By Roxanne Bichard
Sure, you probably came to Aspen for the skiing. You probably plan on spending the days hitting the powder and the evenings sipping hot chocolate by the fire. Though this is the typical visitor’s experience while staying at one of the many amazing Aspen villas, there are so many other ways to get a taste of this incredible resort town! Make sure not to miss out on the exciting off-slope activities that allow you to explore Aspen in any season. These exhilarating activities can complement your days on the slopes, or keep you busy in the summer months when the runs are dry. Who knows, you may just end up hanging up your skis and falling in love with Aspen’s other, lesser-known outdoor adventures…
Rock Climbing
Rock climbing is a fun and challenging way to come up as close and personal to Aspen’s mountains you can get! Within just one hour of Snowmass Village, several world class climbing areas attract rock climbers to its mountains. Independence Pass is a scenic, pristine stretch of wilderness that offers some of the best climbing in the Aspen area. Glenwood Canyon is also a popular climber’s destination as it offers a wide range of climbing for every skill level. For those who aren’t ready to go straight out into the mountains, Snowmass’s Recreation Center provides a great indoor wall for practicing.
Fly-fishing
Learning to fly-fish not only gives you the opportunity to acquire a new skill but to discover some of Aspen’s most beautiful rivers. Guided river wading trips take you off the beaten path and let you come into direct contact with nature in a way you may never have before. The Frying Pan, Roaring Fork and Colorado Rivers are some of the best fly-fishing spots in North America. Not only will you come up and close and personal with the wilderness but as a bonus, you’ll get to take home some trout for dinner! Fly fishing can be enjoyed in both the summer and winter months, making it a great year-round activity.
Mountain Biking
Aspen and Snowmass are renowned for providing challenging terrain for mountain and road bikers. If you’re a beginner, consider taking one of the downhill mountain biking clinics that will cover skills such as the active stance, braking and cornering (the ABC’s of mountain biking). There are no shortage of stellar bike trails in the Roaring Fork Valley, with favorites such as Rim Trail and Government Trail East. Mountain biking is a great fall activity as it allows you to appreciate the forest at its most beautiful, when the leaves are bursting with color. Not to mention, you will enjoy some incredible mountain views while working up a good sweat.
White water rafting
Adventure-seekers looking to feel a true “rush” should consider giving white water rafting a try. Aspen’s lively Colorado, Arkansas and Roaring Fork Rivers make it one of the premier destinations for white water rafting in North America. Breathtaking scenery, when combined with the challenge of navigating the rapids, spells an unforgettable way to spend a morning or an afternoon! Don’t be discouraged by the name, but Slaughterhouse Falls is the best run of the Roaring Fork Valley, and a must-do for rafters seeking a thrill. Bring a waterproof camera and hold on tight, this may be Aspen’s most euphoric outdoor adventure sport.
Snowshoeing
Once the only feasible way to get around the Roaring Fork Valley after snowfall, snowshoeing is now enjoyed by many visitors of Aspen as a fun winter workout. While you may be deterred from hiking in deep snow, the snowshoe gives you no excuse not to get out there to explore Aspen in the wintertime. Without snowshoes, every step would mean a sink down into inches and inches of snow. This ancient invention distributes your weight so that you can step along the surface of the snow with relative ease. A great complementary activity to skiing during the winter months, snowshoeing in Aspen lets you discover its marvelous winter landscape.
So as you can see, skiing is hardly the one and only way to find adventure in Aspen. As one of North America’s most amazing skiing and snowboarding destinations, these alternative activities are often overlooked by visitors, much to their disadvantage. Outdoor adventure comes in all shapes and sizes in this iconic skiing town, and you shouldn’t have trouble finding a guided excursion. Your only difficulty should be packing in as many activities as you can into the day!
About Roxanne Bichard: a regular contributor to the Luxury Retreats blog, Roxanne loves to try new outdoor adventures at each destination she explores. Currently studying in Provence, France, she may be more likely to visit the Alps than Aspen this Christmas.
