Aspen Highlands

The Aspen Highlands ski area is set atop a mountain in Aspen, Colorado and is part of the Rocky Mountain range. It's most famous attribute is the Highland Bowl, which offers some of the most intense skiing pistes within the state.

In recent years the lift system was remodelled in order to provide quick and easy transport around the slopes and mountaintop. Most of the terrain on the mountain is located on a narrow ridge off the Highland Bowl, which is why the terrain is almost all exclusively experts only although nearby there are three more ski areas that offer beginner trails.

Towards the lower edge of the Highland Bowl there are some intermediate trails that run through the pine forest and at the very bottom of the Aspen Highlands Mountain is the Thunderbowl, which is a long steep intermediate run where most of the skin competitions in the area are held.

There are also a few forgotten but highly worthwhile runs on the lower side of the mountain including the P-Chutes and Lower Stein. Also worth checking out on your way back up the Aspen Highlands is the Merry-Go-Round restaurant that is a hub of chairlifts and offers a great view.

As mentioned however, the Aspen Highlands are most frequently visited due to the pistes that start at the mountain summit. On the opposite side of the mountain top from the resort and restaurant area is the ridge spine, the No Name Bowl, and Steeplechase all of which offer jagged angles that can be thrilling to head down.

From here the best views of the mountain can be seen. Despite these spectacular views though, the number one reason that people head to the mountains of the Aspen Highlands is to ski within the Highland Bowl.

The terrain is extremely rough in the Highland Bowl and for the most part can only be reached by foot although a snowcat can help you get a little closely. The best snow in the Bowl is found on the north side known as the G-zone area.

The steepest slopes on the other hand on the south side and are around 48 degrees and are known as the Y-Zones. From the Highland Bowl skiers can also teach the Five Fingers Bowl which is another infamous ski area but the area is prone to avalanches that are closely monitored so not every holiday skier will get the chance to try these slopes out.