Take in the incredible landscape, culture and history of Aspen and Snowmass Village in Colorado this summer with a guided or self-guided tour. A great way to delve deeper into a destination, there are countless tours on offer in both towns for every type of traveller from fast-paced river rafting adventures to relaxing wildflower walks.
FOR THE ADVENTUROUS
Go river rafting on Upper Roaring Fork or Shoshone with Blazing Adventures
For those seeking a thrill, head to Blazing Adventures – which is celebrating its 50th anniversary summer this year – where you can find a wide variety of tours and adventures. With snow still melting off the mountains into the rivers due to excessively high snowfall last winter, the white water rafting season has been extended. Blazing Adventures offers a variety of exhilarating rafting tours ranging from family-friendly rides with amazing views of the Glenwood Canyon, to full day rafting expeditions on class III and IV whitewater through one of America’s newest National Monuments. Pick up to, and from, major hotels in Aspen and Snowmass Village can be arranged for guests as well as lunches on longer experiences.
Catch a meteor shower on a horse-back tour at the T-Lazy-7 Ranch
Experience Aspen by horseback this summer with a totally unique tour through the magical Aspen wilderness. Once every summer, T-Lazy-7 Ranch runs the Willow Lake ride, an incredible five-day horseback trip for one lucky group of six. Building the ride around the spell-bounding Perseid Meteor Shower in August, this is the perfect tour for families that are looking for a truly bespoke wildlife experience. The ranch offers other overnight trips through the Maroon Bells wilderness to the top of East Maroon Pass as well as giving guests the option to personalise their experience with hiking, fishing and even a dinner party.
Choose your adventure and embark on a self-guided biking tour
Aspen and Snowmass boasts an expansive network of exhilarating bike trails for all levels of expertise with over 300 miles of singletrack trails that wind through the deep green forests. Aspen, Snowmass and the Roaring Fork Valley are recognised as an IMBA Gold-Level Ride Center for the destination’s variety of biking tracks, from gentle trails that follow along winding rivers to some of Colorado’s best mountain-biking parks. With so many options to choose from, head off on a self-guided bike tour using the MTBProject app to map your route. Visit one of the area’s many bike shops, including Aspen Bikes, Silver City Cycles, Ute City Cycles and Aspen Velo to collect bike hire and equipment.
FOR THE CURIOUS
Discover the unique history of Aspen with Aspen Historical Society
For something a bit more slow-paced, visitors can choose from eight different guided tours of the historical sites and scenes around Aspen which aim to engage people in the town’s past in a fun and immersive way. Stroll through Aspen’s West End on a neighbourhood tour exploring authentic Victorian architecture or enjoy a free guided tour of the Wheeler Opera House taking a look inside one of the town’s most iconic buildings. For those with accessibility needs, try the History Coach Tour, a guided driving tour of historic downtown Aspen in a quirky electric vehicle.
Explore the flora and fauna of Aspen and Snowmass with an ACES guided hiking tour
Head out on a free immersive guided wilderness walk accompanied by a knowledgeable naturalist from Aspen Centre for Environmental Studies (ACES). With multiple walks to choose from in both Aspen and Snowmass Village, your guide will teach you about the area’s diverse flora and fauna as you take in your spectacular surroundings. In Snowmass, the ‘Snowmass Wildflower Walk’, departing daily at 10am, teaches visitors about vibrant wildflowers, animal tracking, birdwatching and more. The ‘Aspen Mountain Walk’, beginning at 11am and lasting around 45 minutes, teaches visitors about wildlife, wildflowers and the area’s rich mining history as they make their way up Richmond Ridge through the deep mixed conifer forest. Once they reach the summit, visitors can enjoy panoramic 360 degree views over Aspen and the dramatic Rocky Mountains.
A dazzling night to remember at the Stars Above Aspen Astronomy Night
Gaze at the dazzling night sky and explore the cosmos from over 11,000 feet at the 6th annual Stars Above Aspen Astronomy Night, held in partnership with Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES). Taking place on 15 August at the top of Aspen Mountain, the scheduled event also includes a sunset yoga class from 6:30-7:30pm and guests are welcomed to purchase dinner and drinks at the Sundeck. In addition, the experience includes a ride on the Silver Queen Gondola, a guided walk, crafts and guided telescope stations. Aspen also offers stargazing experiences at its only five-star, five-diamond hotel, The Little Nell. Guests can head off into the night with an expert astronomer to observe stars and planets that can’t be seen by the naked eye. Visitors will be treated to warm blankets, sweet treats and hot chocolate along the way.
FOR THE FOODIES & DRINKERS
Embark on a self-guided foodie tour with the Roaring Fork + Farm map
Visitors to Aspen and Snowmass Village can now pick up a brand new Roaring Fork & Farm Map, an interactive foodie guide that shines a spotlight on local farms, ranches, distilleries, breweries, local food producers and seasonal foodie events such as Heritage Fire and Food and Wine Classic in Aspen. The map will lead visitors on a journey through the area’s best eateries, highlighting certain establishments as ‘local champions’ along the way, a nod to restaurants, breweries and ranches that support local farmers and producers. Restaurants like Mawita, a Latin inspired restaurant and bar, along with Meat & Cheese, have both been identified as ‘local champions’ as they emphasise local flavours and source organic and responsibly sourced ingredients for their culinary offerings. Pick up a guide at the visitor centre in Aspen or Snowmass Village to plan a day of local food and farm experiences.
Join locals’ favourite, Tuesday Cruiseday
During July and August when the weather gets warmer and the sun sets later, visitors can join Aspen locals on Tuesday Cruiseday, where over 50 residents of Aspen and Snowmass Village meet for a leisurely bike ride and a bite to eat from The Aspen Tap all the way down to Smuggler Park, arriving in time for the incredible mountain sunset. Commencing at 18:30pm, this is a great way for visitors to experience a true Aspen style tradition guided by the locals themselves.
For more information, please visit www.aspenchamber.org / www.gosnowmass.com.
