Aspen

Aspen may be known for its skiing and winter sports, but it's really quite impressive as a hiking destination. Surrounded on three sides by three different Wilderness areas, Aspen and nearby Snowmass offer an extensive network of local trails right from the edge of town, as well as numerous options and access points for larger wilderness hiking adventures. And the best part is that there are very few people.

The Upper Roaring Fork Valley boasts more than a dozen side valleys which provide some awesome individual outings, but also allow for some really long and committing linkups. Since most of the terrain in the upper valley fall within official Wilderness, it isn't shared with bikes or vehicles.

The snowfall that qualifies Aspen and Snowmass as desirable ski destinations during the winter months effectively shut down much of the trail network for hiking during that time of year. Through the dark days of winter there are some paved bike paths that are clear, but much of the singletrack and jeep roads are packed with snow. The trails are all still accessible and open, but only a handful of the summer trails see visitors in numbers enough to keep the snow packed adequately for hiking. The trails closest to downtown Aspen or Snowmass are the best options this time of year. Trails further away would be better served by either snowshoes or skis. It's quite popular to uphill hike/run/snowshoe the four area ski mountains on the packed groomed surface, and download on chairlift or gondola. The rules vary on each mountain so be sure to check in advance about suggested routes and allowable times.

In April, some of the lower elevation trails or those on sunny, southern aspects begin to melt out. Winter snowpack levels and springtime temperatures factor into when the trails dry out for hiking to a point, but in general terms, it isn't until early June that many of the popular trails near Aspen are clear of snow. The remote Wilderness trails at higher elevations take even longer.

Hotels and lodging can be pricey in Aspen, but there are exceptions. The St. Moritz is a few blocks from downtown and offers private and shared rooms for very reasonable rates. Other hotels that might be within reach cost-wise for most visitors would be the Tyrollean Lodge, the Limelight Hotel, or the Molly Gibson Lodge. If you want more options, contact Aspen Central Reservations or visit online (www.stayaspensnowmass.com), where a searchable database of hotel and residential rental information can be found.

There are several USFS campsites near town as well, three along Highway 82 on the way up Independence Pass (Difficult, Weller, Lost Man), and three on the road up to the Maroon Bells, just past the entrance gate (Silver Bar, Silver Bell, and Silver Queen). Call the Aspen Ranger District Office for more information. The sites are usually quite busy and some advanced planning is often required to reserve a spot.

Aspen has more restaurants than a town of it's size should be able to support. As one would expect, there are numerous high-priced options but for the rest of us who are simply looking for a good place to eat or drink after a long day on the trails, consider The J-Bar at the Hotel Jerome, The Red Onion, Hops Culture, 520 Grill, or NY Pizza. You might also just walk through the few blocks that make up the downtown core and see what else looks good. Higher end restaurants offer bar menus that are more reasonably priced. Aspen Brewery doesn't serve food but is centrally located downtown with a sunny patio and is a perfect post run spot for a beer.

If you're looking for breakfast/coffee, try Jour de Fete next to City Market, Cafe Ink, Peach's Cafe, Poppycock's, or the Hickory House out on Main Street.

Rest day? Bad weather? There's plenty do in and around Aspen-

Aspen Mountain Gondola- aspensnowmass.com/ - take a ride to the top of Aspen Mountain for lunch, or to meet others who may be running or hiking up.
ACES - Aspen Center for Environmental Studies - aspennature.org/
Wheeler Opera House - wheeleroperahouse.com/
Aspen Music Festival - aspenmusicfestival.com/