Current Weather:
Light Snow
weather 30°

Base Depth:
40-44"

24hr Snowfall:
1"

Surface:
Packed powder

Buttermilk

38700 Highway 82, Aspen, 81611
Phone: 800-525-6200 Snow Report: 970-925-1221 (snow report)
Buttermilk Website

by Greg Fitzsimmons

The best way to understand Buttermilk is to look at the mountain from two points of view. First, known throughout Aspen as being the “beginner’s hill,” Buttermilk boasts an abundance of trails that are tailored for the “never-ever” skier or snowboarder. Second, as home to the ESPN Winter X Games, the “Milk” has hosted the best skiers and boarders in the world every year since 2002.

While there aren’t the storied steeps of Buttermilk’s resort neighbors (Aspen, Snowmass, Highlands), you will find something for every skill level at the mountain located right past the roundabout. Wide, expansive runs make up the majority of the terrain. West Buttermilk has mellow grades and slower chairs for youngsters and newbies to get comfortable on, the Tiehack side gets steeper and more challenging, and in between there are easy-to-find glades and trees to tuck into right next to the groomers.

Extreme athletes and aspiring X Gamers spend most of their time sliding, soaring, and spinning in the world-class terrain parks (there are five to choose from, creating more than two miles of rails, jibs, and boxes to play with) and halfpipes (Panda Pipe is the place where beginning freestylers can learn the tricks that X Games’ athletes and Olympians throw in the 22-foot Superpipe).

There is only one ski-in, ski-out accommodation option at the foot of Buttermilk: The Inn at Aspen. However, the resort sits a few minutes from downtown Aspen and Snowmass Village, and, apparently, there are “14,303 pillows within a 10-mile radius” of Buttermilk (the folks at Aspensnowmass.com did the counting, and I trust them). Buses run like clockwork between all four of Aspen’s mountains, allowing people to stay anywhere and ski everywhere.

The après-ski scene is pretty nonexistent at Buttermilk, but the Cliffhouse is located at the top of the Summit Express chairlift. You’ll be hard pressed to find a more scenic place in Aspen to have a drink or recharge your battery. The panoramic views of Pyramid Peak and the Maroon Creek valley are stunning.

FYI…The United States Snowboard Halfpipe team will be meeting at Buttermilk after the ESPN Winter X Games this year to train for the Vancouver Olympic Games. Stop by the Superpipe during the first week of February if you’re interested in watching the best in the world (the U.S. snagged four of the six possible podium spots in Torino, Italy) work on tricks, or pick up the newest issue of Aspen Peak magazine to learn more. (I’m not above shameless self-promotion.)

main photo courtesy of Aspen Skiing Company and Daniel Bayer

WEATHER CONDITIONS

Current Weather:
Light Snow
weather 30°

Forecast:
Light Snow
weather 29°

SKI CONDITIONS

Latest Report: 20100310T04:45:00
24hr Snowfall:
1"		 Last Snowfall:
Mar 08 - 2"		 Surface:
Packed powder
Base Depth:
40-44"		 Trails Open:
43		 Total Trails:
43
Percent Trails Open:
100%		 Lifts Open:
icon 6		 Total Lifts:
icon 9
Terrain Type:
Beginner:
N/A		 Intermediate:
N/A		 Advanced:
N/A		 Expert:
N/A
Elevation:
weather Peak Elevation:
9900 ft 3018 m Vertical:
2030 ft 619 m Base Elevation:
7870 ft 2399 m		 Total Acres:
434 Total Miles:
21
Longest Run:
Homestead Road
3 00		 Easiest Run:
Homestead Road		 Steepest Run:
Tiehack Trail
Best Bumps:
Buttermilk is pretty much bump-free.		 Best Trail Name:
No Problem		  
 

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Air Transportation

Aspen/Snowmass is one of the most accessible Rocky Mountain resorts, with hundreds of nonstop and connecting flights weekly into Aspen, Eagle, Denver and other Colorado airports, you have lots of options...

Aspen/Pitkin County Airport (ASE): Tucked neatly into the Roaring Fork Valley, the Aspen airport is just three miles from the town of Aspen and six miles from Snowmass Village. 

Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE): Located just 70 miles from Aspen and Snowmass Village, flights into Eagle are offered on major airlines, permitting one-stop connections from across the globe.

Denver International Airport (DIA): 220 miles from Aspen/Snowmass, visitors can also choose to fly into Denver International (DIA) and then take ground transportation to reach Aspen/Snowmass.  More than 400 flights are offered into DIA from over 80 cities on 14 airlines, plus daily nonstop service from London/Gatwick on British Airways and daily nonstop service from Frankfurt on Lufthansa.

Grand Junction - Walker Field (GJT): Visitors can also choose to fly into Grand Junction (just 125 miles from Aspen/Snowmass) and then take ground transportation to reach Aspen/Snowmass.

Colorado Springs Airport (COS): 270 miles from Aspen/Snowmass.  Up to 70 daily flights from 25 cities on 10 airlines.  Reminder: during winter, Independence Pass is closed.

Ground Transportation

Aspen/Snowmass Express: Introducing new ground transportation to Aspen/Snowmass from Gray Line. Gray Line Colorado offers luxury nonstop express service between Denver International Airport and Aspen/Snowmass. Gray Line Worldwide, based in Colorado, brings nearly 100 years of experience as the world's largest operator of sightseeing and transportation services in premier resort destinations.

Colorado Mountain Express: Arriving into Denver, Eagle, or Grand Junction? Choose Colorado Mountain Express, the leader in ground transportation for over twenty-two years. Colorado Mountain Express offers door-to-door service to and from Aspen/Snowmass and has shuttles and private vehicles running every day.

CME Premier: Enjoy the luxury, convenience and personalized service of private chauffeured travel from Colorado's most respected ground transportation company. CME Premier provides service to and from Aspen airport and all Colorado airports.

High Mountain Taxi: Serving the Aspen/Pitkin County Airport, Vail/Eagle County Airport and Glenwood Springs Amtrak. Our taxis accommodate up to 6 passengers. The vehicles are equipped with roof racks for additional luggage and skis.

Parking

Free parking in all Buttermilk lots.

Free ASC (Aspen Skiing Company) Shuttle

A van runs from the designated Highlands parking lot at Buttermilk to Highlands beginning at 7 a.m. The shuttle runs every 15 min. to 11:30 a.m. From 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. the shuttle runs every 30 min. Shuttle resumes every 15 min. schedule at 2:30 p.m. at Highlands until the last run from Highlands to Buttermilk at 5:30 p.m. Pocket cards with times are available at the Highlands Guest Service desk.

Free Skier Shuttle Service Between All Four Mountains

Free shuttle buses run 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. between the four mountains - Snowmass, Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk.