Aspen Mountain, known to locals as Ajax, is the steep and storied ski mountain that rises straight out of downtown Aspen. Step off a street lined with boutiques and cafes, board the Silver Queen Gondola and minutes later you are standing at 11,212 feet with views across the Elk Mountains, ready to carve groomers and glades all the way back to town.

Skiing on Aspen Mountain took off in 1946, when Lift-1 opened as the longest chairlift in the world at the time, helping turn a quiet silver-mining town into one of America’s most famous ski resorts. Today the mountain offers 675 acres, 76 trails and a 3,267-foot vertical rise from a base of about 7,945 feet. There is no true beginner terrain here, so Ajax is best for confident intermediate and expert skiers and snowboarders who want long, fast runs like Ruthie’s, Copper and the bumps of Bell Mountain. New for this season, the Nell Bell chairlift gives high-speed access from Gondola Plaza to the top of Bell Mountain.

The six-passenger Silver Queen Gondola, opened in 1986, rises the full 3,267 feet from town to summit in about 14 minutes. At the top, the Sundeck serves lunch and apres with big views, Bonnie’s is a beloved mid-mountain stop for pancakes and soup, and Ajax Tavern anchors the base by the gondola. One lift ticket also covers Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk and Snowmass. In summer and fall, pair a visit with a drive over Independence Pass or a trip to the Maroon Bells.

Aspen Mountain is scheduled to open for the 2026-27 season on Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026, Thanksgiving Day, and to close on April 18, 2027, weather permitting. The season brings classic events such as Wintersköl and Aspen Gay Ski Week, along with the new Nell Bell chairlift. Check season dates, lift status and grooming reports on aspensnowmass.com.