Winter Activities in Aspen, CO for Non-Skiers

Aspen is famous for its four world-class ski mountains, but not everyone who spends the winter here clicks into a pair of skis. I've lived in the Roaring Fork Valley since 2007, and some of my favorite winter days have nothing to do with the slopes. From snowmobiling to the base of the Maroon Bells to a quiet afternoon at the Aspen Art Museum, there are plenty of things to do in Aspen besides skiing.

Whether you're visiting for the holidays, traveling with a mix of skiers and non-skiers, or thinking about making Aspen your home, here are the best winter activities in Aspen and Snowmass Village for anyone who'd rather skip the lift line.

Aspen Winter Activities at a Glance

1. Snowmobile to the Maroon Bells With T-Lazy-7 Ranch

If you want speed and big mountain views without skiing, snowmobiling is hard to beat. T-Lazy-7 Ranch runs guided snowmobile tours through the White River National Forest from late November through early April, typically Tuesday through Saturday.

The most popular option is the Maroon Bells Tour, a roughly two-hour ride up Maroon Creek Road to Maroon Lake at the base of the Bells, finished with hot cocoa. Rates start at $325 for a single rider and $425 for two riders on one sled. For a longer day, the Klondike Lunch Tour (about 2.5 to 3 hours) winds through aspen groves to a historic wilderness cabin for a warm cooked lunch, starting at $375 single or $525 double. The most ambitious option, the Independence Pass Tour, climbs to roughly 11,000 feet and explores the ghost town of Independence. Call the ranch for rates. If you've only seen Independence Pass in summer, seeing it buried in snow is something else entirely.

Good to know:

• Drivers must be at least 18. Passengers must be at least 4 for the Maroon Bells Tour and 7 for the Klondike Lunch Tour.
• Helmets with full visors are included. Wear waterproof pants, a jacket, gloves, and boots.
• A credit card is required to reserve, and cancellations within 24 hours of the tour are charged 50%.

Book a T-Lazy-7 snowmobile tour.

2. Go Snowshoeing With ACES or on Aspen's Winter Trails

Snowshoeing is one of the easiest ways to get into the backcountry with no ski experience at all. It can be a gentle walk through the trees or a real workout, depending on where you go.

For first-timers, I always recommend the naturalist-guided snowshoe tours from the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES). Tours run daily at 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM from the top of the Silver Queen Gondola on Aspen Mountain (mid-December to mid-April) and the top of the Elk Camp Gondola in Snowmass (mid-December to early April). Each tour covers about 1.5 miles round trip through subalpine forest at a relaxed pace, while your guide shares what's happening in the winter ecosystem around you.

Tickets are $90 for adults (18–64) and $66 for youth (7–17) and seniors (65+), and they include the sightseeing gondola ride, snowshoes, poles, and basic instruction. You'll get a discount if you already have a ski pass or gondola ticket for the day. The minimum age is 7, and plan to arrive at the base gondola 30 minutes early.

If you'd rather go on your own, rent snowshoes in town and try one of these trails:

• Ashcroft and Castle Creek: More than 35 km of groomed trails around the 1880s silver-mining ghost town of Ashcroft, one of the valley's most memorable historic sites.
• Maroon Creek Road: Closed to cars in winter, it makes a wide, scenic route toward the Maroon Bells.
• Hunter Creek Trail: Starts right from town and climbs along a frozen creek toward historic backcountry cabins.

Reserve an ACES snowshoe tour.

3. Take a Yoga Class in Downtown Aspen

Aspen has long been a place built around mind, body, and spirit, and its yoga scene reflects that. Most studios are within a few blocks of each other in downtown Aspen, and drop-ins generally run $35 to $45.

• Arjuna Yoga Aspen (517 E. Hopkins Ave): Hot Vinyasa, Bikram, and Yin in an infrared-heated room. Ideal for recovery after a day outside.
• O2 Aspen (408 S. Mill St): Power Flow, Vinyasa, and Restorative classes inside a full wellness hub with Pilates, spa services, and an activewear boutique.
• Aspen Shakti (535 E. Hyman Ave): Shakti Flow, Kundalini, and meditation, often paired with sound healing.
• Iyengar Yoga Aspen: Precise, alignment-focused instruction for anyone who wants to refine their practice.

Classes are small and fill quickly during the holidays, so book ahead online or through Mindbody. Most studios rent mats and towels for $3 to $5. And since Aspen sits at nearly 8,000 feet, drink more water than you think you need, especially before a heated class. If you're new to the elevation, it's worth reading up on adjusting to Aspen's altitude.

4. Book a Spa Day at One of Aspen's Luxury Resorts

Why spend the day on the mountain when you can spend it being taken care of? Aspen's resort spas are some of the best in the Rockies, and many treatments are designed specifically around high-altitude recovery.

• Raksi Spa at The St. Regis Aspen: A 15,000-square-foot mountain sanctuary known for custom massages, Oxygen Hydration Facials, and CBD body wraps. Amenities include an oxygen lounge, waterfall pool, cold plunge, and hot tubs.
• The Spa at The Little Nell: A slopeside boutique spa focused on high-tech recovery, with infrared saunas, halotherapy salt rooms, compression therapy, and a heated outdoor pool, plus facials and Dior Spa rituals.
• Yarrow Spa at Hotel Jerome: An intimate retreat inside one of Aspen's most historic hotels, using local botanicals and herbal remedies in treatments like its High-Altitude Acclimatization ritual.

During the busy winter holidays (December through February), book treatments two to four weeks ahead. Expect an automatic 20% to 22% service charge at most resort spas. Many also include full-day access to pools, steam rooms, and fitness facilities when you book a qualifying treatment. For locals and second homeowners who want ongoing access, Aspen's private health clubs are worth exploring too.

5. Explore the Aspen Art Museum

The Aspen Art Museum is one of my favorite places in town, and as a Contemporary member, I've watched it shape Aspen's cultural life. Admission is free year-round, which makes it one of the best non-ski activities in Aspen for any budget.

The museum is at 637 E. Hyman Ave in the heart of downtown, housed in a striking Shigeru Ban–designed building wrapped in a woven wooden lattice. Because it doesn't keep a permanent collection, the galleries change several times a year with contemporary installations from artists around the world. It's open Tuesday through Sunday, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and closed Mondays.

My tip: take the glass elevator straight to the rooftop first. The Swedish Hill café (Tuesday through Sunday, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, with café and bar service until 4:00 PM) serves pastries, coffee, wine, and lunch with views of Aspen Mountain. Then work your way down through the galleries. Free public walkthroughs and family workshops are often scheduled on weekday afternoons. If you want to keep going, Aspen's galleries and art events are just a short walk away.

Plan your visit to the Aspen Art Museum.

6. Ride a Fat Bike on Snowy Trails

Fat biking keeps getting more popular here every winter. The bikes have oversized, low-pressure tires that grip packed snow, so you can explore winter trails on two wheels. Rentals typically run $80 to $100 a day at Ute Mountaineer and other local shops, and some specialty shops rent electric fat bikes for longer rides.

The best places to ride:

• Snowmass groomed trails: About 8 miles of groomed routes, including Brush Creek Trail, Owl Creek Trail, and the Village Way corridor. Park for free at the Snowmass Recreation Center.
• Rio Grande Trail: The section closest to Aspen is wide, gently graded, and packed down by Nordic skiers and winter commuters. Many of the same corridors make up Aspen's best summer mountain biking routes.
• Maroon Creek Road: A wide, steady climb toward the Maroon Bells, shared with snowmobilers and Nordic skiers.

Keep tire pressure low (around 3 to 8 PSI), and only ride on hard-packed snow. If your tires sink more than an inch, conditions are too soft, and you'll damage the track for skiers and snowshoers. Always yield to skiers, snowshoers, and pedestrians.

Rent a fat bike from Ute Mountaineer.

7. Try Ice Climbing With Aspen Expeditions

For a true adrenaline rush, climb a frozen waterfall. Aspen Expeditions Worldwide offers private guided ice climbing trips from December through early April, led by AMGA-certified guides. No experience is needed.

Beginners usually start at Stein Falls near Independence Pass, a south-facing ice flow with an easy walk-in, on a half-day or full-day trip focused on tool swinging, crampon footwork, and top-rope safety. Experienced climbers can tackle steeper, multi-pitch routes in Redstone and the Crystal River Valley, including Avocado Gully (WI3+), the Redstone Pillar, and Marble Falls (WI4), as well as Rifle Mountain Park.

All technical gear is included: boots, crampons, ice tools, helmet, harness, rope, and pack. Bring synthetic layers, a waterproof shell, two pairs of gloves, warm socks, water, snacks, and sunglasses. Your guide will call the afternoon before to confirm conditions, tailor the route to your ability, and set the meeting time.

Explore Aspen Expeditions ice climbing trips.

8. Catch a Concert at Belly Up Aspen

Belly Up is one of the most famous small music venues in the country. It's a 450-capacity room at 450 S. Galena St, just below Aspen Mountain, and it regularly books artists who usually play arenas. The acoustics are excellent and there isn't a bad sightline in the house.

Most shows are 21+ (some are 16+ or all ages), and a valid government ID is required. Choose general admission on the floor or reserve a table or booth if you want a guaranteed seat. Big names sell out within minutes, so buy early and join the waitlist if a show is sold out. There's no food service, so have dinner at one of Aspen's best restaurants first. Coat check is available during winter shows.

Belly Up is just one part of Aspen's music, theater, and arts scene. The historic Wheeler Opera House also hosts performances throughout the winter.

See upcoming shows at Belly Up Aspen.

9. Spend a Day in Snowmass Village

Just 20 minutes from Aspen, Snowmass Village has some of the best Aspen Snowmass winter activities for non-skiers, especially for families.

• Ice skating at Base Village: Free, including skate rentals, open daily from 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM, with fire pits and restaurants around the rink.
• Breathtaker Alpine Coaster: Reaches up to 28 mph on a winding track through the trees at Elk Camp. Ride up on the Elk Camp Gondola.
• Elk Camp tubing hill: Lift-served, multi-lane snow tubing during the day and on select evenings.
• Ullr Nights: Select evenings at Elk Camp with tubing, the alpine coaster, fire pits with s'mores, live music, and hot cocoa.
• Limelight indoor climbing wall: A 54-foot glass-encased wall at the Limelight Hotel, the tallest of its kind in Colorado.
• Game Lounge at The Collective: A ball pit, skee-ball, arcade games, and photo stations, $10 for ages 6 and up and free for kids 5 and under.
• Snowmass Ice Age Discovery Center: Learn about the 2010 fossil dig in Snowmass Village that uncovered thousands of Ice Age bones, including mammoths and mastodons.

The Elk Camp Gondola is also worth riding on its own for mid-mountain views and lunch at Elk Camp Restaurant. Families looking for more ideas can find plenty in this guide to family-friendly activities in Aspen and Snowmass.

Best Time to Visit Aspen in Winter

• Late November to early December: Quiet and uncrowded. Snowmobile tours begin and seasonal activities start opening.
• Holiday season (December 20 to January 3): The most festive and busiest stretch, with holiday lights and nonstop events. Christmas in Aspen is magical, but book lodging, dinners, spa treatments, and tours months in advance.
• January and February: Peak snow, colder temperatures, and every activity running at full capacity.
• March to early April: Longer days, milder temperatures in the mid-40s°F, sunny patio dining, and spring festivals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Aspen worth visiting if you don't ski? Yes. Aspen has world-class dining, shopping, art, spas, and live music, plus easy access to the mountains without skis. You can ride the gondola for lunch with a view, snowshoe with a naturalist guide, snowmobile to the Maroon Bells, or spend an afternoon at the free Aspen Art Museum.

What can non-skiers do in Aspen in winter? Popular things to do in Aspen besides skiing include snowmobiling with T-Lazy-7 Ranch, guided snowshoeing with ACES, fat biking, ice climbing with Aspen Expeditions, spa days at the St. Regis, The Little Nell, or Hotel Jerome, concerts at Belly Up, and ice skating, tubing, and the alpine coaster in Snowmass Village.

Can non-skiers ride the gondola in Aspen? Yes. Non-skiers can buy sightseeing tickets for the Silver Queen Gondola on Aspen Mountain and the Elk Camp Gondola in Snowmass. ACES snowshoe tours include the gondola ride in the ticket price.

What are the best free winter activities in Aspen? The Aspen Art Museum is free year-round, and ice skating at Snowmass Base Village is free, including skate rentals. You can also snowshoe on your own along Maroon Creek Road or the Hunter Creek Trail.

What is the best month to visit Aspen in winter for non-skiers? January and February offer the most reliable snow and full activity schedules. Late November and early December are quieter and easier to book, while March brings milder temperatures and sunny patio dining.

Make Aspen Your Winter Home

For many of my clients, a winter visit is what first made them fall in love with Aspen. The town offers so much more than skiing, and that's a big reason people choose to make it home year-round. Whether you picture a condo in downtown Aspen steps from Belly Up and the Art Museum, a slopeside retreat in Snowmass, or one of Aspen's luxury homes in the West End or East Aspen, I'd love to help you find your place here. If you're still deciding where to settle, here's how Aspen, Snowmass, and Basalt compare as a home base.

Born and raised in Colorado, I've lived in Aspen since 2007 and have been involved in nearly $1 billion in Aspen Snowmass real estate sales. I've also built a multimillion-dollar rental business, so I can help you buy for your own use, for rental income, or both. Reach out anytime at 970.366.0891 or [email protected].

Brittanie Rockhill
Broker Associate, Douglas Elliman
520 East Durant Ave, STE 103, Aspen, CO 81611
brittanierockhill.com
DRE # FA.100019229