Summer in Snowmass Village

Snowmass, CO

By Sheree Bykofsky

“The most beautiful view in the world,” proclaims Captain Bubba as he soars his Above It All hot air balloon over the Snowmass Rockies. The celebrity of Aspen eclipses the neighboring town of Snowmass Village, which leaves Snowmass largely undiscovered and eminently more affordable—especially in summer.

A three bedroom/three bathroom condo with fireplace, balcony, outdoor grill, and full kitchen at Top of the Village might only be a quarter of its peak snow-season price in the summer. There are many fine accommodations in Snowmass, including the Mountain Chalet, a small hotel with 64 rooms, all with balconies. The hotel, situated right at the base of the mountain, offers a great breakfast, spectacular views, and a prime location beside the shops and restaurants of the Snowmass Village Mall. Winter visitors love the fact that the Mountain Chalet is a ski-in/ski-out hotel.

The beauty of the region can be enjoyed in a million ways. Between Snowmass and Aspen sits the spectacular Maroon Bells glacial valley in the White Forest National Park. After your unforgettable early morning balloon ride, grab a picnic at Fuel in the Village Mall and some chocolate covered strawberries at the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and make your way up the Maroon Creek road. There you can hike around Maroon Lake and gaze at the towering Maroon Bells (fourteen thousand foot high reddish, bell-shaped mountains that tower over the lake and valley). Picnic beside a beaver lodge and bask in the symphony of colors: the white aspens with silver-green leaves, the red sandstone peaks  punctuated by fields of snow, the jade-colored lake, and the green mountains with red sand below, blue sky above and the radiant smile of the few people enjoying it all with you.

There’s no end to the unique and fabulous summer activities available at Snowmass and its environs. Horseback rides are available at the Two Creeks stables. Learn to fly fish from a Taylor Creek Fly Fisherman on the stunning Frying Pan river nearby in the charming small town of Basalt. Visit Aspen on the weekend to stroll in the shops or enjoy the summer market. Take a chairlift up Snowmass or a Gondola ride up Aspen. Visit the interesting and pretty Anderson Ranch artist colony where you can watch artists engaged in woodwork, painting, photography and ceramics or take a one or two week intensive class yourself. Treat yourself to an inexpensive gourmet spa lunch with the artists in their dining hall. Blazing Adventures is a company that offers jeep tours up to the top of the mountain and other excursions, such as rafting trips. Or hike any of the splendid paths and trails to take in unprecedented views of the spectacular region.

Another reason to visit Snowmass in the summer  (summer isn’t really considered off-season, which is April/May and October/November)is that the plethora of outstanding restaurants are far less crowded. Although reservations are always recommended, you can usually stroll right into Sage at the Snowmass Club. At Sage, you’ll want every bite to last forever.  Don’t bother considering any appetizer but the Mission Figs with blue cheese and truffle oil.  “Comfort food with a twist,” you can’t go wrong ordering anything from the menu or putting yourself in the hands of the talented chef. Professional service, an outdoor terrace with great views of the mountains, makes Sage a great choice for any occasion or no occasion. Artisan at the Stonebridge Inn is another fine dining choice. Meals there are as much hand-crafted works of art as they are delicious food.

The Snowmass Club is semi-private, so it is open to the public for golf, spa activities, and tennis year round. If you schedule one of those, you have access to the health club. If not, it's private. You also can access Snowmass Club by staying at The Villas, which is across the street and managed by the Silvertree Hotel.

In summer, Snowmass hosts a variety of festivals and events. The Jazz Aspen Snowmass Labor Day Festival attracts thousands. Temperate evenings are filled with dancing, parties, laughter and fun. You may even see Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn whooping it up with the famous and not-so famous mountain locals. They’re among the many who have discovered the jewel of Snowmass.

IF YOU GO:

Top of the Village Condominiums
PO Box 5629
Snowmass Village, CO 81615
800-961-9088 or 970-923-3673
snowmass@destinationhotels.com

Snowmass Mountain Chalet
PO Box 5066
Snowmass Village, CO 81615
(970)923-3900 or 800-843-1579
Fax: (970)-923-3650
stay@mountainchalet.com
www.mountainchalet.com

Above It All Balloons
P.O. 3048
Basalt, CO 81621
(888) 927-9606
aboveall@sopris.net
www.aboveitallballoon.com

Blazing Adventures
P.O. Box 5068
Snowmass Village, CO 81615
(970) 923-4544 or (800) 282-7238

Il Poggio Ristorante
57 Elbert Lane
Snowmass, CO 81615   
(970) 923-4292
One level above the Snowmass Village Mall

Snowmass Club - Sage Bistro
0239 Snowmass Club Circle
Snowmass Village, CO 81615
(970) 923-0923

The Artisan, Handcrafted Cuisine

The Stonebridge Inn
300 Carriage Way
Snowmass Village, CO 81615
(970) 923-2427

Directions to Maroon Bells lake:

Head down Brush Creek Road to Hwy 82 and turn right toward Aspen. At the roundabout, take the Maroon Bells Road. You can either park your car and take the bus up from Aspen Highlands or (recommended) pay $10 and drive up yourself.

Aspen Saturday Market:

This open-air market features Colorado-grown fresh produce, meats and local arts and crafts each Saturday during the summer and fall. The market is located in downtown Aspen on Hopkins Avenue next to City Hall and a block off Hunter Street.
Market Hours: 8am-3 pm

Other Information:

Snowmass is at 8,500 feet in elevation. In order to ensure altitude adjustment, drink plenty of water, exercise and drink alcohol in moderation. Always wear sunscreen as the sun is very strong here. Be prepared for cooler nights, warmer days, and afternoon showers and thunderstorms.

All information on Snowmass is available at:
www.Snowmassvillage.com  or by calling 1-800-SNOWMASS.

Save Some Time For Glenwood Springs

The small city of Glenwood Springs is the perfect place to stop on your way to and from Snowmass, and it is a fine destination in its own right. A Segway tour is the perfect way to see the historic district of Glenwood Springs. You can rent one from Joel at the Sacred Grounds coffee shop at Grand and 8th Street.

Be sure to ride past – or maybe take a dip in – the Hot Springs Lodge and Pool, the world’s largest hot springs pool. The pool, which is Glenwood Springs’ claim to fame, has something for everyone. You can swim laps while your kids splash in the kiddie pool or barrel down some water slides.

Also in Glenwood Springs, you’ll find a completely unique way to relax. Visit Yampah Spa and Salon at the Hot Springs Vapor Caves, the only known true natural vapor caves (others are manmade). After a flight and a drive to this high altitude, there’s nothing like a massage and a sweat in the vapor caves at the Yampah Spa. The spa offers many luxurious spa treatments including lavender scents and body wraps, oxygen therapy, and AVEDA facials, scalp, and back treatments.   

IF YOU GO:

Segway Human Transporters
Sacred Grounds Coffeehouse
725 Grand Ave.
Glenwood Springs
970-404-3216 or 970-928-8804
Tour Times: 9-11 a.m., 12-2 p.m., 3-5 p.m., 6-8 p.m.
Reservations strongly encouraged

Hot Springs Lodge & Pool
401 North River Road
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
800-537-SWIM or 970-945-6571
Fax: 970-947-2950

images courtesy of Biege Jones