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Cross-Country Skiing and
Snowshoeing in Aspen, Colorado
Aspen/Snowmass
(970-920-5124, www.aspennordic.com) has the most extensive free Nordic
trail system in America, more than 80 km of groomed trails called "Aspen's
fifth mountain." The Aspen Nordic Council's free system
is accessible from Aspen or Snowmass and includes easy golf-course skiing,
as well as more difficult trails rising up to Snowmass.
In addition to the free trails provided by Aspen's Nordic Council, Ashcroft Ski Touring Unlimited (970-925-1971, www.pinecreekcookhouse.com) has 42 km of groomed and set trails, and backcountry skiers can use summer hiking trails. Lessons and rentals are available. CCSAA member
Hut systems
connect Aspen with Vail on the Tenth Mountain Trail and with Crested
Butte over the Pearl Pass. Guides are available and recommended. Call
Tenth Mountain Trail Association for more information, 970-925-5775.
Other centers are
the Aspen Cross Country Center (970-544-9246) on the Aspen Golf
Course off Hwy 82; Ute Mountaineer (970-925-2849) is a ski retail
shop; Braun Hut System (970-925-6618), which has information
on trails to Crested Butte; and Snowmass Club Cross Country Center
(970-923-3148).CCSAA member
Snowshoeing is quite popular in town, so ask about those programs at any of the cross-country centers mentioned here. In conjunction with the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES), Aspen Skiing Company has naturalist-guided tours for a daily (including lift rides, equipment and snack) on Aspen Mountain and Snowmass. Call 970-925-1220 or ACES at 970-925-5756 for reservations. You also can snowshoe up Aspen Mountain or Buttermilk at certain times and on certain runs. Ask an Aspen Skiing Company concierge about this if you're interested in more information.
Aspen has a malled downtown and incredible shops, boutiques and restaurants. Some of it represents the high life, but Aspen is a town that has a population that values outdoor recreation and it is sprinkled with occassional celebrity sitings.
