One lift ticket in Aspen gives you four completely different ski mountains. Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk and Snowmass are all run by Aspen Skiing Company and linked by free shuttle buses, but each has its own terrain, crowd and personality. Choosing the right one for each day, and the right base for your trip, is the secret to a great Aspen ski holiday.
This guide compares the four Aspen Snowmass mountains: which is best for families, beginners, advanced skiers, snowboarders and freestyle riders, and where to stay for each.
Aspen's four mountains at a glance
| Mountain | Skiable acres | Summit | Vertical | Terrain (beginner / intermediate / advanced / expert) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snowmass | 3,342 | 12,510 ft | 4,406 ft | 5% / 48% / 17% / 30% | Families, mixed groups, cruising |
| Aspen Mountain (Ajax) | 906 | 11,262 ft | 3,317 ft | 0% / 48% / 26% / 26% | Strong intermediates, moguls, après |
| Aspen Highlands | 1,040 | 12,392 ft | 3,635 ft | 0% / 23% / 12% / 65% | Experts, steeps, Highland Bowl |
| Buttermilk | 470 | 9,900 ft | 2,030 ft | 35% / 39% / 26% / 0% | Beginners, young children, terrain parks |
Figures from Aspen Snowmass mountain statistics, 2025/26 season.
Snowmass: best for families and mixed-ability groups
Snowmass is the giant of the four. With more than 3,300 skiable acres, it is bigger than the other three mountains combined, and it has one of the biggest vertical drops in the United States. Nearly half its terrain is intermediate, and its long, wide, beautifully groomed runs, such as those on the Big Burn, are some of the best cruising in Colorado.
What makes Snowmass the best Aspen mountain for families is its variety. Beginners have gentle slopes near the base, intermediates can spend a week without repeating a run, and strong skiers can head for the steep terrain of the Cirque and Hanging Valley. Mixed-ability groups can split up and meet for lunch at Elk Camp or Sam's. For younger children, the Treehouse Kids Adventure Center in Snowmass Village has childcare and ski school for the smallest skiers, and there are three terrain parks for teenagers.
Snowmass also has the most ski-in, ski-out lodging of the four, so you can avoid carrying skis and catching buses with children.
Where to stay: Viceroy Snowmass, with residence-style suites and a slopeside heated pool beside the Elk Camp Gondola, or Limelight Hotel Snowmass, with free breakfast, an ice rink outside the door and a 54-foot climbing wall.
Aspen Mountain (Ajax): best for confident skiers and après-ski
Aspen Mountain, known to locals as Ajax, rises directly above downtown Aspen. It has no beginner runs at all: everything is intermediate or harder, and much of it is steep, mogul-filled and challenging. Classic runs such as Ruthie's and the famous World Cup downhill course reward good technique, and the new Hero's terrain, which opened in December 2023, added 153 acres of steep glades and chutes on the upper mountain, the first major expansion in decades.
Ajax is also the most glamorous of the four. The Silver Queen Gondola rises from the edge of town to the Sundeck at the summit, and the après-ski scene at the base is the liveliest in Aspen. If you are a strong intermediate or advanced skier and want to ski straight back into town, this is your mountain. Beginners and nervous skiers should go elsewhere.
Where to stay: The Little Nell, Aspen's only ski-in, ski-out hotel, at the foot of the Silver Queen Gondola, or Hotel Jerome, Aspen's historic grand hotel a few blocks away.
Aspen Highlands: best for advanced and expert skiers
Aspen Highlands is the expert's mountain, and around two-thirds of its terrain is rated advanced or expert. It is famous for Highland Bowl, 270 acres of open, double-black-diamond terrain at the top of the mountain, with pitches of up to 48 degrees. Reaching it involves a hike of about 782 vertical feet to Highland Peak at 12,392 feet, usually taking 30 to 60 minutes, although a free snowcat ride can shorten the climb when it is running.
The views of the Maroon Bells from the top are some of the best in Colorado. Highlands also has excellent groomed intermediate runs and is often quieter than Ajax and Snowmass, making it a good escape on busy holiday weeks. Afterwards, Cloud Nine Alpine Bistro, a mountain restaurant famous for its lively, champagne-fuelled lunches, is an Aspen institution. Book well ahead.
Where to stay: Highlands has limited lodging at its base, so most skiers stay in Aspen, a short shuttle ride away. Hotel Jerome and The Little Nell are both ideal.
Buttermilk: best for beginners, young children and freestyle
Buttermilk is the gentlest and most relaxed of the four mountains, with no expert terrain and around a third of its runs rated for beginners. Its wide, uncrowded slopes are perfect for a first ski holiday, and the ski patrol's motto, "Relax, it's Buttermilk", sums it up. Young children learn at the Hideout, where the Powder Pandas programme takes potty-trained three- and four-year-olds, and Fort Frog, a wooden play fort hidden in the woods, is a favourite stop.
Buttermilk is also the home of freestyle in Aspen. It has nine terrain parks, the most of any Aspen mountain, and has hosted Winter X Games Aspen every January since 2002, with its famous superpipe and slopestyle course. Snowboarders and park skiers of every level will find features to progress on, from small beginner boxes to some of the most famous jumps in the sport.
Where to stay: Buttermilk is a few minutes from Aspen and Snowmass by free shuttle. Families learning to ski often combine Buttermilk with a base at Snowmass.
Which Aspen mountain is best for snowboarders?
All four mountains welcome snowboarders, although Aspen Mountain only lifted its ban in 2001. Buttermilk is the best for beginners and park riders, with its nine terrain parks and X Games features. Snowmass is the best all-round mountain for snowboarders, with long groomers, three terrain parks and few flat sections. Advanced riders will love the steeps and powder of Highland Bowl.
Getting around the four mountains
A single Aspen Snowmass lift ticket or season pass covers all four mountains, and free shuttle buses link Aspen, Snowmass, Highlands and Buttermilk throughout the day. Children aged six and under ski free at all four. Many visitors stay in one place and spend a day or two on each mountain, which is the best way to understand why Aspen is one of the greatest ski destinations in North America.
Tips for skiing Aspen Snowmass
- Match the mountain to the day. Ski Ajax or Highlands on a fresh powder day, and Snowmass or Buttermilk for relaxed cruising.
- Book ski school early. Children's lessons at Snowmass and Buttermilk fill up quickly in holiday weeks.
- Allow time for altitude. Summits are above 12,000 feet at Snowmass and Highlands, so take the first day gently and drink plenty of water.
- Book Cloud Nine and the Sundeck ahead. The most popular mountain restaurants fill up fast.
- Go in January or March for quieter slopes and better prices than the Christmas and February holidays.
Frequently asked questions
Which Aspen mountain is best for families?
Snowmass is the best Aspen mountain for families, with the largest terrain, gentle beginner areas, the Treehouse Kids Adventure Center and plenty of ski-in, ski-out hotels. Buttermilk is ideal for complete beginners and young children.
Which Aspen mountain is best for advanced skiers?
Aspen Highlands is the best for experts, with Highland Bowl's 270 acres of double-black terrain. Aspen Mountain (Ajax) is excellent for strong skiers who love moguls and steep groomers.
Can beginners ski Aspen Mountain?
No. Aspen Mountain has no beginner runs, so first-timers should ski Buttermilk or the beginner areas at Snowmass.
Is one lift ticket valid at all four Aspen mountains?
Yes. An Aspen Snowmass lift ticket covers Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk and Snowmass, and free shuttle buses connect them.
