COME TO LIFE | Glenwood Springs, Carbondale, Basalt, Snowmass, Aspen Hill), kayaking, paddleboarding and fly-fishing. In winter, excellent cross-country skiing can be found at Spring Gulch. Farther on, the town of Basalt at the confluence of the Roaring Fork and Fryingpan rivers is known for Gold Medal fishing. Kayaking in the whitewater park, SUPing on Ruedi Reservoir, plus hiking and biking are other draws. There are also shops, galleries and cafes, and The Arts Campus at Willits’ concerts and shows. Eating local is the norm in both towns, with farm-to-table dinners and several restaurants’ menus informed by seasonally available ingredients grown nearby. SIDETRIPS Marble is 40 miles south of Carbondale. Hit up Marble Hub to get questions answered and sip some coffee. Get into the backcountry on horseback with OutWest Guides or visit the Crystal ghost town and 1893 Crystal Mill on a tour with Crystal River Jeep Tours or RPS Rentals. Tour Mill Site Park’s ghostly ruins, mountain bike Coal Basin Trail, and hang around after dark — the town recently joined the International Dark-Sky Association. End the day at Slow Groovin’ BBQ with scratch-made goodness. Redstone is 16 miles from Carbondale. Seek out trail rides, pack trips and big-game hunts from Avalanche Outfitters; hook up and gear up for primo fishing at Crystal Fly Shops; scale the geography at Boulders Open Space; and hike, mountain bike and cross-country ski throughout the valley. Winter also brings ice climbing at Ice Pillars and skating on Redstone Park Pond. Winter Fun Aspen Snowmass resort is home to four big-time ski areas: Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Snowmass and Buttermilk Mountain. And Glenwood Springs is home to Sunlight Mountain Resort, where you can ski new terrain, hop on snowmobile tours and tackle the scenic Nordic trails on snowshoes or cross-country skis. Summer Fun AT SKI RESORTS Ride the gondola to the top of Aspen Mountain for hiking trails, dining and yoga classes. Snowmass Mountain has disc golf, more than 40 miles of mountain-bike trails and the Lost Forest’s alpine coaster, ziplines, fishing pond and climbing wall. Sunlight Mountain’s 16 miles of marked mountain-bike trails wind through wildflower meadows. Days 3 & 4 It’s time to explore Aspen and Snowmass. They’re just 20 minutes apart, so it’s easy to go back and forth. Aspen maintains a character that is 100 percent Colorado and family friendly. Enhance mornings with a downtown jaunt to survey the famous stores. Hit up the Saturday Market for its farm-fresh produce and local products, or cruise the area with a bike rental from WE-Cycle Stations in Aspen and Basalt. Savor afternoon scenery. Try your hand at the Gold Butte Climbing Area, with routes for all levels near Aspen. The Snowmass Bike Park has 25 miles of mountain-biking bliss. The area has recently received a gold-level rating from the International Mountain Biking Association. The paved Rio Grande Trail starts in Aspen and follows the river. Those with littles in tow can hike Grottos Trail, an easy route that leads to ice caves and waterfalls. Make a reservation (May to early October only) and follow the crowds to Maroon Bells, or ride an e-bike there in the morning to avoid them. Pics of the peaks are one of our most famous scenes. Independence Pass offers recreational opportunities from hiking and biking to climbing. Take a tour of Independence Ghost Town with the Aspen Historical Society to hear its tales. FROM LEFT: SNOWMASS/JEREMY SWANSON; MATT HOBBS. Decrease the heart rate with mountain-top yoga at Aspen Mountain, or hook up with the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies for sunset hikes, birding outings, naturalist guides and (in winter) snowshoe treks. The Collective Snowmass hosts movies under the stars, comedy and music series, and more. This area has a world-class dining scene. Chefs at restaurants like Matsuhisa, Aurum, Kenichi and Element 47 craft menus around whatever produce is in season. 120 1-800-COLORADO
Colorado Official State Vacation Guide 2023: Page 120
