Learn to be a junior naturalist
Kids ages 4-18 will be greeted by the resident Golden eagle before exploring the 25-acre Hallam Lake nature preserve using microscopes, binoculars and field guides, or building primitive shelters, bridges and tunnels. It's like a zoo, a museum, and a fun hands-on classroom all in one.

Shop runway-worthy ski ensembles
Explore the sights of town while browsing Aspen’s world-renowned selection of designer shops and independent boutiques. Browse the Satu...

Learn to be a junior naturalist
Kids ages 4-18 will be greeted by the resident Golden eagle before exploring the 25-acre Hallam Lake nature preserve using microscopes, binoculars and field guides, or building primitive shelters, bridges and tunnels. It's like a zoo, a museum, and a fun hands-on classroom all in one.

Shop runway-worthy ski ensembles
Explore the sights of town while browsing Aspen’s world-renowned selection of designer shops and independent boutiques. Browse the Saturday farmers’ market for the finest produce from Colorado’s Western Slope, plus artisan jams, cider, honey and more.

Go on a historic pub crawl
Expert-guided tours by the Aspen Historical Society include a historic pub crawl that starts at the Red Onion, continues to Aspen Public House and Aspen Brewing Company at Aspen Tap, and finishes at J-Bar at the Hotel Jerome. Other tours explore the rich history of downtown Aspen (in a unique electric coach), and what’s left of the ghost towns of Ashcroft and Independence.

Explore life as a 19th century silver miner
Experience a piece of Aspen’s past on a tour of Smuggler Mine, site of one of the first silver strikes made in the Roaring Fork Valley in 1879, and where the largest nugget of native silver, weighing nearly a ton, was mined in 1894. Travel deep into the mine as guides share fascinating stories about life as a silver miner in the late 1800s.

Explore a silver mining ghost town
Ashcroft only had $5.60 left in its town coffers two years after the height of its boom. Explore the vestiges of this eerie ghost town, from the remains of a saloon to a post office. Expert-guided tours are available through the Aspen Historical Society.

Ride a Jeep through Colorado backcountry
Travel where few people get to go in a rugged but comfortable off-road vehicle. Go on a half-day backcountry tour through Gold Hill, Lenado, or Independence Pass, or opt for a longer—and more rugged—three-quarter day trip to Taylor Pass, one of the highest mountain passes in the state.

Ride an ATV through rugged Colorado wilderness

Take in world-class ballet
Top global choreographers, distinctive groundbreaking repertoire, and virtuoso dancers combine for a jewel of a dance company in the American West.

Horseback ride through alpine wilderness
Roam through languid valleys and around curving mountain bends through Snowmass backcountry or even to Maroon Bells with expert guides. Pack a picnic lunch for a full day trip or blaze the trail as the morning day breaks for a shorter excursion.

Enjoy an authentic Western rodeo
From saddle bronc riding and dally ribbon roping to barrel racing and bull riding, the Snowmass Rodeo hearkens back to an earlier era when cowboys ruled the West. After the rodeo, enjoy a campfire sing-a-long and marshmallow roast under the starry skies.

Attend a hot air balloon festival
The Snowmass Balloon Festival, one of the highest-altitude hot air balloon events in the country, draws thousands of spectators each year. But the longstanding annual festival offers more than just giant balloons taking to the sky—as dazzling a sight as that may be. Watch challenges like a hot-air balloon race overhead, and a battle to see which balloon can maneuver closest to up-in-the-sky targets.

Soar through alpine trees on a zip line
The Lost Forest isn’t hard to find—it’s just hard to see. Tucked in among the tall alpine trees of Snowmass are an alpine coaster, zip lines, ropes challenges and climbing walls that prove that adrenaline rushes around these parts aren’t just reserved for the slopes.

Paraglide high over Aspen Mountain
Soar several thousand feet above Aspen Mountain to achieve altitudes of up to 18,000 feet. Tandem paragliders accommodate two people—pilot and passenger—in two separate but attached harnesses, with you in front for the best aerial views.

Hike Colorado’s most iconic peaks
For extreme hikers, the Tour de 14ers Experience summits through Aspen and Telluride’s highest peaks, all of which rise above 14,000 feet. Choose between a 3- or 6- day program that includes boot camp training, followed by guided tours. Guided hikes, including with naturalists, are also available on other hikes.

Stand Up Paddleboarding
Learn how to balance yourself, different paddling techniques and how to navigate swift water before making your way on Class II rapids through majestic Glenwood Canyon on the Colorado River or the pristine North Star Preserve on the Roaring Fork River.

Whitewater raft infamous Colorado rapids
The resort offers expert-guided rafting trips for every skill level and ability, from those that wind through gentle Class II-III sections of the Middle Roaring Fork that would be suitable for families with children, to the action-packed Class IV run through Slaughterhouse Falls.

Take a sunrise hot air balloon ride
Early morning sunrise rides soar up to 2,500 ft. above ground level and offer breathtakingly majestic views over the Rocky Mountains. Keep your eyes peeled down below—roaming elk and the occasional bear have been spotted. Only offered very early each morning. 5:30 am departure from hotel. 

Take in curated adventures for the junior set
From walks with Rocky, the Bernese mountain dog, to a Jeep ride through the backcountry of Snowmass Mountain where the whole family can enjoy a hot-off-the-grill dinner and campfire s’mores, the curated activities and experiences will ensure memories to last a lifetime. All adventures can be customized to fit the need and activity level of your family.

Ski fresh powder on the backside of Aspen Mountain
Ski through prime ungroomed wilderness, covering an average of 1,500 acres of open bowls, meadows and glades on the back of Aspen Mountain. Two guides and a driver lead each 12-person snowcat group, choosing terrain based on daily snow conditions and the group’s experience. Take a lunch break in a cozy wood-stove heated cabin.

Dog sled through snowy Colorado backcountry
Go dog-sledding, so bundle up and prepare for an exhilarating ride full of twists and turns through snowy Aspen wilderness. Thirteen trained Alaskan huskies guided by an experienced musher pull our intimate two-seat sleds. For an unforgettable experience, go on a twilight ride under a wide-open pink Colorado sky. 

Snowshoe through Aspen’s scenic backcountry
Take in the winter wonderland on your own or with an expert guide. Naturalist-guided snowshoe tours are also available on top of Aspen Mountain, Snowmass Mountain, and at the Ashcroft Ghost Town. 

Snowmobile to Maroon Bells
Feel the adrenaline rush of roaring around curving bends deep in the White River National Forest. You will be set up with the only snowmobile operator to Maroon Bells, so you’re practically guaranteed to have the snow-packed roads to yourself.

Go night-tubing down an illuminated run
Get ready for an exhilarating adventure the whole family can enjoy. You can even link tubes together for a true bonding experience. A tubing pass also gets you access to the Breathtaker Alpine Coaster, which winds through over a mile of forest on an elevated track at speeds of up to 28mph.

Take in naturalist-led talks
Each winter, together with Wilderness Workshop and Roaring Fork Audubon, ACES invites regional experts to explore and share topics of the natural world through slideshows and discussion.