Things to do in Aspen
River trails, local BBQ, and the Aspen that exists beyond the fur coats.
This is Aspen for people who want the mountains and the food, not the scene. The days run at an easy pace: mornings outside, afternoons on foot or on a bike, evenings at places where the food does the talking. It works best in summer, when the valley is green and the Saturday Market is running.
Day 1: Roaring Fork, wraps, and crepes
Start with coffee above the art museum, get your adrenaline on the river, then wind down through the riverside sanctuary before the best dinner of the trip at French Alpine Bistro.
- 9:30 AM
Rooftop Cafe at the Aspen Art Museum
Swedish Hill's café on the free art museum's roof: Swedish pastries and coffee; closed Mondays.
Map - 10:30 AM
Whitewater rafting - Roaring Fork / Colorado
Half-day raft on the Roaring Fork: Slaughterhouse Falls runs Class III to IV, best from late May into July.
Map - 12:30 PM
- 2:00 PM
John Denver Sanctuary + Aspen Saturday Market
Stroll the quiet riverside garden with song-inscribed boulders, free, unhurried, genuinely Aspen.
Map - 7:30 PM
French Alpine Bistro - Crêperie du Village
French Alpine Bistro is the one memorable dinner, crepes and Savoyard dishes locals and visitors both swear by, worth the splurge.
Map - 9:15 PM
Aspen Public House
Big, friendly downtown pub for a local draft and a plate of wings after dinner.
Map
Day 2: Rio Grande Trail to Woody Creek
Coffee at Spring Cafe, an e-bike run down the Rio Grande Trail to Woody Creek, lunch at Aspen Meadows, Hunter Creek in the afternoon, then ribs at Aspen Hickory House and a last pint at Aspen Tap.
- 9:30 AM
Spring Cafe
Organic café and juice bar: a green juice and a breakfast burrito before a big day outside.
Map - 10:15 AM
Rio Grande Trail - e-bike to Woody Creek
Hop on the Rio Grande Trail e-bike, 6 miles of paved rail trail through the valley to Woody Creek Tavern and ride back; the whole morning activity.
Map - 12:30 PM
West End Social
Lunch at Aspen Meadows after the ride: Colorado produce, sharing plates and a burger.
Map - 2:30 PM
Hunter Creek Trail
Near-town favourite starting from East End with gentle grade and loop options, free trailhead.
Map - 7:30 PM
Aspen Hickory House
Aspen Hickory House is the top-rated, locally beloved BBQ dinner, the memorable, unpretentious meal to cap the day.
Map - 9:30 PM
Aspen Tap / Aspen Brewing Co
Aspen Brewing's taproom on Galena St: a flight of the house beers and a burger after a day outside.
Map
Day 3: Market morning, downtown afternoon
A slower final day: pastries at Paradise Bakery, the Hallam Lake nature walk, lunch at White House Tavern, a steak at No. 316 and a last drink at Zane's.
- 9:30 AM
Paradise Bakery & Cafe
Coffee, pastries, gelato, opens early, pedestrian mall energy, Aspen classic.
Map - 10:30 AM
Aspen Center for Environmental Studies
ACES' Hallam Lake preserve: 25 free acres of wetland paths in town, with resident birds of prey.
Map - 12:30 PM
White House Tavern
Hillstone-run cottage room: Honor Burger, crispy chicken sandwich, huge salads, loud happy energy.
Map - 7:30 PM
Steakhouse No. 316
Dim, clubby steakhouse on Hopkins Ave, dinner only from 5:30: prime steaks and chops with a big red.
Map - 9:30 PM
Zane's Tavern Aspen
Locals' sports bar downtown: cheap pints, wings and the game on, the opposite of a scene.
Map
Where to stay
Mollie Aspen
Mid-range, well-located, and genuinely comfortable without the resort-tax attitude of the bigger names on the mountain.
Limelight Hotel Aspen
Central, lively common spaces, and close enough to walk to almost every stop on this plan.
Make Aspen your trip
Swearby drafts the days from places people swear by. Swap any stop, then invite the crew by text, even friends without the app. Vote on dates, track costs as you go, and everyone gets one number at the end.
Get Swearby on the App StoreBefore you go
Book ahead
- Aspen Highlands: a few days ahead
- Maroon Bells: weeks ahead
- Silver Queen Gondola: a few days ahead
- Belly Up Aspen: weeks ahead
- Aspen Music Festival and School: weeks ahead
- Cloud Nine Alpine Bistro: weeks ahead
Skip these
- Walk up lift tickets and base area rental lines are the biggest money trap. Buy ahead and use delivered rentals.
- Maroon Bells at midday without a reservation means being turned around at the road gate.
- Cloud Nine is a party with lunch attached at party prices, not a quiet mountain meal.
- Mud season trips in late April to May and late October to November find a half shut town.
The full Aspen travel guide: when to go, safety, getting around