Travel Guide > Aspen

Population

Elevation

Location

Time Zone

Weather 

Average Temperatures

Summer begins in late June or early July. Days are warm, but nighttime temperatures fall to the 40s and 50s. Afternoon thunderstorms are common over the higher peaks. Fall begins in September, often with a week of unsettled weather around mid-month, followed by four-six weeks of cooler nights and warm days. Winter arrives in during November, with deep snows by December. Temperatures are close to freezing by day,  under a surprisingly warm mountain sun, and drop way down at night, occasionally as low as -60° F. Winter is less intense by in March, but there is often a considerable accumulation of snow into April on valley bottoms and into July on mountain passes

Northwest Colorado is a place of sudden weather changes.  One minute it may be sunny and the next, snowing, and later raining.  Summer attractions may even be closed due to snow.  Most mountain towns shut down after the ski season until mid-June and again from Labor Day until the new ski season starts.  Always call ahead to avoid disappointment. 

Sunscreen is essential at high altitudes, even in the winter months.

National Holidays

New Year's Day Jan. 1

Martin Luther King, Jr., Day 3rd Mon. in Jan.

President's Day 3rd Mon. in Feb.

Memorial Day last Mon. in May

Independence Day July 4

Labor Day 1st Mon. in Sept.

Thanksgiving Day 4th Thurs. in Nov.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Dec. 24 and 25

New Year's Eve Dec. 31

How to get to Aspen

By Air

Aspen Airport

ASE

Denver International Airport

Some sample flying times to Denver are: 4 hours from New York, 21/2 hours from Chicago, and 21/4 hours from Los Angeles.

Transfers Between the Airport and Town

By Bus

Roaring Fork Transit Agency

High Mountain Taxi

Colorado Mountain Express

By Car

Aspen's airport is about a 10-minute drive from the city center on Route 82.

By Bus

Greyhound Lines

By Car

If you're entering Colorado from the north or south, take I-25, which intersects with I-70 in Denver. If you're entering from the east or west, take I-70, which bisects the state, to Route 82 and then turn south to Aspen/Snowmass. Generally speaking, driving to Aspen from Denver in the winter is more trouble than it's worth, unless you are on an extended vacation and plan to stop at other resorts such as Vail or Copper Mountain. With Independence Pass closed in the winter, the drive takes more than three hours at best, depending on road and weather conditions.       

Getting Around

By Bus

The

Roaring Fork Transit Agency

By Car

Modern highways make mountain driving safe and generally trouble free even in cold weather. Although winter driving can occasionally present some real challenges, road maintenance is good and plowing is prompt. However, in mountain areas, tire chains, studs, or snow tires are essential. If you're planning to drive into high elevations, be sure to check the weather forecast beforehand. Even the mountain passes on main highways can be forced to close because of snow conditions. Be prepared for stormy weather: Carry an emergency kit containing warm clothes, a flashlight, some food, and perhaps a sleeping bag. It's also good to carry a cellular phone. Be aware, however, that because of the mountains cell phones don't work everywhere. If you should become stranded never leave your vehicle. Instead wait until someone comes looking for you. Most roads are routinely patrolled and plowed.

Car Rentals

Rates in Denver begin at about $35 a day and $180 a week for an economy car with air-conditioning, an automatic transmission, and unlimited mileage. This does not include tax on car rentals, which is 11.3%. Aspen car rental rates can be double what you'll find in Denver.

Requirements

In Colorado you must be 21 to rent a car, and rates may be higher if you're under 25. You'll pay extra for child seats about $3 per day, which are compulsory for children under five, and for additional drivers about $2 per day. Non-U.S. residents will need a reservation voucher, a passport, a driver's license, and a travel policy that covers each driver, in order to pick up a car.

Road Conditions

The Rockies offer some of the most spectacular vistas and challenging driving in the world. Roads range from multilane blacktop to barely graveled backcountry trails; from twisting switchbacks considerately marked with guardrails to primitive campgrounds with a lane so narrow that you must back up to the edge of a steep cliff to make a turn. Scenic routes and lookout points are clearly marked, enabling you to slow down and pull over to take in the views.

By Taxi

High Mountain Taxi

Business Hours

Most retail stores are open from 9 AM or 9:30 AM until 6 PM or 7 PM daily in downtown locations and until 9 or 10 in suburban shopping malls. Downtown stores sometimes stay open later Thursday night. Normal banking hours are weekdays 9-5; some branches are also open on Saturday morning.

Arriving in the United States

contact the

U.S. Customs Service

Electricity

The U.S. electrical standard is 110 volts/60 cycles AC. Foreign visitors traveling with dual-voltage appliances will not need a converter, but they will need a plug adapter. The standard U.S. electrical outlet takes a plug of two flat pins set parallel to one another.

Emergencies

Ambulance 911. Fire 911. Police911.

Hospital Emergency Rooms

Aspen Valley Hospital

Taxes

The state sales tax in Colorado is 3%. In addition, Aspen levies a local 5.2% sales tax.

Safety

Regardless of the outdoor activity or your level of skill, safety must come first. Remember: know your limits!

Many trails are at high altitudes, where oxygen is scarce. They're also frequently desolate. Hikers and bikers should carry emergency supplies in their backpacks. Proper equipment includes a flashlight, a compass, waterproof matches, a first-aid kit, a knife, and a light plastic tarp for shelter. Backcountry skiers should add a repair kit, a blanket, an avalanche beacon, and a lightweight shovel to their lists. Always bring extra food and a canteen of water as dehydration is a common occurrence at high altitudes. Never drink from streams or lakes, unless you boil the water first or purify it with tablets -- giardia, an intestinal parasite, may be present.

Always check the condition of roads and trails, and get the latest weather reports before setting out. In summer, take precautions against heat stroke or exhaustion by resting frequently in shaded areas; in winter, take precautions against hypothermia by layering clothing. Ultimately, proper planning, common sense, and good physical conditioning are the strongest guards against the elements.

Altitude

You may feel dizzy and weak and find yourself breathing heavily -- signs that the thin mountain air isn't giving you your accustomed dose of oxygen. Take it easy and rest often for a few days until you're acclimatized. Throughout your stay drink plenty of water and watch your alcohol consumption. If you experience severe headaches and nausea, see a doctor. It is easy, especially in Colorado, where highways climb to 12,000 ft and higher, to go too high too fast. The remedy for altitude-related discomfort is to go down quickly, into heavier air. Other altitude-related problems include dehydration and overexposure to the sun due to the thin air.  

Telephones

The country code for the United States is 1. The area code for Aspen is 970.

All U.S. telephone numbers consist of 10 digits -- the three-digit area code, followed by a seven-digit local number. If you're calling a number from another area-code region, dial "1" then all 10 digits. For calls within the same local calling area, just dial the seven-digit number. A map of U.S. area codes is printed in the front of most local telephone directories.

Tipping

At restaurants, a 15% tip is standard for waiters; up to 20% may be expected at more expensive establishments. The same goes for taxi drivers, bartenders, and beauticians. Coat-check operators usually expect $1; bellhops and porters should get 50 cents to $1 per bag; hotel maids in upscale hotels should get about $1 per day of your stay.

Summary of Features of Aspen Ski Areas

Aspen Highlands

Aspen Mountain

Buttermilk

Snowmass

When to Go

Ski resorts are busiest from December to early April, especially during Christmas and President's holiday weeks.

Spring is a good time for fishing, rafting on rivers swollen with snowmelt, and bird and wildlife-viewing. In fall, aspen trees splash the mountainsides with gold, and wildlife come down to lower elevations. The fish are spawning, and the angling is excellent.