The mountain town of Aspen, located in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains region, is a famous ski-resort with more than 5,000 acres of snow-smothered descents during winter. Summer visitors also have access to a long list of activities ranging from hiking and camping to rock-climbing and paragliding.
Aspen Colorado Attractions and Activities
Independence Pass, part of Colorado Highway 82, is a scenic pavement with views in every direction. As the ascent gets higher, road width narrows and turns get tighter. The road reaches its Continental Divide apex on the nation’s highest paved pass. It is closed in winter.
Maroon Bells refers to a pair of peaks at the end of an open valley about 11 miles southwest of Aspen. The peaks are among the nation’s most-photographed mountains and have limited auto-access in summer. In winter, when the roads are under snow, the peaks can be seen from Aspen Highlands’ Loge Peak warming hut.
Redstone, a historic village near Crystal River, was once a company town for coal miners. Now, it features galleries, studios, shops and restaurants, the rustically elegant Redstone Inn and Redstone Castle, the former home of the millionaire coal baron.
Aspen Art Museum, a fabulous museum which seems beyond the scope of the Aspen community, features rotating exhibits of international contemporary art works.
Glenwood Hot Springs boasts a swimming pool supplied by more than one million gallons of 90-degree water. There is also a smaller 104-degree therapy pool. The nearby Yampa Vapor Caves make for a natural underground sauna.
Conundrum Hot Springs, located at timberline’s edge in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness region, has temperatures over 102 degrees. A visit to the pools is usually a summer or early fall trip with hikers spending a night or two at designated campsites.
Rich and Famous Tour by Aspen’s Five Star Adventures offer driving tours past 75 star-owned homes valued between $5 million to $120 million.
Aspen Colorado Transportation
The Aspen-Pitkin County Airport,serviced by United Express, American Airlines and other major carriers, is a small airport for small planes. A more convenient and cheaper option is to fly to Denver Airport and drive up to Aspen. To travel by car, Aspen is a four-hour-drive from Denver via two major routes – Glenwood Springs route or Independence Pass route, which is open in summer.
Aspen and Denver airports have car-rental facilities. Denver International Airport and Eagle County Regional Airport offer scheduled and chartered services. Free buses operate between Aspen and Aspen-Pitkin County Airport, as well as between Aspen and Snowmass Village. Roaring Fork Transportation Authority buses run between Aspen and Rifle connecting Snowmass. Free transit is available between Glenwood Springs and Snowmass.
Aspen Colorado Accommodations
The Innsbruck is conveniently located close to the slopes and downtown. It offers one- and two-bedroom condominiums in 17 elegant guest residences. It provides luxury guest residences with fully-equipped kitchens, high-end appliances, gas fireplaces, flat-screen TVs, jetted tubs, air-conditioning, wireless & direct Internet access and in-room safe. Hotel amenities include swimming pool with hot tub, guest lounge, exercise room, day ski/bike valet, pet-friendly units, concierg30e, free local transportation services and bicycles.