From the Valley Floor to the Mountain Tops, Explore the Aspen Outdoors

ASPEN, Colo. (Spring/Summer 2010) - Those who live in Aspen often say they came for the winter and stayed for the summer - largely in part because of the multitude of outdoor activities available during the spring, summer and fall. Whether it's getting wet on the rapids of the Roaring Fork River or scaling the rock walls up Independence Pass, there is an activity for everyone that will surely make the heart beat faster.

When the chairlifts stop running, the number of options for outdoor activities increases. On foot, on wheels, on water or in the air, finding fun outside in Aspen is easy to do.

ON FOOT (or ski...)

Backcountry Skiing - Aspen's elevation, at nearly 8,000 feet in town, affords backcountry skiers easy access to snow well into the spring and summer months. Local guiding company Aspen Expeditions offers numerous backcountry skiing trips including technical ascents of 14,000-foot peaks and multi-day hut trips accessing the 10th Mountain Division hut system surrounding Aspen.

Snowshoeing - During the spring, snowshoeing is a great way to get out and enjoy the remaining snow in and around Aspen. Two popular trails, which boast solid snowpacks well into the spring, are Independence Pass and Ashcroft, which features an old ghost town and breathtaking views of 14,000-foot peaks. The Ute Mountaineer is the local's and visitor's choice for renting and buying snowshoeing equipment, technical outdoor clothing and getting advice on surrounding trails.

Hiking - Whether searching for a leisurely stroll along a meandering creek or a technical ascent of a "14er" (peak higher than 14,000 feet), Aspen has hiking trails for all abilities and fitness levels.

Easy Hikes

   • Aspen's local trail system, accessible from the downtown core, is perfect for half-day hikes. Favorites include the Hunter Creek Trail, a beginner to intermediate day hike; Sunnyside Trail, a great spot to see Aspen valley views; and the Ute Trail, a more strenuous hike because of its switchbacks but worthwhile for the views at the summit. Maps of local trails are available at Ute Mountaineer.

   • The most photographed peaks in North America, the Maroon Bells are known for their rugged splendor and challenging hiking trails, but many visitors opt to spend the day enjoying a picnic beside picturesque Maroon Lake followed by a light hike to Crater Lake. Buses depart from Highlands Village throughout the summer and drop visitors at the base of the Maroon Bells, accessing views of the North and South Maroon Bells and Pyramid Peak. Bus information and schedules are available at www.RFTA.com.

Strenuous Hikes

   • Colorado 14ers (peaks higher than 14,000 feet) represent some of the best mountaineering in the Aspen area. Ranging from highly technical, knife-edge summits to tame, switch-back ascents, seven of Colorado's 14ers are located in the Elk Mountain Range bordering Aspen, and local outfitter Aspen Expeditions leads guided trips.

   • Mount Sopris, located about 20 miles from Aspen, is not among Colorado's 14ers (topping out at 12,953 feet), but it claims the biggest vertical relief of any mountain in the state and is a mountain on every serious alpinist's checklist.

Trail Running - Experience Aspen's breathtaking scenery and clock some high-altitude training by trail running through Aspen's massive network of trails accessible from town.

   • An ideal route in either direction is the eight-mile Government Trail (the course for the Golden Leaf Half Marathon in late September), which connects Aspen to Snowmass through brilliant groves of Aspen trees which open to dramatic vistas.

   • Other outstanding trails include road-less Conundrum Creek, located in the Snowmass Wilderness Area (which also prohibits bikes), and Hunter Creek Trail, which begins in town and quickly climbs along a creek with waterfalls and swimming holes.

Rock Climbing - Aspen's Independence Pass, minutes from downtown, offers rock climbers hundreds of routes, from the classic ‘Edge of Time' to the challenging ‘Cryogenics.' Dick Jackson, internationally certified IFMGA/AMGA Mountain Guide and owner of Aspen Expeditions, offers private and group lessons and courses in mountaineering and rock climbing.

ON WHEELS

Easy Biking - Although Aspen has countless hardcore mountain and road-bike rides, it is also a great place to take a cruise. The Rio Grande Trail is a gently sloping, mostly-paved surface that runs 40 miles from Aspen to Glenwood Springs and has countless stops along the way for a perfect picnic. Eight miles outside of town, stop into the Woody Creek Tavern, a former hangout of the late Hunter S. Thompson, for their famous margaritas and massive plates of nachos. (2858 Woody Creek Road; 970.923.4584)

Road Biking - Take a ride up some of the same mountain passes that one of the world's greatest cyclists does -Aspen resident Lance Armstrong does some of this training here, which serves as a testament to the excellent road-biking conditions in the valley. Some rides, such as the road to the Maroon Bells, are void of vehicles during certain hours and perfect for roadies looking for high-altitude training. An early-season cycling favorite is the Independence Pass Foundation's ‘Ride for the Pass,' which offers both a race and recreational ride up the unopened road, ending at the ghost town of Independence just below the Continental Divide. For visitors itching to get rubber on road but lacking quality equipment, Hub of Aspen and Fly Cyclery (408 South Hunter St.; 970.925.9539) rent professional-caliber road bikes.

Mountain Biking - Aspen is a haven for two-wheeled off-road adventure and boasts hundreds of miles of single-track beginning directly from town. For the latest information on trails and for bike sales and rentals, parts and service, visit the Hub of Aspen.

Easy Mountain Biking

   • Lincoln Creek Road. Beginning about 11 miles east of Aspen on Independence Pass, this bumpy, rolling dirt road is ideal for slightly experienced riders looking to test their off-road skills without venturing too far into the wilderness. Densely wooded with beautiful river views around every corner, the road ends up in a spectacular high-alpine valley.

Intermediate Mountain Biking

   • Smuggler-Hunter Creek Loop. Aspen's classic intermediate-to-advanced ride, this trail begins with the steep Smuggler Mountain Road - a 1.5-mile climb guaranteed to get your heart pumping. It winds into the beautiful Hunter Creek Valley, passing over smooth single-track, through vast aspen groves, and past the ruins of a few deserted mining cabins.

Advanced Mountain Biking

   • Government Trail. This difficult trail packs enough punch to please even the most accomplished mountain biker. It begins with a challenging climb up Snowmass Ski Area, and then traverses across ski runs and through dense evergreens to Buttermilk Ski Area. Here, the trail roller-coasters through aspen groves and thrilling single-track, ending just outside of Aspen.

   • Hut-to-Hut. Aspen's famed 10th Mountain Hut Division manages a system of 29 backcountry huts in Colorado, connected by 350 miles of suggested routes, many of which offer amazing mountain bike treks.

   • Snowmass Trails are a two-wheeled, speed demon's dream with trails for beginners to pros. Annually, Snowmass hosts two mountain biking events - the Snowmass National and the Mountain States Cup's Blast the Mass (July 9-11, 2010) and the 12-Hours of Snowmass (Sept. 11, 2010). Top-rated trails on Snowmass include the Cross Mountain Trail (intermediate), Wilderness Way (intermediate) and Banzai (expert only). For the truly courageous, Trench Town Terrain Park features a Mountain Cross, the Coney Drop Zone, and many more features and jumps. There is also a beginner terrain park located at the base of the Burlingame chair lift.

IN THE AIR

Paragliding - Get a bird's-eye view of Aspen's spectacular topography with Aspen Paragliding. Year-round tandem flights launch from Aspen Mountain and lazily drift to the valley floor. Autumn is a particularly popular time to paraglide, as the Rockies are aglow with brilliant fall foliage.

ON WATER

Fly-fishing - Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley have spectacular fly-fishing with 45 miles of Gold Medal waters, the largest stretch of Colorado's 165 miles of Gold Medal waters. The 70-mile Roaring Fork River runs through town and boasts rewarding fishing holes full of rainbow, brown, cutthroat and brook trout. The Fryingpan River sustains an amazing amount of fish including mountain whitefish, rainbow and brown trout. For spectacular seclusion, fishermen take to the tributaries including the Crystal River and Castle Creek to seek out smaller trout and stunning scenery. Local outfitters, including Aspen Outfitting Company, Taylor Creek Fly Shop, and Aspen Fly Fishing, lead guided fishing trips.

Rafting, Kayaking, Sledging and River Surfing - One of only a handful of Colorado mountain towns to offer a raging river running directly through its center, Aspen is an epic rafting and kayaking destination. Aspen is nestled on the Roaring Fork River, the Arkansas River sits just over Independence Pass, and the Colorado River is 40 minutes away in Glenwood Springs. Aspen's aquatic adventures range from mellow float trips to hair-raising rides down the Class IV Slaughterhouse Falls.

Water-lovers take to the rivers on a variety of equipment, including traditional rafts and kayaks with Blazing Adventures, Aspen Whitewater Rafting and other local outfitters. Aspen Seals imported sledging from New Zealand, and guides lead sledgers head-first down rapids on boogie-board-like apparatuses. Charlie MacArthur, owner of Aspen Kayak Academy, innovated "river surfing" where he uses a stand-up paddle board to ride the standing waves on sections of the Colorado River. Kiwi wildman Scotty Gibsone started Kiwi Adventure Ko in summer 2008 and leads day trips on small rafts (two people plus a guide) on the Roaring Fork River, Colorado River and Arkansas River. The diminutive size of the rafts allows Gibsone to run trips much later than other companies, running the Roaring Fork River through September.

For media information and images, visit Aspen Chamber Resort Association Media Center at www.aspenchamber.org/media.

For visitor information, visit http://www.aspenchamber.org/, or call 1.888.290.1324 or 970.925.1940.

Media Contact:  

Maureen Poschman • [email protected] • 970.925.8480

Alex de L'Arbre • [email protected]