Aspen-Pitkin County Airport

Nestled in the amazing mountainscape of beautiful Aspen, Colorado, the Aspen-Pitkin County Airport is close to all your shopping needs, hotels, transportation, larger cities, sightseeing attractions, and of course, outdoor sports for both winter and summer. These are all so conveniently located that you may find your visit to be one of the most pleasant vacations you could enjoy. The Aspen-Pitkin County Airport, also known as Sardy Field, is the third busiest airport in the state. The airport is classified by the FAA as a Class 1 airport. It serves three regular commercial air carriers: United Express (operated by Air Wisconsin), America West (Operated by Mesa Airlines), and Northwest Airlink (operated by Mesaba Airlines). The airport also allows access by corporate airplanes and private jets. Aspen-Pitkin County Airport is closed to all traffic between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. You will find that there are ticket counters, full services for travelers, and baggage facilities. Within the terminal, you will find various means of ground transportation, five rental car agencies, a full restaurant and bar, restroom facilities, courtesy and public phones, vending machines, newspaper racks, lockers, gift shops, and airport administration offices. You will find numerous amenities at the Airport, and you are only minutes away from the slopes for your winter activities or summer fun.

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At Aspen-Pitkin County Airport, you will find that transportation is easily accessible, and there is a wide range of such amenities, which are only a few minutes from the picturesque city of Aspen. There are several forms of transportation to choose from, which are located for your convenience at the Airport. Roaring Fork Transportation (RFTA) has been in operation since 1983. This commuter bus service runs from Aspen to Glenwood Springs, providing an inner city ski shuttle service to the four ski areas in Aspen, and also other seasonal services. RFTA was named “The Best Mass Transit System of North America” by Mass Transit magazine in 1996. Within Aspen, and to or from the Airport, the service is free. For transportation to the surrounding communities of Snowmass Village, Carbondale, El Jebel, Glenwood Springs, Rifle, and Basalt, there is a fee. There are bus schedules available for further information. Please remember, there is limited space on the bus for luggage.

Besides RFTA, there are several other modes of transportation. Among them are Aspen Snowmass Limo and Airport Express, and Colorado Mountain Express, both of which provide door-to-door airport service from Denver International Airport and Eagle County Airport, Aspen, and Snowmass, and many other locations. CLS Transportation, Inc, Hy Mountain Transportation, and Snow Limousine, all provide you with door-to-door shuttles, limos, vans, and taxicab services. Check with your hotel to see if these services are provided at a discounted rate or even free to and from the airport. Snow Limousine also provides scenic tours. There are also rental cars available if you would like to drive through the scenic mountains.

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Aspen, being the Mecca it is for visitors and residents, offers a wide variety of resorts, bed and breakfast facilities, and hotels, as well as other types of accommodations that are near or not too far from the Aspen-Pitkin County Airport. Property managers will be glad to assist you with your stay. The resorts include Aspen Meadows Resort, The Aspen Meadows (a DOLCE Resort Destination), Inn At Aspen, and The Gant. Both The Gant and Inn At Aspen have full-service conference centers. The Holland House is a European-style bed and breakfast. With the wide selection of lodging, you have many choices, such as the Hotel Aspen, Hotel Jerome, Hotel Wildwood (Snowmass), Independence Square Hotel, Little Nell Hotel, Silvertree Hotel (Snowmass), St. Regis Hotel, and The Sky Hotel, all of which provide their guests with unique, special care so you can enjoy your stay in Aspen. There is also the Molly Gibson Lodge, The Timberline Condos, and an authentic Western Ranch, T-Lazy_7 Guest Ranch. Frias Properties is available for any additional help you may need.

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Though your lodging place may offer breakfasts ranging from cold to hot, continental, and room service, there are several places in Aspen and the surrounding areas that are easily accessible from the Aspen-Pitkin County Airport where you can enjoy fine dining. In your travels, you will see many restaurants with a wide variety of food choices from American to French cuisine, such as the Wildwood’s Village Steakhouse (Snowmass), Boogies Diner, Inc., Elkhorn Bar & Grill and Obadiah’s Pizzeria (both are located in the Inn at Aspen), Bentley’s at the Wheeler, Little Annie’s Eating House, Mezzaluna, Obadiah’s Pizzeria, La Cocina, Olives, Cache Cache,Takah Sushi, Rustique Bistro, The Hickory House, Red Onion, Ute City Bar & Grill, The Cantina, Wienerstube, The Hickory House, The Mother Lode, and Woody Creek Tavern. In addition, there is a private club in Aspen, Caribou Club Ltd., for members and their guests. If you are in the mood to go to a café and bakery, Aspen Bagel Bites and Main Street Bakery and Café are also available, along with many other choices in these quaint little towns .

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Aspen is located only 200 miles from Denver, Colorado, and is surrounded by many small towns for your traveling excitement. The nearest is Snowmass Village, a combination of adventure, beautiful mountains, and convenience, providing free activities, music, and festivals. Snowmass is a wonderful year-round destination for your vacation. Breckenridge is also another skiing community. Woody Creek, which sits in the Valley of Roaring Fork River, was the home to Hunter S. Thompson, along with several other celebrities and musicians, including Don Henley of the Eagles and John Oats. After arriving at the Aspen-Pitkin Country Airport, you can take short sightseeing trips to such towns as Everett, Brumley, and Champion Mill, all of which are close to Twin Lakes Reservoir and Turquoise Lake. Along the way to these lakes, there are the towns of Balltown and Leadville, both of which are mining towns. There are, of course, other small towns for the true adventurist to explore and enjoy the beautiful scenery that surrounds them.

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Many travelers fly into Aspen-Pitkin County Airport for the worldwide skiing attractions of Aspen. Mountains such as Buttermilk, with 470 acres, one super pipe, a beginning pipe, and three other pipes is the perfect beginner and cruising mountain, and it is the home to ESPN Winter X Games until 2010 for both summer and winter. Make sure you visit the Crazy T’rain Terrain Park located at the base. Highlands has terrain for experts, beginners, cruisers, and bumpers. The Buttermilk ski area is open December 8th to April 6th. The total acreage for Highlands is 1,010, providing some of the most advanced, expert, and extreme terrain with sites of the Maroon Bells. Deep Temerity is a triple chair that rises 1,700 vertical feet in 7.3 minutes, from which the breathtaking surroundings can be enjoyed. Highlands boasts a 3,635-foot vertical drop, 125 trails with the longest run of 3.5 miles, and it is serviced by five lifts. Highlands is open from December 8th to April 6th. Snowmass presents The New Treehouse Kids’ Adventure Center, a base camp for families, and a centerpiece for the children’s programming. This is a unique first of its kind in the snow sport industry. As if that were not enough, there is the new Elk Camp Meadows learning area, bringing beginners to the high alpine with a quad chair, allowing a ten minute quick ride to the new base village of Elk Camp Meadows on the Gondola. Snowmass also offers an improved Snow Park Technology terrain park and a half pipe area. Snowmass is the second largest ski area in the country, with 3,132 acres and a 4,406-foot vertical rise, making it the highest vertical rise in any of the country’s ski areas. Snowmass provides you with three terrain parks, one super pipe, and a beginner pipe, and is open from November 22nd to April 13th. The last of the four mountains in this 12 mile radius is Aspen Mountain, also known as Ajax, located in West Buttermilk. Ajax has steep terrain and diehard bump runs, and provides a 3,267 foot vertical drop. Skiing is geared towards families, with its gentle slopes and long, wide, rolling trails. Experts need not worry though; there is a jib in the new Snow Park Technology terrain park. Aspen Mountain, home to a skier-only terrain park, has seven lifts and a uniquely designed gondola, the Silver Queen, which has an exit on three sides. There is a high-speed quad chair with a midway load station. This mountain is open from November 22nd to April 13th, welcoming both skiers and snowboarders alike. Also, ski lessons are available at various areas to help you with your skiing and snowboarding activities.

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Along with the fantastic world class skiing, there are other activities year round in which to participate, including cross-country skiing, hiking, powder tours, naturalist-guided snowshoe tours, snow cat riding, horseback riding, balloon rides, guided fly fishing tours, sleigh rides, bicycle tours and rentals, kayaking, paragliding, golfing, swimming, and
river rafting, to name just a few. There is a fantastic nightlife, dozens of dining opportunities, and of course, people watching, as this is the playground for many of the rich and famous. If you want to see the town, or stroll down the streets, you’ll see many sights, such as the Maroon Bells, Conundrum Hot Springs, Crater Lake, Aspen Recreation Center, Silver Circle Ice Rink, and the Aspen Ice Garden. There is the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies, The Wheeler Opera House, and several spas for your luxurious vacation time. With some of the greatest shopping in the Rocky Mountains, there are many shops to choose from, offering clothing and pottery to antiques and even a soap factory. There are also many lovely boutiques, cafes, and art galleries. For guests who visit Aspen, there are many things that are fun for all, whether you are a skier, snowboarder, or just a ski lodge bunny.

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Upon arriving at Aspen-Pitkin Country Airport, visitors need to remember that Aspen is about 8,000 feet in elevation, and they should take precautions for their health and safety. There is nothing worse than going on vacation, only to have either an illness or an injury shorten your stay. Sunscreen is a must at this altitude; since the ultraviolet (UV) rays are more intense, sunscreen should be applied at least every four hours. To avoid sunburned eyes from harmful UV rays, make sure you have some sunglasses with UV protection. Unlike the locals that live there and are used to the altitude, guests from all over the world should be aware of the dangers of altitude sickness. Signs of altitude sickness are nausea, insomnia, diarrhea, constipation, restlessness, shortness of breath, headache, nasal congestion, cough, fast heartbeat, and fatigue. Carry plenty of water and avoid alcohol, caffeine, and salty foods on the slopes. Because of the altitude, give yourself and your family one day to acclimate; this will give you a day to see the sights and enjoy them, and the ability to ask the locals for places to see that are not listed. For skiers and snowboarders, remember to be respectful and courteous, and don’t forget your responsibility code for a safe and fun vacation. Also remember, the more people on the trail, the slower you should go or find a less crowded slope.

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