This guest blog comes from Myranda Hausheer, a Colorado adventurer and content creator. Follow her adventures on social here.
I visited Aspen, in December, to attend Wintersköl for the first time. Wintersköl is the annual toast to winter and early December is the perfect time to visit Aspen.
Wintersköl is a multi-day festival that showcases on-mountain activities, snow sculptures, a soup contest, a craft beer festival, a torchlight descent, and fireworks on Aspen Mountain plus so much more.
Why should you visit Aspen in December?
Before the holidays hit, you can enjoy some quieter moments. December is technically an early season month so there are less crowds, less folks on the mountain, and hardly any lines. You can also get reservations for more sought after places, during early season, which is a win. It was so beautiful walking through the streets at night. Everything is lit up in Christmas lights and there are holiday decorations all around town. The restaurants are festive, too.I skied at Highlands and Buttermilk and could not believe how few people there were, compared to the Front Range, even on the weekend. I planned on skiing all of the mountains, but unfortunately, I caught a cold, and I didn’t have the energy to ski on the last half of my trip. But, that just means I’ll have to go back soon.
Here’s a recap of Wintersköl events I attended:
Icebreaker Bash at Mi Chola:
This was a fun, locals focused event, where everyone in the community could come together and connect with old friends, and make new ones! There was a live DJ, delicious food, and refreshing drinks. It was a great first night of Wintersköl!
O'Connor Brothers Band at Belly Up:
I had never been to Belly Up before this show, but it’s been on my list for years! Belly Up is an intimate and iconic Aspen venue. I loved seeing the O’Connor Brothers play, hang out with friends, and mingle with other folks at the show. I already want to see another show there.
Aspen Highlands Opening Day:
I didn’t start skiing until January 2023, and last season was the first year I had a season pass, so I had never skied any of the Aspen Snowmass mountains before. Cloud Nine is an iconic Aspen destination, so I wanted to stop by, to see it for myself. I went skiing in the morning, so I missed the après DJ and champagne showers, but the views of the Maroon Bells were beautiful. I loved the European alpine environment and I need to come back when I have more time to enjoy it in all its glory. I will say, Highlands was a bit steeper than I expected. The run I took down from Cloud Nine was steeper than I prefer, but I was totally capable. Once I got further down the mountain, the blue runs felt more like the blues I’m used to. I would not recommend skiing here if you’re more of a beginner and are not really comfortable on blues.
Wintersköl Beer Festival:
The beer festival was held at Wagner Park. There were tents set up to sample beer, wine, and mixed drinks. You could choose from a keepsake shot glass or a keepsake beer mug, depending on your ticket, and the size of samples you were wanting. It was fun to walk around the different booths, sample great beverages, and meet new folks. Wagner Park was the perfect location and you could enjoy the views of Aspen Mountain in the background. There was also live music by Mountain People and The Ten O' One Band. They both did a fantastic job. The bonfire started at 4pm. It was great to have the warmth and cozy vibes from the fire as you hung out with friends.
Soupsköl:
Soupsköl was one of my favorite events of Wintersköl. This was also held at Wagner Park and was set up in the same area as the Beer Festival. Soupsköl is a soup tasting competition. You could taste a variety of soups, from local businesses, and vote on your favorite. They were delicious! This is also a free event to attend, including the soup tasting, which is awesome!
Torchlight Parade and Fireworks:
The Torchlight Parade and Fireworks were also really great! I’m a sucker for fireworks, especially when the backdrop is a beautiful snowy mountain. Once the Aspen Valley Ski Club descended the mountain, carrying flares and glow sticks, the fireworks started. The fireworks were beautiful and it was a great way to end the night!
Uphill Breakfast Club:
On Sunday morning, you could skin up Buttermilk, to Cliffhouse Restaurant for a free breakfast. There were also some fun giveaways presented by ACRA and Valley Ortho Aspen. I had never been uphill skiing before, so I rented a set up from Ute Mountaineer, the day before. I was supposed to go with a friend, but she had a last minute work meeting pop up, so I went solo. It was a really good work out and honestly, a lot of fun, too. I started to get tired probably 3/4 of the way up but it was worth it. However, I didn’t anticipate how sore and tired I would be, for the ski down. Buttermilk is more of a beginner mountain, but my legs were so tired that I was struggling skiing down the greens, and kept having to take breaks. I’m glad I went, but in the future, I would do a shorter ski up, so I have more energy on the way down. The main route on Buttermilk is approximately 2.5 miles and 1800 feet of elevation gain.
Aspen is known for its world class skiing, but even if you’re not a skier, there are plenty of great activities to do!
Here are some non skiing activities that I did:
Snowshoeing with Aspen Center for Environmental Studies
I went snowshoeing with ACES near Hunter Creek. They have multiple snowshoe tours including Ashcroft (an old mining town), one on Aspen Mountain, and one on Snowmass Mountain. You can also book private tours for North Star Nature Preserve, the Rio Grande trail, Hunter Creek, and more. Lillian was my guide and she was able to tell me a lot of information about the area and the animals that live there, too. Snowshoeing is a great option if you want to have a slower paced activity, but still get in a good workout, and spend time in nature.
Pine Creek Cookhouse has been on my list for years. You have the option to snowshoe, cross country ski, or take a sleigh ride up to the cookhouse. The pricing varies based on the number of courses (lunch vs dinner), the day, and if you need rentals, or have your own gear. It’s 1.5 miles to the cookhouse, so you’ll want to give yourself around an hour to get there. I went with a friend for lunch, and the food was delicious. It started snowing on the way back, which was really beautiful.
Ride the gondola up Aspen Mountain:
If you don’t ski, but want to enjoy the views, take the Silver Queen Gondola up Aspen Mountain. It’s an 18 minute ride up to the Sundeck where you can relax, grab a bite to eat, and enjoy the stunning views from 11,212 feet. The gondola starts uploading from 9:00am-3:30pm and the last ride down is at 4:00pm. The gondola is open from November 28, 2024-April 20, 2025. You do need a “foot pass” which is sold at the ticket office. You can also take a snowshoe tour of Richmond Ridge, with Aspen Center for Environmental Studies.
Ice Skating at Silver Circle Rink:
This is a great activity for the entire family. The ice rink is adorable and is located right in town! You can get rentals or bring your own skates.
Cross Country Skiing at Aspen Snowmass Nordic Trails:
While this is technically skiing, I don’t think it’s as intimidating as downhill skiing. Aspen has really great, free, nordic trails located on the west side of town, at the golf course. These groomed trails are perfect for beginners since there are many options to choose from. I’ve only been cross country skiing a few times, so I don’t have my own set up, and I got rentals from the shop at the golf course. I think cross country skiing is a fun activity because you can get some exercise, enjoy the gorgeous mountain views, and spend time outside.
Other ideas:
Aspen is known for its incredible shopping and there are so many stores to check out. The restaurants are also fantastic. During the holiday season you also get to enjoy the Christmas lights, and decorations, that are located all over the town, in bars, and restaurants. There are also locations where you can get spa treatments, which is so nice, especially after spending time outside!
What’s your favorite winter activity in Aspen? Have you been to Wintersköl yet?
