Planning · Itineraries

How many days in Aspen?

Three days is a taste, five is the sweet spot, seven lets you ski all four mountains and still take a day off. How to use each.

For a ski trip, five days is the sweet spot: two easier days while you adjust to the altitude, then time for Aspen Mountain, Highlands and a big Snowmass day. Three days works if you keep it simple; seven lets you ski all four mountains and take a day off the slopes.

Town sits at nearly 8,000 feet and the summits go above 12,000, so the first two days shape the rest. The mountain facts here are from our four-mountains guide, sourced from Aspen Snowmass.

Paul Montiel · Aspen · Updated September 2026

IThree days

A long weekend

Day 1: Arrive, keep it easy: Buttermilk or Snowmass, an early dinner, lots of water.Altitude: the first 48 hours
Day 2: Snowmass, the largest mountain, with terrain for every level.
Day 3: Aspen Mountain from town for strong skiers; Snowmass again for mixed groups.

IIFive days

The sweet spot

Days 1–2: Buttermilk or Snowmass while everyone adjusts to the altitude.
Days 3–4: Aspen Mountain from town; experts to Aspen Highlands.The four mountains compared
Day 5: Highland Bowl for those who want it; everyone else back to Snowmass for the big day.Highland Bowl

IIISeven days

All four mountains, and a day off

Days 1–2: Buttermilk and Snowmass, easing into the altitude.
Days 3–5: Aspen Mountain, Highlands and Highland Bowl, with an uphill morning if you want one.Uphill skiing
Day 6: A day off skis: the hot springs down valley, a snowmobile tour, or a wellness day.Hot springs · Snowmobiling
Day 7: Your favorite mountain again, and a last dinner in town.

IVTiming

Fit the days to the calendar

Events

X Games (January 29–31, 2027), Gay Ski Week (January 17–24) and Palm Tree (February 19–20) fill the town. Winter events

Arrival day

If you land at Eagle or Denver rather than Aspen, the first day is mostly travel. Getting here

Non-skiers

Plan their days as carefully as the skiers'. Aspen for non-skiers

Common questions

How many days do you need in Aspen?

Five days is the sweet spot for a ski trip: two easier days for the altitude, then Aspen Mountain, Highlands and Snowmass. Three works for a weekend; seven covers all four mountains with a day off.

Is 3 days enough in Aspen?

Yes, if you keep it simple: an easy first day, a Snowmass day, and Aspen Mountain or Snowmass again on day three.

What should I do on my first day in Aspen?

Take it easy: Buttermilk or Snowmass, an early dinner and plenty of water while you adjust to the altitude.

Make the days easy

Skis fitted before day one, lessons booked, and the evenings arranged.

Ski

Ski rental delivered

Fitted at the residenceWinter

Fitted at the residence, not in a shop queue.

Check availability

Ski

Private ski instructor

Half or full dayWinter

A private lesson matched to the skier and the mountain.

Check availability

Skis leaning by the stone entry of a mountain home, a dark SUV waiting in the snowy driveway

Ski

Ski mornings, handled

Morning drop, afternoon pickupWinter

Skis fitted at the house the night before, the gear carried to the lift in the morning and collected when the lifts close. You ski; we handle the equipment.

Check availability