weather. The live cams are most useful after storm events to assess fresh powder.
How can I check current conditions before buying Aspen Snowmass lift tickets?
Use our Aspen Snowmass webcams alongside the live snow report to assess conditions before purchasing lift tickets. The webcams show real-time visibility, snow quality, and operational status.
Do Aspen Snowmass webcams work on mobile devices?
Yes. All Aspen Snowmass snow cams and webcams are optimized for mobile viewing, so you can check live conditions from anywhere using your phone or tablet.
More Aspen Snowmass intelligence: snow report, lift tickets, trail map, resort overview.