Aspen Colorado, A complete guide to hiking Highlands Bowl
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The infamous Highlands bowl, located in Aspen Colorado is one of those resort hikes where the juice is definitely worth the squeeze. A friend once quoted that it’s probably the best inbounds terrain you’ll be able to ride in Colorado and the closest you’ll get to riding back country with out having to go into the back country. It seems that when the resort reports a few inches theres always 6-8 more up top in the bowl, turning a light dusting into a blower powder day.
Highlands is one out of four resorts in Aspen, and on any given day there’s also almost no people at this resort, which makes lift lines none existent and laps endless. In this post I’ll be going over how to get to Highlands, parking, where to stay, what to expect, and details on the hike. Alright lets do this!
Where is Aspen Highlands
Aspen Highlands will be in between downtown Aspen and Snowmass with Buttermilk being right up the street. Aspen itself is about 4 hours west of Denver. Below I listed times and distances from Denver International Airport and other major areas. You’ll be able to see the peak of Highlands when driving into downtown Aspen if the skies are clear and it is quiet the view. If you fly into Aspen International Airport, you will be right out the street from everything.
Denver International Airport- 4 hours/219 miles/352 km
Vail- 2 hours/102 miles/164 km
Summit County- 2 hours 45 minutes/130 miles/209 km
Where to stay
There’s going to be lodging right at the base of Highlands, however if you like riding all four mountains I would also consider staying in downtown Aspen or Snowmass. VRBO or Hotels.com is where I book most of my stays for snowboard trips. I like staying in Snowmass because the lodging is a little less expensive yet your still close to everything.
Is Aspen Ikon or Epic and how much are lift tickets
Aspen is on the Ikon, however you only get 7 days total combined, at all 4 mountains (Snowmass, Ajax, Highlands, Buttermilk). With the Ikon Base Plus, you’ll get 5 days, but with Blackout dates. There are different Aspen pass options that vary in price, with the unlimited no Blackout dates pass costing over $3,000. Expensive, but the plus side is the mountains don’t get crowded, especially on the weekdays. Lift tickets will be just over $200 for the day. If you plan on riding more then three days, only in Aspen, I would look into the Valley Pass. This is a 7 day pass with no blackout dates.
Where to park
You can park at the base of Highlands or in a few of the free lots they have nearby. Parking is $25/day at the base of the resort. However! the three free lots are Brush Creek, Rodeo, and Buttermilk. Busses run often and are free within the Aspen area, just hop on the bus that goes to downtown Aspen. The route has a drop off at the round-about on Maroon Creek Road, where you need to get on another bus that takes you right to Highlands Village (it’s not as complicated as it sounds). The Rodeo Lot is the free lot near Snowmass. Check the RFTA site for schedules.
What to expect
Highlands will be much smaller then Snowmass, however it doesn’t usually get crowded and the bowl is what makes this resort so special and unique. Most of the mountain will be for the more advanced skier or snowboarder, however there are still some easy runs that are great on the frontside for a beginner to intermediate rider. If you have the ability to hike and ride the bowl, I highly recommend trying it. The experience isn’t something you can experience at most ski resorts, continue reading for more info!
When hiking the bowl expect there to be steep parts and heavy winds throughout your hike. On deep powder days it’s also fun to ride Olympic bowl and Steeplechase. I noticed that when the snow gets tracked out these areas of the mountain can get bumpy, so not as fun to ride through.
Mountain Stats
Months of operation in the winter: Mid December to Mid April
Bowl operating hours: Usually 10ish-2:30pm
Vertical Feet- 3,365 (1026 Meters)
Skiable acres- 1,040
Highlands Bowl Peak- 12,392 feet (3,777 meters)
Does Aspen Get a lot of snow
Part of the Elk Mountain Range, Aspen can get some awesome storms. If you love powder, January and February can bring some deep days at Highlands, especially in the bowl! The snow seems to just stack up in Highlands Bowl. Aspen itself can see more then 250 inches of snow/year, but on average they receive 200-300 inches/year (508 cm-the 762 cm).
How to Get to Highlands Bowl
Pretty simple, to get to the bowl, you’ll hop on the lift right at the base of the mountain, Exhibition. When you get off the lift ride down just a little bit past the Highlands Bowl Information center, and hang a right to the Loge Lift.
The Loge lift not only is the way to Highlands bowl, but also is a way to access pretty much the entire mountain if you don’t feel like hiking the bowl. Once you get off the lift head straight and you will see signs that point to the start of the hike! The views from Loge are also amazing, especially on a sunny bluebird day.
There is a cat that runs at the base of the hike, that will shave off some time and energy if it is operating that day. It’s free and doesn’t cost anything.
Is the hike challenging and how long does it take
The hike is a bit of a challenge, especially if you are coming from a lower elevation. Slow and steady is the name of the game for this hike. There’s a portion of the hike that locals dubbed, heart attack ridge, which will be the most challenging part. Depending on your speed the hike takes about 45 min to an hour on average I would say.
What are the best spots to take photos
This all depends on visibility! Sunny or partly cloudy days will be your best bet for amazing views. Two of my favorite places to grab photos will be close to the top, looking out to the right. They are Hunter Peak shown in the second photo below and Maroon Bells/Pyramid Peak, which can be seen off in the distance from the bootlick.
Where should we drop when we get to the top
One thing to keep in mind is that there will be a couple places to drop early if you don’t feel like hiking all the way to the top, such as Box Car and Whip’s Veneration. A pro tip is to hike the bowl and then if you still have energy hike it a second time, but descend into one of the early drop points. These tend to be more untouched because everyone hikes to the top.
There’s multiple drop areas once you get to the top and if you’ve never ridden the bowl you’re going to be thinking, “where do I go?” The lookers right and the middle tend to be a bit steeper, with lookers left a little more mellow as you descend. Watch out for rocks at the very top and then once you drop in, enjoy the deep turns that Highlands Bowl can be known for!
I like to drop lookers left and ride the trees on that side of the bowl. Either Hines-Site or G-3/G-4. It’s a little more hidden and there never seems to be too many tracks through this area.
How long of a run is the bowl to the bottom
Once you ride the main part of the terrain, it will flatten out significantly in what’s call the North, Middle, and South Fork. This area is wide open with a few trees that you can ride through as well. The run will eventually funnel down spit you back onto a catwalk and you’ll take the Deep Temerity lift to get back to where you originally started at the top of Loge. It takes about 20 minutes I would say from the top of the bowl to the Deep Temerity Lift depending on your speed.
Any unwritten rules
A few things to keep in mind when doing the hike are to follow the boot pack and to let people behind you pass if they are going quicker then you (as long as your in an area that you can get over).
What should we pack
Make sure to apply sunscreen beforehand and to have chapstick with you
Pack water and snacks, HydraPak is great for this hike. The water bottle can fit into your jacket pocket.
Check the weather ahead of time and layer accordingly! I like wearing a shell with good ventilation and if it’s really cold a lightweight puffy such as the Burton Baker down
A helmet, not that you shouldn’t try to wear one all the time, but because the terrain is more advanced I would recommend wearing one
Is there anywhere to eat on the Mountain
There is a couple places on the mountain such as Cloud 9 Bistro. They’ll have your standard sandwiches, soups, fries, and salads. In the spring there’s a nice deck to chill on and grab a drink. For breakfast, Cafe Siena will be right at the base. Good spot for a lift snack or coffee.
Can you do Highlands Bowl if you’re a beginner
I wouldn’t recommend it honestly unless you’re more of an advanced rider. The runs are all considered double blacks. However the resort still has some nice cruiser blue runs off of Loge, Exhibition, and Cloud 9 lifts
Any ski or snowboard shops at the mountain
There is a Four Mountain Sports at the base for Ski/Snowboard rentals, outerwear, gloves, goggles, etc. There’s also a Strafe outerwear shop at the base as well, a local Aspen outerwear brand. If you’re looking to buy ski or snowboard equipment I would check out shops in either Downtown Aspen or Snowmass. There’s a Four Mountain Sports in the Snowmass Village mall as well as Radio Boardshop in downtown Aspen (Snowboards only). Ski Shops in Downtown Aspen include Miller Sports and Aspen Sports.
Is there anywhere to Après at
For Après, check out downtown Aspen as there will be a lot more options for restaurants and bars. It’s also cool to check out the town after a day on the mountain.One of the best restaurants for food in general not just Apres, is the White House Tavern. They have a great menu, music, and ambience inside!
That’s a wrap on Aspen Highlands and riding the bowl. Thanks for reading and if you liked this post and want information on outdoor content, subscribe to our email list below. Looking to take a cool ski or snowboard trip? Check out Mt Baker in Washington! See you on the next post.
