Further Afield

Outside the Aspen enclave, there is a lot to experience! Here are other places you can explore.

Snowmass Village

Snowmass Village is our closest neighbor, just down the road and easily accessible by free our local bus system (RFTA) or private car. The Aspen Skiing Company operates the four ski mountains in the winter: Aspen, Snowmass, Buttermilk and Aspen Highlands, so if you enjoy skiing you most likely have visited beautiful Snowmass Village.

www.gosnowmass.com

Snowmass Top Attractions

Woody Creek

Woody Creek is located just a short 10 miles from Aspen and is the home of the famous Woody Creek Tavern, a favorite haunt of author Hunter S. Thompson. A popular summer activity is biking from Aspen to Woody Creek along the Rio Grande Trail and enjoying lunch at the Tavern. You can either choose to bike back up to Aspen or catch a ride from High Mountain Taxi or private transportation.

CREDITTyler Stableford

Carbondale

Touted as one of the “Top 12 Towns" in the "50 Next Great Places to Live and Play" by National Geographic Adventure magazine and as one of the "50 Best Places to Live/Most Active Towns" by Men’s Journal magazine, Carbondale is a favorite for recreation enthusiasts. Resting in the magnificent shadow of 12,953-foot Mt. Sopris, there is plenty to do, including biking, hiking, gold medal fly-fishing, kayaking, and world-class skateboarding. In winter, excellent cross-country skiing can be found at Spring Gulch and beautiful snowmobiling and snowshoeing trails are accessible in all directions.

www.carbondale.com

Carbondale Top Attractions

Glenwood Springs

Glenwood Springs is known for being home to the historic Glenwood Hot Springs Pool, but this mountain town offers many ways to add a little water to your Rocky Mountain vacation. A second hot springs attraction, the Iron Mountain Hot Springs, has recently opened on the bank of the Colorado River. Millions of years of water carved Glenwood Caverns into Iron Mountain, where today you can tour subterranean passages with amazing cave formations. Above the caverns, there are roller coasters, canyon swings and incredible views of the Roaring Fork Valley. Hundreds of years ago, the Ute Indians used the Yampah Vapor Caves to heal their bodies and minds. Now, you can soak in the healing powers of these natural steam filled caves formed by hot mineral springs that flow through them. And don’t forget the recreational paradise supplied by the Colorado and Roaring Fork rivers where fishing, rafting, and many other water sports abound! Glenwood Springs is less than an hour north of Aspen on Highway 82.

Aspen and Glenwood Springs are connected via the Rio Grande Trail, a mostly paved trail meandering along the Roaring Fork River. We recommend starting in Aspen so the 44-mile ride to Glenwood is mostly downhill.

www.visitglenwood.com

Glenwood Springs Top Attractions

North Fork Valley

The North Fork Valley is comprised of the towns Paonia, Hotchkiss and Crawford. Lovely scenery, fine food, superior drink, and culture combine to bring you the joys of small town life. You may be familiar with these wonderful towns without even realizing it. Chances are the produce you gathered at the Saturday Market, or your dinner at one of Aspen's restaurants was grown in the North Fork Valley. As it was a century ago and remains today, cattle ranches, orchard operations, and coal mining are the mainstays of the local economy. In 2014 Colorado officially recognized the North Fork Valley as a Colorado Creative District, a variety of fine artists call the Valley home.

www.northforkvalley.net

North Fork Valley Top Attractions

  • Hunting & Fishing
  • Hiking, Biking, XC Skiing, Horseback riding, ATV Exploration
  • Farm to Table Dinners
  • Winery Tours
  • Natural Beauty (including the north rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park)

Book Your Trip

More Aspen Highlights

Adventure Dining
Be sure to try these one-of-a-kind experiences.
Learn More
Après Ski
Aspen takes the après scene to new heights all winter long. Pop bottles of champagne at the base of the slopes or sip cocktails from the comfort of a cozy hotel lounge while the snow falls outside the…
Learn More
Aspen Mountain Gondola
The peak of Aspen Mountain is 11,212 feet. Whether you are visiting in summer or winter, a trip to the top of the mountain on the Silver Queen Gondola will include spectacular views and delicious food, and is…
Learn More
Aspen Saturday Market
From mid-June to early October, spend your Saturday mornings at the Aspen Farmer's Market. Since 1998 it has been a local's tradition to stroll through the market buying Colorado-grown produce and Colorado-produced artisan products.
Learn More
Fall Foliage
Fall is one of the most spectacular times of year in Aspen. Our namesake trees turn hues of gold and the weather is ideal for myriad outdoor activities.
Learn More
Independence Pass
Independence Pass, part of Colorado State Highway 82, passes over the Continental Divide between Leadville and Aspen, Colorado with a summit of 12,095 ft. In addition to being a scenic byway, Independence Pass, just east of Aspen, is…
Learn More
John Denver Sanctuary
The John Denver Sanctuary is nestled in the heart of Aspen, next to the Rio Grande Park, adjacent to Theatre Aspen's Hurst Theatre.
Learn More
Learning Vacations
A lifelong love of learning is ingrained in the Aspen Idea of enriching your mind, body & spirit. Here are some programs that take the guess work out of adding a learning experience to your vacation.
Learn More
Locally Grown
Aspen has been a part of the local food movement long before farm-to-table was a buzz phrase.
Learn More