Snowmass is a premier winter and spring destination thanks to the diverse skiing and snow sport options, but what many ignore is the plethora of amazing activities available in the summer and fall, before the snowfalls. Snowmass is located in the Colorado mountains which provide for amazing outdoor adventures. If you have never been to Snowmass before, the sheer number of activities and attractions available can be intimidating; we’ve put together this summer and fall Snowmass guide to help you make the most of your trip. Here are some of our favorite things to do in the area:
Outdoor Adventures
When the snow melts in Snowmass, the beautiful foliage comes to life and provides for amazing sights. Here are some of the best ways to enjoy the scenery found around Snowmass.
Cycling and Mountain Biking
Colorado and the Rocky Mountains are well known for some of the best cycling trails in the entire country. These amazing trails provide three different ways to get on a bike and enjoy Snowmass. First, there is the adrenaline-pumping method of downhill mountain biking. Downhill bikes are built for stability and durability as the trails are mostly steep and rocky terrain. Downhill bikers will get on and grip for dear life as they speed down natural and manmade trails, banking through tight turns. If you want to try this out, make sure to check out the Snowmass Bike Park and take a downhill bike clinic to ensure you know what you are in for before hitting the natural trails.
If you want a similar experience but a slower, friendlier pace, check out regular mountain biking. There are many cross-country bike trails that display the natural beauty of Snowmass and Aspen without too many difficult passages. If you are feeling extremely confident in your ability, try taking on some of the trails that make up the Colorado Trail. This nature trail travels over 500 miles through the entire state. Finally, there are cruiser biking paths. These are the calm trails that are usually paved and route visitors through historic Aspen and Snowmass. We suggest trying the Rio Grande Trail, which makes its way past several breweries and markets.
Whitewater Rafting
Whitewater is a form of river water that is characterized by fast, shallow stretches of water. These shallow stretches are known as rapids and come in different grades or levels of choppiness/difficulty of passage. There are many different local companies that run whitewater excursions, and we definitely recommend these for anyone but the most experienced rafters with the skill to journey out on their own. Whitewater rafting is extremely fun but can be dangerous if you don’t know what you are doing. These excursions will include all of the equipment you need, plus an experienced Snowmass guide to help you out. We recommend the Roaring Fork River or the Colorado River and Shoshone Rapids for great options to try out this amazing sport.
Lost Forest Adventure Center
Lost Forest Adventure Center is the perfect place to take a day to be a kid again. This adventure park features many different activities to enjoy. Two of their more popular attractions are the Treeline Trial Challenge Course and the Breathtaker Alpine Coaster.
The Treeline Trial Challenge Course combines rappels, zip lines, bridges, and ladders for a thrilling obstacle course up in the trees. This course puts you up in the air and challenges you to best its difficult layout. Guests who want to take the challenge should allow at least two hours to experience the course. Challengers will need to complete an orientation session prior to being allowed onto the course, but these run every half hour.
The crown jewel of the Lost Forest is the Breathtaker Alpine Coaster. Riders control the hand brakes as they fly down the gravity slide at their own speeds. The views from the coaster are breathtaking, so make sure that you go through at least twice: once to set your speed record and once to enjoy the views. These are only two of the amazing activities at the Lost Forest Adventure Center, so make sure that you set aside a whole day to get the most out of your tickets.
Disc Golf
Disc Golf is a fast-growing sport across the nation, but especially so in Colorado. The natural beauty of Aspen and Snowmass combine with great trails to create some of the best disc golf courses in the world. One of the best disc golf courses in the area is in the Lost Forest. The course is called Aerial Approach, and it actually features two 18-hole courses. Guests looking to play Aerial Approach will travel to the top of the Elk Camp Gondola to Snowmass Base Village. After you disembark from the gondola, you will travel to the Elk Camp Meadows area. The first tee for the course is located near the top of the enclosed surface lift. You will follow the gravel path past the Lost Forest Headquarters to find the tee pad. The course weaves through the meadows and provides an easy to moderate level of difficulty. Another amazing course in the area is at Aspen Mountain. The course is listed as one of the world’s highest official disc golf courses. This course is a bit of a hike but provides an easy first nine holes followed by a more difficult back nine. No matter how you end up playing, this course is fun and beautiful.
Horseback Riding
Just like with biking, whitewater rafting, and disc golf, the natural beauty in Snowmass and Aspen provides stunning views to take in from the back of a horse. If you are the type of person that loves to see nature and loves animals, we highly suggest booking a horseback riding trail package. There are many different companies that offer various horseback riding packages. Blazing Adventures is a local favorite when it comes to horseback riding in Snowmass; they are based out of Snowmass Village. You will get great views of Snowmass Creek Valley and Mount Daly with these Snowmass riding tours. Another great option is Snowmass Creek Outfitters. Snowmass Creek Outfitters offers hourly rides, horse pack trips, and drop camps to give guests a wide variety of different horseback riding experiences. The experts at Snowmass Creek Outfitters have the local knowledge to create a once and a lifetime experience. You can explore Maroon Bells Snowmass Wilderness, travel to West Snowmass Creek, or even trek around Snowmass Lake.
Dining and Nightlife
While you can fill your days with amazing excursions, you also need to consider your dining and nightlife options as well. Here are some of our favorites.
Our on-site restaurant – The Edge Restaurnat& Bar
Chef Jason DeBacker’s German background influences an Alpine-Inspired menu that will delight your taste buds; we invite our guests to savor our fondue with cuts of baked bread, fresh green apples, and sausage, homemade German-style wursts, and our signature schnitzel. The Edge’s bar compliments the traditional cuisine with local and German beer, fine wines, and craft cocktails.
Base Camp Bar and Grill
Base Camp Bar and Grill gets its name from its convenient location right next to the slopes in Snowmass. This is a winter staple for winter sports enthusiasts, but this is a gem in the summer and fall. The restaurant spans two floors with three fully stocked bars and a large outdoor patio with a 24-foot fire pit. The second story has a terrace that overlooks the slopes of Snowmass and provides an amazing view of the nature trails in the summer. Base Camp Bar and Grill also has a casual dining room downstairs where they serve amazing upscale quality dishes at an amazing price. At night, the second story is transformed into a dance club complete with hard wood dance floor, DJ booth, and extensive lighting set up. No matter if you are wanting great food or a venue to get your dance on, Base Camp Bar and Grill has something for you.
Snowmass Lanes and Lounge
Snowmass Lanes and Lounge is a bowling alley like you have never seen before. First, Snowmass Lanes and Lounge lies at 8,209 feet, which makes it the highest bowling alley in the country. Second, this is not your ordinary bowling alley. Snowmass Lanes and Lounge combines the fun of bowling with a luxury and upscale atmosphere. Their menu features upscale versions of classic bar food along with wood fire pizzas and classic American eats. This is the perfect place to grab a bite and enjoy a bit of indoor fun to complement your outdoor activities.
Cooking Your Own Meal
Surprisingly, many don’t consider cooking their own meals while on vacation. Although you are probably wanting to do less work and relax, cooking your own meals is a breeze with one of Timberline’s amazing vacation rentals. Rather than being stuck in a small hotel room, you can book an entire upgraded vacation rental complete with a fully equipped kitchen. You can visit one of the local markets to get fresh ingredients and have fun cooking with loved ones. This is an underrated way to enjoy yourself and save a bit of money in the process.
Choose the Perfect Place to Stay
There are many ways to stay on your summer and fall trip to Snowmass, but we highly recommend our vacation condos. Traditional accommodations such as hotels include few amenities and not a lot of square footage. Our vacation condos offer all the comforts of a full home and top-tier amenities, all at a competitive price when compared to a hotel stay. Our properties include fully equipped kitchens, bedrooms with fresh linens, spacious living room areas, and many extra amenities to improve your stay. The fully equipped kitchen is by far the best deal with this rental. The kitchen will have pots, pans, silverware, plates, and other dishes that you would need to cook your own meals. Although eating out at some of Snowmass’s amazing dining establishments is a part of the appeal of visiting, you can save money by cooking some of your own meals. Just cutting down one meal per day will save you a bunch of money over the duration of your vacation.
Along with the standard amenities, our Snowmass vacation rentals often have extra amenities that you can also take advantage of during your summer or fall stay. One of our favorite popular amenities is an outdoor deck. Snowmass has amazing weather during the fall and summer months, so getting out and enjoying the natural beauty is a must do. An outdoor deck, spa, or pool access will allow you to get the most of your vacation rental. There are also premium amenities that will enhance your trip as well. These include large flat screen TVs, upgraded modern kitchens, and more.
Our Snowmass vacation rentals are centrally located next to all of the amazing things you want to do. If you need a lot of rooms for a large group or something smaller and more luxurious for a romantic trip for two, we have the right vacation rental for you. Check out these amazing vacation rentals for your next trip to Snowmass to make sure you take your vacation to the next level!
