Five guided adventures in Aspen and Snowmass Village
With experience-led travel on the rise, Aspen
and Snowmass Village should be next on your travel list. Whether you’re chasing
adrenaline, keen to uncover the area’s interesting history, or simply looking
for different ways to experience the mountains, these towns offer no shortage
of guided adventures throughout the summer months. From whitewater rapids and
overnight backcountry hikes to Ice Age discoveries and sunset dinners, here's
ten of the best guided experiences this season.
Hike through the backcountry on a hut-to-hut adventure
Experience Colorado's spectacular wilderness on a guided overnight hiking trip with Aspen Expeditions. Using the renowned 10th Mountain Division Hut System, these fully customisable adventures allow hikers to explore some of the most beautiful alpine landscapes behind Aspen and Snowmass Village, spending each night in rustic mountain huts. Whether you choose a single overnight stay or link together several huts for a multi-day journey, every trip is led by an experienced guide and includes meals, sleeping bags and backpacks. For those wanting an even bigger challenge, many of the huts can also be reached by mountain bike.
Take a whitewater raft down the Roaring Fork River
For those seeking an adrenaline rush, Blazing Adventures offers epic whitewater rafting adventures on the Roaring Fork River. Choose from scenic, family-friendly floats through Glenwood Canyon or tackle exhilarating intermediate to advanced level rapids on full-day expeditions through Browns Canyon, one of America's newest National Monuments as designated back in 2015. Hotel transfers from Aspen and Snowmass Village can be arranged, with lunch included on longer trips.
Ride some of North America's best mountain bike trails
Aspen and Snowmass Village may be famous for skiing, but the mountains are equally impressive on two wheels during the summer. Home to Colorado’s only Gold-Level bike park, Snowmass Bike Park boasts over 25 miles of expertly maintained downhill trails covering nearly 3,000 vertical feet. Book a private half-day mountain bike tour with Blazing Adventures to explore favourites beyond the bike park including the Rim Trail and Tom Blake. Routes are tailored to ability levels, with four-hour tours including hotel transfers, drinks and snacks.
Take a journey back in time to the Ice Age
Snowmass Village became internationally
renowned after prehistoric fossils were uncovered at Ziegler Reservoir in 2010.
Learn more about this extraordinary discovery on the free Snowmass Ice Age Discovery Hike, led
by the Aspen Center for Environmental
Studies (ACES). Running daily from June through to September, this two-hour
moderate hike explores glacial geology, extinct wildlife and the evolution of
the surrounding alpine landscape through fascinating stories and artefacts from
the excavation. Tours are free, they begin at 1pm and no reservations are required.
Enjoy a sunset dinner high on Snowmass
Mountain
One of the area's most memorable evenings begins with a scenic
four-wheel-drive Jeep ride to Snowmass’ historic Burlingame Cabin. Hosted by
Blazing Adventures, this backcountry dining experience combines spectacular
mountain views with an unmatched evening of food, music and campfire fun. The
tour offers an extended Jeep ride up to a panoramic lookout before settling in
for drinks and lawn games, including an animal-free version of calf roping,
before dinner is served as the sun sets over Mt Daly. The evening concludes
with live music and toasted s'mores around the campfire.
Image credits: Sam Ferguson