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. Free tours on Tuesdays at 4pm, plus lectures, workshops, and other events. Ashcroft Ghost Town: 10 miles south of Aspen on the Castle Creek Road, guided tours available all summer. Self-guided tours anytime. Call 925-5756 to confirm tour times. $3 adults, children under 10 free. Aspen Art Museum: Features changing exhibitions with emphasis on contemporary art. Aspen Center For Environmental Studies (ACES): 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. 100 Puppy Smith St. in Aspen, behind the Post Office. Aspen Historical Society: Wheeler/ Stallard Museum archives offer a glimpse of the history of the Roaring Fork Valley. Walking tours and children’s programs by appointment only, 620 East Bleeker Street. Aspen Music Festival & School: A world-famous classical music program, with daily concerts and events. Aspen Recreation Center: A multi-use sports facility housing a 32-foot climbing tower, pro-size ice arena, locker rooms, youth center, playing fields, and aquatic center complete with lap pool and recreation pool with a “lazy river, slide, and sprayers. Day use admission, punch passes, and memberships available. Campfire Dinners: This evening jeep excursion and dinner at the historic Burlingame Cabin on Snowmass offers sprawling vistas of Mount Daly and a delicious dinner hot off the grill. A campfire, live music, s’mores and a golden sun setting against the magnificent Elk Mountains complete this ideal dining adventure for families or groups. Reservations required. Daily, 6–9 p.m. Camp Snowmass: Adventure is the spirit! Hours of excitement for children ages two to teens, including mountainboarding, skateboarding, rafting, paintball, rocket camps, and much more! Daily, weekly, and monthly rates. June 1–Sept. 4. Group and private lessons available for all ages. Ask about new Family Days. Mon.–Fri., 8 a.m.–4 p.m.; meet at the Treehouse Kids’ Adventure Center. Cost: Program-specific. Chair Lift Rides, Snowmass Ski Area: Snowmass’ lofty views are best seen from the Burlingame chairlift; hike, bike, or ride back down. Free guided hikes, mountain biking trails, wildflowers and panoramic mountain vistas, and disc golf courses. Try lunch at the historic Lynn Britt Cabin on weekends. Wed.–Sun., June 24–Sept. 7; 9:30 a.m.–4 p.m., on Fanny Hill. Ticket Pavilion at the end of the Snowmass Village Mall, Adults (18-69); $10; seniors (70 and older), and youth (7–17): $6; kids 6 and under: FREE! Concerts: See the Calendar of Events. Disc Golf: Challenge yourself on our 18-hole on-mountain disc golf course. The course meanders from the top of the Burlingame lift all they way down to the Snowmass Mall. Score cards and course maps are free and available at the top of the Burlingame lift. Discs are available for rent or purchase at Four-Mountain Sports. Hiking shoes and plenty of water are recommended. May–Oct. (depending on snowpack) FREE! (Burlingame chairlift ride requires lift ticket purchase.) Family Trout Fishing: Experience the thrill of landing a Rocky Mountain rainbow trout on a private guided fishing trip. Cost includes transportation, equipment, snacks and drinks. Begins June 1, daily at 9:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m., size limit: 6. 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: The completely re-created Snowmass Golf Course, designed by James Engh, features stunning views of Mt. Daly and the Snowmass Ski Area. Just minutes from Snowmass Village lies the Aspen Golf Club, offering stunning mountain views. A few miles down the highway lies River Valley Ranch, the Roaring Fork Valley’s newest public golf course. Speak with our concierge about scheduling and tee-times. Gondola Rides: The Silver Queen Gondola travels 2½ 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, dates, cost, and times TBD. 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. Horseback Riding: Enjoy a variety of trail rides for all levels and abilities at Aspen Wilderness Outfitters or T-Lazy-7 Ranch, plus wagon rides, pony rides, and more. 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 or Unicorn Balloon Company. Ice Skating: The Aspen Ice Garden is a full-sized enclosed skating facility offering public skating, skate rentals, private lessons, and more. Also see “Aspen Recreation Center,” above. Independence Ghost Town: Self-guided tours of an authentic 1879 mining town located 13.5 miles east of Aspen on Highway 82. Open daily for self-guided tours, June–Sept. Suggested donations $3/adults, children free. 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, with Blazing Adventures. Kids’ Krafts: The mountains are sure to inspire unique creations at this free crafts hour for children. Parents can join in the fun or drop off their children to fashion unique vacation mementos such as hats, backpacks, treasure boxes and bird feeders. Every Thursday, June 25–Aug. 27, 4–5 p.m., Snowmass Ticket Pavilion, FREE! Maroon Bells Bus Tours: Take a scenic half-hour tour to the most photographed peaks in North America. RFTA riders can hike, explore, or just take in the majestic Maroon Bells. The park is closed to automobile traffic during peak summer hours. RFTA buses depart from the base of Aspen Highlands. Mountain Biking: From the bold to the fainthearted, Snowmass Village has trails for everyone. Several bike shops can set you up with everything from the bike to the water bottle. The chairlifts are able to carry bikes! (See chairlift hours above.) Rentals available at many local venues, some with shuttle service available. Nature Walks & Hikes (On-Mountain): Check out the spectacular mountain views, alpine forests, and wildflower meadows while learning about local wildlife on these Aspen Center for Environment Studies (ACES) naturalist-guided walks or hikes. Averaging around two hours, these tours are an ideal introduction to Snowmass’ extensive trail system. Weather can change rapidly, please dress appropriately. Daily,1 p.m., meet in the Ticket Pavilion at the end of the Snowmass Village Mall. FREE; lift ticket is required for guided walks. Nature Trail Walk: Enjoy an easy two-hour guided walk along the gentle, kid-friendly Snowmass Nature Trail. A naturalist from the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES) shares tips on wildflowers, animal tracks and birds. Daily, 10 a.m., meet in the Ticket Pavilion at the end of Snowmass Village Mall. Free! Paintball: Snowmass offers an outdoor paintball course at the top of the Burlingame chairlift for children ages 8 and older and adults. Special group rates and packages available. Fri., Sat. & Sun. at 9:30 a.m. (or by appointment for private groups of 10 or more, begins June 26). Reservations required. Paragliding: Soar amongst scenic peaks with an USHGA-certified pilot on a tandem paragliding flight from near the summit of Aspen Mountain with Aspen Paragliding! No prior experience necessary. Rodeo: Calendar of Events. Snowmass Recreation Center: State-of-the-art amenities include Matrix cardio equipment, a weight room, four outdoor pools with water features for kids, an adult hot tub, and exercise classes. Open daily, Brush Creek Road across from the Snowmass Club golf course. Tennis: The Snowmass Club boasts 11 outdoor courts. USTPA pros offer private, semi-private and group lessons. Theatre Aspen: Aspen’s only professional theatre features Broadway and local artists. 2009 repertory season: 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, A Year With Frog and Toad, and Chapter Two. Family-friendly show times, June 23–Aug. 22. Treehouse Kids’ Adventure Center: This amazing 25,000 sq. ft. facility in Base Village shares the wonder of the mountain environment in tactile, fun, and educational ways for every family to enjoy. The Treehouse includes six age-specific, interactive, nature-themed rooms created to bring the outdoors inside. West End Walking Tour: Aspen Historical Society’s West End Walking Tour begins at the historic Hotel Jerome and ends at the Wheeler/Stallard Museum, $10 per person, Tuesday–Saturday. 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 from Blazing Adventures. 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.)