Ember Coast
A gondola rising toward an 11,000-foot summit sundeck above Aspen

Comfortable and inclusive

Aspen's grandeur, gently reached.

The biggest mountain experiences here arrive without expert legs, the views come to you.

Design This Trip

The Silver Queen and Elk Camp gondolas carry guests straight to 11,000-foot summit views, dining and gentle paths, while the Maroon Bells shuttle places you at the famous Maroon Lake vista with minimal walking.

Independence Pass and the Castle Creek drive to Ashcroft offer grand scenery entirely from the car.

A full luxury trip, at a comfortable pace.

Pair the scenic-focused days with the spas at the St. Regis or The Little Nell and refined indoor dining at Prospect or Element 47. We confirm accessible rooms, transport and tables with each property in advance.

What’s inside

  • Summit views by Silver Queen and Elk Camp gondolas
  • The Maroon Bells vista by shuttle, minimal walking
  • Independence Pass and Castle Creek scenery from the car
  • Spa days at the St. Regis or The Little Nell
  • Refined indoor dining at Prospect or Element 47

A sample rhythm

  1. 01

    Easy arrival

    Confirmed accessible transport and a comfortable in-town room.

  2. 02

    Views from the summit

    A gondola to 11,000 feet, then the Maroon Bells by shuttle.

  3. 03

    Scenery by car

    Independence Pass or the Castle Creek drive to Ashcroft.

  4. 04

    Spa and a fine table

    A spa afternoon, then a refined indoor dinner.

The Aspenwe’d build in

The pieces that fit this trip.

Grand views

The world's longest gondola, and a pass at 12,000 feet.

The biggest scenery comes easily here: a single-stage gondola to an 11,200-foot summit, the Maroon Bells vista, and high-alpine drives over the Continental Divide.

Independence Pass is closed to through traffic in winter, typically opening late May and closing by early November.

World's longest

Aspen Mountain

Silver Queen Gondola

The longest single-stage gondola in the world rises 3,267 vertical feet in about 15 minutes to the 11,200-foot summit and the Sundeck.

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Iconic vista

Maroon Creek Valley

Maroon Bells Scenic Area

The reflective Maroon Lake view of the twin Bells is the signature scenic experience of the Rockies, accessed by timed shuttle or parking reservation.

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Scenic drive

Highway 82 east

Independence Pass

A seasonal high-alpine drive cresting the Continental Divide at 12,095 feet through wildflower meadows, open only late spring through fall.

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Summit sightseeing

Snowmass Village

Snowmass Elk Camp Gondola

A scenic gondola ride to Snowmass's Elk Camp for high-country views, dining, hiking and the Lost Forest activity area.

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Ghost-town drive

Castle Creek Valley

Castle Creek Road to Ashcroft

A quiet valley drive past wildflower meadows to the restored Ashcroft ghost town beneath the Elk Mountains, gateway to Pine Creek Cookhouse.

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Spa and recovery

Cold plunges, steam caves and ski-in saunas.

Aspen's hotel spas are built for restoring tired legs, from the region's only ski-in/ski-out spa to a sprawling destination sanctuary with rooftop hot tubs.

Ski-in/ski-out

Aspen Mountain base

The Spa at The Little Nell

The region's only ski-in/ski-out spa, recognized by ELLE among the best spas, with treatment suites featuring infrared and halotherapy saunas.

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Destination wellness

Aspen Mountain base

RAKxa Wellness Spa at The St. Regis Aspen

A sprawling destination spa with treatment rooms, steam caves, cold plunges and rooftop hot tubs framed by Rocky Mountain views.

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Boutique

Downtown

Yarrow Spa at Hotel Jerome

Hotel Jerome's intimate spa blending mountain botanicals and locally inspired rituals in a refined historic setting.

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Modern recovery

Aspen Mountain base

AWAY Spa at W Aspen

W Aspen's contemporary spa focused on detox, recovery and post-slope restoration with bold, energetic design.

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Slopeside restore

Snowmass Village

The Spa at Viceroy Snowmass

A ski-in/ski-out spa in Snowmass Base Village with a relaxation lounge, eucalyptus steam and treatments built around restoring legs after a day on the mountain.

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Hydrotherapy circuit

Aspen Mountain base

Remede Spa heritage at the St. Regis

The St. Regis's long-running spa tradition centers on a signature hydrotherapy circuit, mountain-botanical rituals and rooftop soaking under the peaks.

Where to eat

A Michelin star, and decades-deep classics.

Aspen's tables run from the region's only Michelin-starred tasting menu to a French bistro running since 1987 and a backcountry cookhouse reached by sleigh.

Michelin-starred

Downtown

Bosq

Chef Barclay Dodge's intimate, seasonally driven tasting menu is the only Michelin-starred restaurant in Aspen and the broader mountain region.

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Grand Award cellar

The Little Nell

Element 47

The Little Nell's flagship dining room, Michelin-recommended and celebrated for a Wine Spectator Grand Award cellar of more than 600 references.

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Nobu Japanese

Downtown

Matsuhisa Aspen

Chef Nobu Matsuhisa's original Colorado kitchen since 1998, serving omakase and signature new-style sushi inside a historic Main Street Victorian.

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Classic French

Downtown

Cache Cache

A beloved French bistro running since 1987, where locals book ahead for consistent classical cooking and a deep wine list rather than trend-chasing.

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Alpine destination

Ashcroft

Pine Creek Cookhouse

A legendary backcountry restaurant 12 miles up Castle Creek, reached by sleigh or ski in winter, serving alpine gourmet game and fish beneath the Elk Mountains.

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Michelin-recommended

Downtown

Prospect at Hotel Jerome

Hotel Jerome's Michelin Guide-recommended restaurant, an elegant all-day room that anchors Aspen's most historic gathering place.

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Where to stay

At the base of the mountain, or the heart of town.

Aspen's finest hotels cluster at the foot of Aspen Mountain and along its historic downtown, each a short walk from the gondola.

Iconic

Aspen Mountain base

The Little Nell

Aspen's only Forbes Five-Star, Five-Diamond hotel and the sole ski-in/ski-out property at the base of Aspen Mountain, a Relais & Chateaux icon since 1989.

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Historic landmark

Downtown

Hotel Jerome, Auberge Resorts Collection

The social heart of Aspen since the 1889 silver boom, a meticulously restored landmark hotel steps from the Aspen Mountain gondola.

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Grand luxury

Aspen Mountain base

The St. Regis Aspen Resort

A red-brick grand resort at the foot of Aspen Mountain pairing St. Regis butler service with the destination RAKxa wellness spa.

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Modern design

Aspen Mountain base

W Aspen

A bold contemporary hotel with the only year-round rooftop pool and bar in town, set right at the base of Aspen Mountain.

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Ski-in/ski-out

Snowmass Village

The Snowmass (Viceroy Snowmass)

A sleek ski-in/ski-out resort in Snowmass Base Village with a multi-level pool deck and direct access to the largest of the four mountains.

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Lively contemporary

Downtown

Limelight Hotel Aspen

A relaxed, design-forward hotel a block from the gondola with a buzzing fireplace lounge and live music, owned by Aspen Skiing Company.

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Golden sunset light shimmering on the sea

Accessible Luxury Travel

Let’s design it around you.

Share what you can already picture. A concierge fills in everything still open and sends back a plan, not a quote.

Design This Trip