When to Go
The best time to visit Aspen
When to visit Aspen for skiing, summer in the high country, or the quiet gold of fall, and how to choose the season that fits your trip.
The short answer
Aspen has two peaks: winter (December to March) for skiing and glamour, and summer (June to September) for hiking, festivals, and mild days. Fall brings golden aspens and quiet, and spring is the value shoulder. Choose by whether you want snow or the high country in bloom.
Aspen is really two destinations sharing a zip code: a world-class ski town in winter and a high-country escape in summer. When to go depends entirely on which one you are after.
Winter (December to March): skiing and glamour
This is Aspen at its most famous: four mountains of skiing, deep snow, and a town full of glamour, dining, and fireside evenings. The winter holidays and President's weekend are the peak, the busiest and priciest weeks of the year, so book far ahead.
Summer (June to September): the high country in bloom
Summer may be the secret. Wildflowers fill the passes, the Aspen Music Festival and other events run all season, and the hiking, biking, and fly-fishing are superb under a comfortable mountain sun. Rates are gentler than winter, and the town is just as lovely.
Fall and spring: the quiet shoulders
Late September brings golden aspens and crisp, quiet days, arguably the prettiest time of all. Spring, between ski season and summer, is the sleepiest and best-value window, though some venues close during the changeover.
Aspen in winter is a scene. Aspen in summer is a secret. Both are worth the trip.
Give our planner your dates and it will build an Aspen trip around the season, the right home or lodge, the guides, and the tables, sequenced for the mountains you will meet.
Your move
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Common questions
What is the best time to visit Aspen?
Winter, December to March, for skiing and glamour, and summer, June to September, for hiking and festivals. Late September adds golden aspens and quiet.
Is Aspen worth visiting in summer?
Very. Summer brings wildflowers, the Aspen Music Festival, superb hiking and biking, and gentler rates than winter, with the same beautiful town.
When is Aspen least crowded?
The spring and fall shoulders, roughly April to May and late September to November, are the quietest and best value, though some businesses close during the changeovers.
