Visit Snowmass in the summer
No skis? No problem. This Colorado mountain town has amazing outdoor activities all year long that include hiking, rock climbing and sunset Jeep tours.
There’s the relax-outdoors-by-the-pool-with-a-tropical-drink kind of summer vacation and then there’s this. Not saying you can’t have a restorative holiday in Snowmass (there are pools and spas and room service here, too, of course), but why not take advantage of the beautifully abundant outdoors Colorado has to offer by immersing yourself in as many action-packed activities as possible?
Opened in 1967, Snowmass is the largest mountain of four in the Aspen/Snowmass complex. A huge perk of visiting in the summer is that hotel pricing is way — WAY — more affordable than around Christmas/New Year’s Eve. Let me just start by saying that while this ski village may feel small, it packs a punch no matter the season. I really enjoyed spending a few days in Snowmass last summer and seeing the town when wildflowers were blooming vs. when the snow was falling.
Fly into Denver and take a scenic 3.5 hour drive from the airport (5 hours via bus) or you can also fly from Denver straight to Aspen/Pitkin County Airport and skip renting a car/spending money on gas, etc. If your hotel has a shuttle you can arrange for airport pickup; there are a few other options for getting into Snowmass, like taking the bus or booking a ride share service.
I like to point out that Colorado does get warm in the summer so if you plan to explore Snowmass then make sure you’re dressed for the weather and that you’re able to hydrate often. Daily high temps in Snowmass during June, July and August can get up to 80 degrees F. One more thing: alcohol just hits different when you’re at high elevation destinations (8,209 feet, to be exact) so maybe take it easy on the drinks? And grab some Dramamine for nausea in case it hits you while riding the gondola. Enjoy!
Eat and Drink
A couple options for breakfast and lunch below. I was a fan of room service or hotel bar dinners just because I was exhausted at the end of the day, but there are plenty of options for dinner that you can just walk to, too.
JUS Snowmass
Opened at the end of 2020, JÃœS Snowmass is located at the base of Snowmass Village (the original location is in downtown Aspen). The menu includes handcrafted cold-pressed juice blends, smoothies, and vegan friendly drink options. You can also get smoothie bowls, burritos, bagels, wraps, sandwiches and salads here.
The Crepe Shack
One of the only Black-owned restaurants in the Aspen Snowmass area, The Crepe Shack opened in 2018 and is great place to grab a quick, delicious bite in the morning or early afternoon. Owner and chef Mawa McQueen also owns Mawa’s Kitchen in Aspen, plus a company that ships nationwide called GrainFreeNola which is — you guessed it — grain free granola. If that wasn’t enough, McQueen was also nominated for a 2022 James Beard Award in the Best Chef category. What I loved most about The Crepe Shack is that the restaurant offers three different crepe batters: a gluten-free/vegan buckwheat flour, garbanzo bean flour and regular flour so if you have dietary restrictions you can still indulge here.
TORO Kitchen & Lounge
Drop in for breakfast, dinner or drinks at the lounge every day of the week. Whether you’re staying at the Viceroy or not, the hotel’s restaurant is a chic, sexy place to dine anytime you’re in the mood for Latin-inspired dishes. Acclaimed chef and restaurateur Richard Sandoval goes out of his way to source organic, sustainable, and grass-fed products locally from Colorado when possible. Do not pass up a spicy Paloma (the smokey old fashioned is good too) or the guac, Amarillo ceviche or the bison burger. Mexican molten chocolate cake is a must, but honestly all the desserts are pretty special.
Elk Camp Restaurant
If you plan to head up the mountain via gondola — and I’m sure you will — you’ll find Elk Camp, a cafeteria-style restaurant, just 15 minutes from Snowmass Base Village. Grab a local beer and a bite to eat before exploring the Breathtaker Coaster, rock climbing and more.
The Stew Pot
The oldest restaurant in Snowmass, the Stew Pot opened in 1972 and serves comfort foods like chili and the hot pastrami sandwich. As the name suggests, there is always a rotating selection of soups and stews here, which may not sound super appetizing in the warmer months, but just trust me on this — nothing re-energizes you after a long day of outdoor activities like a hearty, huge bowl of soup.
If you make it into Aspen (it’s a free bus ride away from Snowmass Village if you don’t have a car), an absolute must is visiting the weekend farmers market and then grabbing drinks at Hotel Jerome. Open since 1889, it’s beautiful, quite possibly haunted and just everything I imagine when I think of the Wild West. In addition to Prospect, you can also drink/dine at J-Bar, the Living Room or in the Winter Garden or grab a coffee at Felix Roasting Co., the coffee shop’s first location outside of NYC.
Stay
The Viceroy Snowmass: I have nothing but amazing things to say about this hotel. From the check-in process to the restaurant, the outdoor pool, the spa and the rooms everything was just perfect. My room had a fireplace (love, even in summer) and a balcony overlooking lots of trees and a few gondolas — perfect for reading, meditating or watching the sunrise. Live it up in a robe and slippers here, order room service and just reconnect with yourself during your stay. The Viceroy is really the only luxury resort in Snowmass and I don’t think I’ll ever stay anywhere else.
Play
Tour Anderson Ranch Arts Center (it’s been open since the 1960s), check out Snowmass Art Walk or go for a hike. Follow Rim Trail South (six miles) up to the Yin Yang to get 360 degree views of Snowmass. Another option for sunny days is the shaded Tom Blake Trail. It’s about a mile and a half or so.
Take a sunset Jeep tour with Blazing Adventures. This was soooo fun. They pick you at your hotel and take you on a scenic — albeit bumpy — ride up Snowmass Mountain. You’ll stop to pick raspberries if they’re in season and learn about your surroundings. Check out Burlingame cabin, try your hand at calf roping, toss some horseshoes around or just chill out by the campfire while you wait for dinner to be served. This tour is BYOB so grab your favorite bevvie at Sundance Liquors or the Daly Bottle. After dinner, there’s live music and you can even roast your own s’mores over the fire. Blazing Adventures keeps blankets on hand in case you get cold, but make sure to pack a warm jacket for this.
Definitely book a massage or facial at the Viceroy’s spa. Designed by Jean Michel-Gathy, the 7,000-square-foot spa offers a selection of holistic wellness experiences, from Ute Indian-inspired therapies to contemporary beauty rituals. The spa has six treatment rooms-including hydrotherapy Vichy showers and a couple's suite. I honestly could’ve spent the whole day here — especially after hiking. I love the chakra balancing massage or the healer massage with a CBD add-on. You can also sign up for yoga through the fitness center here.
Take a gondola up to the Lost Forest where you’ll find zip lines, mountain biking trails, rock climbing and more. Go fishing while you’re up there or discover new trails to hike. There are also two disc golf courses as well as the Elk Camp restaurant. What I wanted to do over and over was the Breathtaker Alpine Coaster, an eight-ish minute ride and cool way to see the mountain alone or with a buddy (pro tip: it goes faster if you’re alone). One ticket gets you up to three rides for $56 per person; grab your tickets at any ticket office and make sure to get there earlier in the day. After 1pm it tends to get pretty busy and will close if it’s at capacity.
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