Dining &

Drinks

Restaurants ($$$$)

• Duemani, Matsuhisa, D’Angelos, Cache Cache, Sant Ambroeus

Restaurants ($$$)

• Acqualina, Campo di Fiore, Clark’s Oyster Bar

Restaurants ($-$$)
(unfortunately casual/affordable options in Aspen are limited!)

• Big Wrap (An Aspen favorite!), White House Tavern, Meat & Cheese, CP Burger, Spring Cafe, Bear Den

Drinks

• Hooch: Swanky cocktail bar

Sightseeing:

1. Take the Gondola to the Top of Aspen Mountain

2. Maroon Bells. An iconic Aspen Valley highlight. The best 2 ways to get there: bus or bike

• Bus/Shuttle: This is the primary way to access the Bells. The Shuttle leaves from Aspen Highlands. Make a reservation for the Shuttle ahead of time. You can take the free public bus from town to Aspen Highlands to meet your shuttle.

• The shuttle runs from Aspen Highlands to the Marroon Lake Trailhead (15min).

• Bike: It's a pretty steep climb on the road up to the Bells, but very doable on e-bikes! We've done this with visitors of many fitness levels - it's a beautiful ride.

• Once you're at the Bells, it's beautiful to just walk around or hang by the water. Or if you're up for it, it's ~1.5 mile hike to Crater Lake.

Hiking:

There are endless hikes of all lengths & difficulty levels. Many within walking distance of town. Below are a few of our favorites (we recommend checking AllTrails if you want additional ideas). 

• Smuggler Mountain: ~15 minute walk from town

  • Our difficulty rating: 4/10 (3 miles / 1 hour round trip)

• Ute Trail: ~10 min walk from town. Take a photo from the rock at the top!

  • Our difficulty rating: 7/10 (3 miles / 2 hours round trip). 2x steeper than Smuggler

• American Lake: ~20 minute drive from town

  • Our difficulty rating: 6/10 (6 miles / 3.5 hr. round trip to the lake)

• Aspen Mountain: Leave direct from town and take the Gondola back down. It runs Friday-Sunday 10am-4pm so be sure to be at the top in time to get a ride down.

  • Our difficulty rating: 9/10 (~4 miles and 3,300 ft up. / 3 hours up)

• Rio Grande Trail: 5 minute walk from down. Beautiful flat paved path along the river - great for walking and/or biking.

  • Our difficulty rating: 2/10 (flat!)

Biking:

• Can rent at Four Mountain Sports (including e-bikes!)

• Some of our favorites routes for Road Biking: Maroon Bells, Castle Creek Road

• Some of our favorites routes for Mountain Biking: Four Corners, Airline Trail

• Also fun to bike to Woody Creek Tavern for lunch (essentially flat, 7 miles each way)

Golf / Racquet Sports:

• Aspen Golf Club is 6 min drive from town. Suggest booking tee times in advance.

• Aspen Meadows Racquet Sports Center. Padel! Pickleball, tennis. Suggest reserving court ahead of time.

Others:

• Aspen Art Museum, John Denver Sanctuary (park)

• Aspen has many other outdoor activities (e.g., fly fishing, rock climbing)! Ute Mountaineer is the go-to for equipment and information — call or walk in for suggestions. We recommend booking equipment in advance when possible.