Buttermilk Ski Deals & Travel Info
This is the smallest ski resort in the Aspen/Snowmass area. It is known as a starter ski area for beginners, as well as the home of the Winter X-Games. To support this reputation, you will find a terrain park here with varying feature sizes and jump lines that run the entire vertical length of the mountain. Buttermilk and Snowmass are the two resorts in the valley where terrain park skiers and riders will want to hang out.
Buttermilk Ski Area Highlights
Very small, but playing a great role in the local group of resorts as the beginner ski area and terrain park hill.
- Top to bottom terrain park
- Beginner-friendly
- Part of Aspen/Snowmass group of 4 local resorts
Getting to Buttermilk
Buttermilk is located right on CO HWY 82, so it is right on the main bus route. HWY 82 is the main artery that connects Aspen to Snowmass and then to the rest of the world. The Aspen/Pitkin County Airport is located right next to the ski area, so if you are flying here, you will drive right by Buttermilk on your way to Aspen. Once you are in the Aspen area, getting here should be easy.
Getting to the Aspen area is the larger challenge because it is a long drive from Denver. There are ample flights in and out of the airport, but it is a small airport and it must abide by noise abatement rules at night that limit the air traffic. If there is a giant snow storm and the airport is closed, it is possible that you won’t be able to drive to Aspen from Denver. Vail Pass and the Eisenhower Tunnel can also close for weather and block your route. Flying into Aspen is generally the best idea if you are flying to Colorado to ski here. See more Buttermilk transportation info here.
Buttermilk FAQ
There are lots of green circle trails. There are some mild blue intermediate trails and you can go directly over them on the lift before you ski down them. This will let you judge whether or not you want to tackle them. You won’t have to head into them blindly and trust your friends that you’ll be fine.
Buttermilk is the smallest and generally considered the easiest of the 4 ski areas. Buttermilk and Snowmass are the only options for beginner skiers.
Yes! Aspen/Snowmass tickets are valid at all 4 of the ski areas in the valley. If you are staying at Snowmass it is easy to take the free bus over to Buttermilk for the morning and head back for the afternoon at Snowmass.
Aim for the main base area. There is usually enough parking here and parking is located right at the foot of the mountain. A small amount of parking is also available at the Tiehack and West Buttermilk base areas.
Trail Map
The full-size Buttermilk trail map is available on the official Aspen/Snowmass website here.
Tips for Skiing & Riding Buttermilk
You can park slopeside at the West Buttermilk base area . There is a small parking lot here and it nestles right against the slopes. This can be a nice base if you are spending the day at Buttermilk and eating a packed lunch at the car.
Expect the terrain park to be shut down in the weeks before and after the X-Games. The festivities are grand and there will be scaffolding and banners everywhere. The jumps are being built during this time and the course is being prepped.