7 miles from Snowmass and on the same lift ticket, skiing Highlands is an experience you'll never forget.
Skiing Highlands...
With some of the most stunning and challenging big-mountain terrain, Aspen Highlands just keeps getting better. Look for expanded terrain in the Deep Temerity area – that’s a bonus on top of the 220 acres which was already added over the last several seasons. Canopy Cruiser, located to the right of Steeplechase and below Hyde Park, will give 18 additional acres of gladed skiing/riding. Also not to be missed: Take a snowcat ride to the ridge where you can hike up and drop into the Highland Bowl for the ultimate in-bounds backcountry experience.
Season dates: December 12, 2008 - April 4, 2009
Lift hours: All lifts open at 9 a.m. and close at 3:30 p.m.
Base elevation: 8,040 ft./2,451 m.
Summit elevation: 11,675 ft./3,559 m. (top of Highland Bowl 12,392 ft.)
Vertical rise: 3,635 ft./1,108 m.
Terrain: 1,028 acres/416 hectares
Number of trails: 125
Miles/km of trails: 84 miles/135 km
Longest run: 3.5 miles/5.6 km
Steepest run: Go-Go Gully, Highland Bowl (description on Highlands' Extreme Guide) – slope angle of 48 degrees
Types of trails: easiest: 18%, more difficult: 30%, most difficult: 16%, expert: 36%
Annual snowfall: 300 inches/762 cm
Snowmaking: 110 acres/44 hectares
Lifts: 5: 3 high-speed quads, 2 triples
Lift capacity: 6,500 riders/hour
Uncrowded slopes: On average, 2 people per acre/5 people per hectare
Best known for: Steep, big-mountain skiing in Highland Bowl, Olympic Bowl and Steeplechase; Deception, Aces and 8's on the Olympic Side
Best-kept secret: The newly extended Mushroom trail will test even the fittest legs of mogul enthusiasts. For incredible skiing/riding on a powder day, head to Child's Play in the Highland Bowl. Or, check out Log Jam Gully, Bowling Alley and Fran's Love in Deep Temerity.
What's New: In 2008-2009 Aspen Highlands will add up to 18 additional acres of skiing and riding in the Deep Temerity area of the mountain between Hyde Park and Mushroom Chutes called Canopy Cruiser.
Location: Within the White River National Forest, 3 miles from downtown Aspen
Lodging: 14,303 pillows within a 10-mile radius. For more information, please call Stay Aspen Snowmass at 970-925-9000 or 888-649-5985.
Rental/Retail: Four-Mountain Sports at the base of the mountain
Restaurants: 5 TOTAL: Merry-Go-Round, Cloud Nine Alpine Bistro, Willow Creek Bistro, Crust Pizzeria, ZG Grill
Parking: High Occupancy Vehicles (4 or more people) park for FREE at Aspen Highlands. Paid parking is enforced from 7:30 a.m. to noon daily. No charge for vehicles arriving after noon, space available. Daily parking fee is $12; 10-pass punch card available for $85.
FREE Bus Service: Highlands skier shuttle runs every 15-20 min. Take the bus from Snowmass to Buttermilk and jump on the Aspen Skiing Company Shuttle to Highlands. A van runs from the designated Highlands parking lot at Buttermilk to Highlands beginning at 7 a.m. The shuttle runs every 15 min. to 11:30 a.m. From 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. the shuttle runs every 30 min. Shuttle resumes every 15 min. schedule at 2:30 p.m. at Highlands until the last run from Highlands to Buttermilk at 5:30 p.m. Pocket cards with times are available at the Highlands Guest Service desk.