Each April, we celebrate the close of the ski season at our five beloved mountains – Ajax, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk, Snowmass and Sunlight. These mountains each contribute to the rich culture and tightly bonded ski communities within the Roaring Fork Valley. Over the years, they have each become famous in their own right, drawing an international crowd of visitors who assure each ski season ends with a bang. These visitors celebrate not only the efforts of mountain staff and ski patrol members over the past season but also their respect for the mountains themselves. Over the course of many decades, these local mountains have taken shape with diehard fan bases, tried-and-true dining options, and intriguing traditions to match.
AJAX
Photo: Ajax Mountain offers many trails for skiers of intermediate to expert skill levels. (Colorado Ski Resort Maps, 2024)
Photo: Broker Shawn Manwaring enjoys taking a few laps on Ajax.
The Roaring Fork Valley’s smallest mountain, Ajax, boasts 675 acres and 11,212 feet of elevation with incredibly high-quality terrain. It was the first mountain developed for skiing in the region, putting Aspen on the map as a ski resort, and since then has evolved into perhaps the most well known of Colorado ski resorts. More challenging than any of its neighboring mountains, the spirit of Ajax (as locals call it) is an unbridled need for speed. Laps on the steepest runs create a healthy appetite, satiated by Bonnie’s famous apple strudel and pancakes. This restaurant opened its doors in the 1960s, with skiers’ food fixations growing each year. The new Hero’s terrain on Ajax this season offers 153 acres of new snow to explore, marking the mountain’s first significant addition since the inauguration of the Silver Queen Gondola in December 1985.
ASPEN HIGHLANDS
Photo: While the Highland Bowl can be difficult to navigate, knowledge of the runs available make this mountain more approachable. (Colorado Ski Resort Maps, 2024)
Photo: A group of Aspen Snowmass Sotheby’s International Realty brokers take a breather after accomplishing the famed Highland Bowl hike.
The view of Tibetan prayer flags atop the 12,392-foot Highland Bowl is a true feat to be celebrated. Though there’s quite a bit of chatter about hiking the famous bowl, this mountain offers a ski run for all types, which makes it a popular choice among locals and visitors alike. Of each of the mountains, the Highlands closing party (celebrated the last day of the season each year) has scaled massively over the past few decades, evolving into an international sensation that now requires a cover charge at the door to support the large number of staff, talent, and refreshments provided. Another draw to Aspen Highlands is its on-mountain dining at Cloud Nine, founded in 1998 by previous Aspen Skiing Company chef Andreas Fischbacher. With humble beginnings as an abandoned ski shack, this mountain hot spot experienced the evolution of a lifetime, now one of the most outrageous and exorbitant dining options in Aspen where champagne showers are most definitely in the forecast.
BUTTERMILK
Photo: Buttermilk offers runs for every type of skier, from easy blue and green runs to thrilling double black diamonds at Klaus’ Way and Racer’s Edge. (Colorado Ski Resort Maps, 2024)
Photo: Brokers Lucy Nichols, Doug Nehasil, Chantal Henderson, Mark Lewis and friends prepare for an uphill hike on Tiehack.
Buttermilk, with perhaps the most creative on-mountain staff, has coined their closing day “Bacon Appreciation Day,” accompanying their breakfast-related mountain moniker. Skiers enjoy strips of bacon available by the hundred at the base of the express lift, celebrating the highs and lows of the season with their final laps on those slopes. Though regarded as the most novice of the mountains, it also hosts the annual ESPN Winter X Games each January, where young athletes of expert caliber fly through the air, competing for the gold every spring since 1994. A recent addition to Buttermilk’s prestige is its favorable conditions for uphillers; Buttermilk’s cult-following called ‘Tiehack Tyrants’ traffic this region of the mountain on a daily basis. Plus, Buttermilk has a sweet side: once you’ve earned your turns, The Cliffhouse’s Friday breakfasts and daily Mongolian barbecues are well worth the effort.
SNOWMASS
Photo: Snowmass’ versatility shines through as its ski map boasts trails of every caliber across the largest area of terrain in the Aspen Snowmass area. (Colorado Ski Resort Maps, 2024)
Photo: A skier practices good form through the Snowmass alpine terrain, navigating through the Aspen trees.
With a wide array of entertainment options, Snowmass carves its own path by offering more than just skiing and dining; an alpine coaster, the Lost Forest adventure center, and ice skating can all be included in the day’s itinerary. With enough to do in Snowmass besides hitting the slopes, you don’t even need your ski boots to celebrate at this mountain, making it a favorite for families with young children. Spanning an incredible 3,342 acres, Snowmass is the largest mountain in the Aspen Snowmass area, comprising more than half of the resort’s total skier visits. While it is a popular spot, Snowmass’s wide acclaim luckily doesn’t correlate with longer lines, making it the automatic choice for many. Closing day includes festivities of all kinds, with the most notable salute to the season at Venga Venga, a mountain-side Mexican bar and restaurant.
SUNLIGHT
Photo: Sunlight Mountain shows its colors, featuring a multitude of ski runs fit for all types. (Sunlight Mountain Resort, 2024)
Photo: A group of friends gathers after a day of skiing at Sunlight Mountain Resort. (Glenwood Springs Chamber, 2024)
With beginnings as a coal mining town, Sunlight opened its slopes to the public in 1966, sited on a mixture of private and U.S. Forest Service land with limited terrain and a single chairlift. With slow but consistently growing popularity over the years, Sunlight upgraded to install snowmaking machines in 1996, allowing for an extended ski season with more territory. Its staggering peak elevation of 9,895 feet and 680 acres to explore gives the Aspen Snowmass region a run for its money.
While these five mountains offer vastly different climates and ski terrain, they each accomplish an important goal: helping individuals to discover their own community within the Roaring Fork Valley. Skiers, snowboarders and uphillers join forces morning and night to accomplish new athletic feats, set personal records, and enjoy their turns on the slopes. For decades, residents and visitors of this region have aligned over the appreciation and respect of the outdoors, with the five peaks serving as their common denominator. As we begin the countdown to the next ski season, book your luxury ski vacation rental here!
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