Aspen Highlands is the Aspen mountain locals love for steeps, where expert skiers hike the legendary Highland Bowl to a 12,392-foot summit and everyone else soaks up some of the best Maroon Bells views in Colorado.

Aspen Highlands sits just outside town off Maroon Creek Road and is one of the four Aspen Snowmass mountains on a single lift ticket. The Forest Service lists 1,028 acres of terrain, 118 trails, five lifts (three high-speed quads and two triples), a 3.5-mile longest run and 3,635 feet of vertical rise. More than a third of the mountain is rated expert, and the lift-served Temerity area is known for steep, sustained pitches.

The star is Highland Bowl, about 270 acres of in-bounds, hike-to terrain that tops out at 12,392 feet, often called Colorado’s ultimate in-bounds backcountry run. After a hard morning, Cloud Nine Alpine Bistro serves fondue and European-style alpine fare with the Maroon Bells as a backdrop, while Merry-Go-Round mid-mountain keeps things casual. On select evenings, snowcats carry guests up for gourmet after-hours dinners at Cloud Nine. In summer, pair a visit with the famous Maroon Bells a few miles up the same valley.

Insider tip: Highland Bowl is serious terrain at altitude, so give yourself a day or two to acclimate first, and check the snow report and bowl status before you start the hike. Lifts run from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. To get there, drive half a mile west of Aspen on Highway 82 to the roundabout, take Maroon Creek Road about two miles, and turn left into the ski area.

Aspen Highlands opens for the 2026/27 season on December 12, 2026, the same day as Buttermilk, and is scheduled to close April 11, 2027. That opening weekend Aspen Skiing Company celebrates its 80th anniversary with lift ticket and rental discounts, while Wintersköl marks its 75th year with snow sculptures, live music and fireworks. Aspen Mountain and Snowmass open earlier, in late November. See aspensnowmass.com for lift status.