Summer Activities

You probably know that an alpine summer is a truly spiritual experience. (Think Sound of Music.) But you may not know that Colorado has more sunny days per year than California; that the average humidity hovers at about 2 percent; and that “sleeping weather” can still be enjoyed in August. And Snowmass is the nation’s premier mountain resort for families. It doesn’t get dark until 9 p.m., so you and the kids will have plenty of time to explore the natural beauty surrounding Snowmass Village. We hope you’ll come to know that the true beauty of our community lies in the depth, variety, and quality of its cultural and recreational offerings. Many of our guests tell us spending time here is like taking several vacations at one time. ANDERSON RANCH ARTS CENTER: An internationally known artist's colony featuring gallery shows and workshops. Call for schedule of free tours, lectures, workshops, and other events. Free Arts Tour, Tuesdays, June 7–Aug. 30, Snowmass Village. ASHCROFT GHOST TOWN: On-site interpreters & guided tours 7 days a week at 11am, 1pm, and 3pm, June 11–August 24, $3 adults; children 10 & under free. ASPEN ART MUSEUM: Features changing exhibitions with emphasis on contemporary art. Open Tues.–Sat., 10AM–6PM, 12noon–6PM on Sundays. Admission $5; members, children & Friday admission is free. Free After Hours reception Thurdays. 5–7PM, 590 N. Mill St. ASPEN CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES: Located on the 25-acre Hallam Lake Nature Preserve near the heart of Aspen. Natural history displays, classes, workshops, nature tours, and special activities for those who love the outdoors. Two tours daily in Snowmass, including Nature Trail and Sam's Knob walks. ASPEN HISTORICAL SOCIETY: Wheeler/Stallard Museum archives offer a glimpse of the history of the Roaring Fork Valley, at 620 East Bleeker Street. Walking tours and children's programs by appointment only. ASPEN MUSIC FESTIVAL & SCHOOL: Daily concerts with something for everyone. ASPEN RECREATION CENTER: A brand new multi-use sports facility housing a 32-foot climbing tower, NHL-size ice arena, locker rooms, youth center, playing fields, and aquatic center complete with lap pool and recreation pool with a “lazy river,” slides, and sprayers. Day use admission, punch passes, and memberships available. ASPEN THEATRE: Theatre at its best, June 30–August 27, Reservations recommended. BUNGEE TRAMPOLINE: From the world of extreme sports comes this hybrid of the trampoline! Using multiple bungee cords, the traditional trampoline is superboosted to give a gravity-defying ride giving all the adrenaline of bungee jumping but none of the risks. Jumpers are able to reach heights that would be impossible using a traditional trampoline alone. Jumpers are secured and safe in their adjustable harness and they are free to experiment with acrobatic movements or to simply jump as high as they can. The rapid rate at which confidence skyrockets after your first double somersault creates a contagious buzz between both participants and spectators. The cost of each two-minute jump is $5.00. The Bungee Trampoline is located at Spider Sabich at the top of the Burlingame Lift. It is open from 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. daily! Purchase your tickets at Snowmass Mountain Outfitters or on site. CAMP SNOWMASS: A unique day camp, where youngsters can mountain board, fly fish, horseback ride, play tennis, swim, even build and launch their own rockets, and participate in other adventures. Ages 3–13. Monday–Friday 8–4PM. CHAIR LIFT RIDES, SNOWMASS SKI AREA: Burlingame Chairlift to the Spider Sabich Race Arena newly equipped with summer activities and concession stand open daily, June- August, from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. CLIMBING WALL: Test your mountain climbing skills in a safe environment on our 25-foot climbing wall at the on- mountain activity area. All climbers are harnessed and supervised. Daily from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.. for ages 5 years and up. $5.00 for two climbs. $20 for ten climbs. $100 for unlimited climbs season pass. Purchase tickets at the climbing wall. CONCERTS: See "MUSIC, MUSIC, MUSIC!" below. DINING: With one restaurant for every 55 folks, hunger and boredom are simply not options. Looking for a James Beard chef? No problem. Fancy a backwater bar? Take your pick. Ask us where to find the best cigar, the best champagne, the best atmosphere...or the best stargazing. Check out our "Dining" page for a complete list of Snowmass dining opportunities. DISC GOLF: Try your hand at this unique sport! Our 18-hole disc (Frisbee®) golf course meanders from the top of the Burlingame Lift down to the Snowmass Village Mall. There is a $5.00 deposit per disc; the scorecards are FREE. Pick them up at Snowmass Mountain Outfitters on the Snowmass Village Mall. FARMER’S MARKET and craft fair in Aspen, Saturdays, on Hopkins Street, 8:30AM–3:30PM, June 18–Oct. 29. FESTIVALS: From art shows to brewfests, Snowmass Village and Aspen have something happening every weekend throughout the summer. See our "Calendar of Events" or "What's New" pages to see what's happening while you will be here. FLY FISHING: "Gold Medal" rainbow and brown trout streams surround the Snowmass area. Local outfitters will fill you in on the rules, rent the equipment, and provide the license. Lessons are available. Full/half day trips available. GOLF: Tee off on any of three challenging courses within thirty minutes of our front door. Just minutes from the heart of Snowmass Village lies the Aspen Golf Club, offering stunning views of the Continental Divide, Maroon Bells, Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, and Buttermilk Mountain. A few miles down the highway lies River Valley Ranch, the Roaring Fork Valley's newest public golf course. Built along the lush banks of the Crystal River, this 18-hole course offers a unique challenge with four holes that play directly over the Crystal River. Or, stay right here in town on the completely re-created Snowmass Golf Course—speak with our concierge about scheduling and tee- times. GONDOLA RIDES: The Silver Queen Gondola travels 21/2 miles to the 11,212-foot summit of Aspen Mountain in just 18 minutes, with spectacular views of the Elk Mountains and the town of Aspen. Daily, June 11–Sept. 5, and Sept. 10-11, 10AM–4PM. Tickets available on the Gondola Plaza. HANDS ON HISTORY: Interactive programs for children ages 3–12 including Victorian arts, storytime, and exploration of archeology & restoration in the Aspen area. HIKING: There are countless trails in Snowmass for everyone from the extreme hiker to the not-so extreme nature walker. Our concierge has maps and can recommend trails, or you can see the backcountry on a guided tour. Try a short hike on the Ditch Trail for an amazing view of the Snowmass Creek Valley or continue on into the scenic Maroon Bells Snowmass Wilderness Area. Government Trail traverses Snowmass Mountain from the end of the Ditch Trail and connects to Aspen via the Tiehack area of Buttermilk. Cross Mountain Trail links the Uhlrhof Restaurant area and Elk Camp/East Government area. On the north side of Snowmass Village, the Rim Trail offers panoramic views of Mt. Daly, Capital Peak, Mt. Sopris, and the Snowmass Ski Area. Take a free all-ages Mountain Orientation Tour with a naturalist from the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES). They will share tips on wildflowers, animal tracks, and birds on a two-hour guided walk along the Snowmass Nature Trail, Monday through Saturday at 10:00 a.m. Meet at the Ticket Pavilion at the end of the Snowmass Village Mall. They also offer On-Mountain Nature Walks and Hikes; beautiful walks or more challenging hikes that will take you to fascinating views of Snowmass Village and surrounding areas. Averaging between 2 and 3 hours, they are fun for all ages and FREE. Weather can change rapidly; please dress appropriately. (Hikes tend to be more strenuous.) Walks take place Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; hikes are on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Meet at the Ticket Pavilion at the end of the Snowmass Village Mall at 1:00 p.m. (Guided nature hikes may require purchase of a chair lift ticket.) HORSEBACK RIDING: Enjoy a variety of trail rides for all levels and abilities at Aspen Wilderness Outfitters, Ltd., plus wagon rides, pony rides, fishing, and a petting zoo. HOT AIR BALLOON RIDES: Start your morning off with a champagne brunch while soaring amongst the beautiful peaks of the Elk Range. Above It All Balloon Company. ICE SKATING: The Aspen Ice Garden is a full-sized enclosed skating facility offering public skating, skate rentals, private lessons, and more. INDEPENDENCE GHOST TOWN: Self-guided tours of an authentic pre-1900 mining town, June–September. JEEPING/4WD TOURS: Guided 4WD tours can take you where others fear to tread! See the back-country and high mountains, historical ghost towns, and beautiful scenery you can't see from a paved road. Sunset Jeep Tour to Burlingame Cabin—includes dinner & bonfire. Blazing Adventures. KIDS' GOLD PANNING ADVENTURE: Send your kids on a prospecting adventure with Old George Steele, the famous local miner. The kids ride the chairlift to mid-mountain and then hike our secret trail to the lost Buckskin Mine. They will learn how to pan for gold, learn some local history and enjoy a prospector's snack. All kids will strike gold and have a chance to exchange it for supplies at the Assay office. Trips are two hours and the cost is $30.00 per child. Gold Panning Adventures are for children age four to twelve. Trips run Tuesdays and Thursdays 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Reservations are required. KIDS KRAFTS on the Snowmass Mall, Thursdays, June 16–Sept. 2. MAROON BELLS BUS TOURS: Take a scenic half-hour tour to the most photographed peaks in North America. These stunning natural wonders are the most photographed peaks in the world. RFTA riders can hike, explore, or just take in the majestic Maroon Bells. Hike on your own or join a talk by an ACES naturalist. The park is closed to automobile traffic during peak summer hours. Tour buses depart from the base of Aspen Highlands. MOUNTAIN BIKING: From the bold to the fainthearted, Snowmass Village has trails for everyone. Some of the best riding in the country is right here outside our doors. From the world-famous Government Trail to local favorite Rim Trail, there is something for everyone. Even if you don’t want to earn your fun, the lifts carry bikes, so you can ascend in ease and then enjoy traverses and downhills on the mountain. There are so many trails on Snowmass Mountain they don’t even all have official names. Popular routes include Cross Mountain, Luge, Village Bound, and there is even a new free-riding course below the top of Burlingame Lift. Several bike shops on the Snowmass Village Mall can set you up with everything from the bike to the water bottle. Or save on a guided bike tour with Blazing Adventures when you book a package on our Activities Packages page! MOUNTAIN BOARDING: The hottest new mountain sport combines snowboarding and skateboarding. Rentals available in at Snowmass Sports, 923-3567. MOVIES ON FANNY HILL: Snowmass, at dusk, Fridays, July 8–Aug. 26, free! MUSIC, MUSIC, MUSIC! Snowmass Village and Aspen host more than 250 concerts each summer, including jazz events, free concerts on Fanny Hill, and classical programs in Aspen’s beautiful Benedict Music Tent. That's why we've become known as the place for "music in the mountains." Enjoy live, outdoor concerts in magnificent settings. The high-energy Jazz Festivals on June 24-26 and Labor Day weekend will rock your socks off. Free Snowmass Village Summer of Music concerts on the base of Fanny Hill, adjacent to The Silvertree Hotel, take place on Thursdays and select Saturdays, June 30–August 25. MUSIC ON THE MOUNTAIN: Saturdays starting July 2, Aspen Music Festival presents live recitals at 1PM on Aspen Mountain. NATURE WALKS: Mon.–Sat.: leisurely and informative hikes up the Snowmass Nature Trail, 1 p.m.; on-mountain nature tours, 10 a.m., hosted by Aspen Center for Environmental Studies, free for all ages. PAINTBALL: Bring in your team for an exciting game of paintball held in a unique wooded, mountain setting. Groups meet next to the Spider Sabich Race Arena. All gear and transportation provided. Six person minimum, reservations required, $30 per person all-inclusive. PARAGLIDING: Soar amongst scenic peaks with an USHGA-certified pilot on a tandem paragliding flight! Aspen Paragliding PHYSICS LECTURES: Lectures by world-renowned physicists at the Paepcke Auditorium. Aspen Center for Physics; www.aspenphys.org. RODEO: Discover the Old West as you watch real cowboys compete for cash prizes in bareback riding, team roping, dally ribbon roping, barrel racing, and bull riding, every Wednesday night. A kids' calf scramble contest and other activities make it a hoot for the young'uns. June 22–Aug. 27. Rodeo grounds open at 5:00PM; rodeo starts at 7:00PM. Contact our concierge for ticket info. SHOPPING: Between Snowmass and Aspen, you can find everything from cowboy boots to Manolo Blahniks and everything in between. The combination of world-class luxury boutiques and traditional local shops makes for a delightfully eclectic mix. Dozens of art galleries round out a retail experience that is second to none. SPA TREATMENTS: After all that physical and intellectual stimulation, you’ll need a little TLC. And we wrote the book on fluffing and buffing. You work hard, you play hard, so take a day to pamper yourself. What the heck, take two. See our "Massage Services" page to see how we can make you melt. STORYTELLING & SING-A-LONG under the stars, Mon. & Weds., June 20–August 31 SUMMER SPEAKER SERIES: The Aspen Institute hosts top speakers from around the world to speak on timely and stimulating issues of the day. TROUT FISHING: See “Fly Fishing.” WEST END WALKING TOUR: Aspen Historical Society’s West End Walking Tour begins at the historic Hotel Jerome and ends at the newly renovated Wheeler/Stallard Museum, $10 per person. By appointment all summer long. WHITEWATER RAFTING: The Aspen/Snowmass area is one of the top ten whitewater rafting areas in the entire country. Select from calm float trips to hair-raising rapids and just about everything in between! Half day and full day trips are available. Save on rafting trips with Blazing Adventures when you book a package with your lodging! Let our concierge help you with activity reservations! If you are staying at the Silvertree Hotel, Wildwood Lodge, or at Village Property Management condominiums (with the following exceptions) call 970-923-8254 or send an e-mail to concierge@silvertreehotel.com. If you are staying at the Villas at Snowmass Club, call 970-923-8309 or e-mail them at villasconcierge@silvertreehotel.com. (All information is subject to change, so we encourage you to contact our concierge with any questions.)