The Balloon Festival Weekend Guide

Snowmass Balloon Festival Turns 50!    

The iconic Snowmass Balloon Festival returns to Snowmass Village, Colorado for its 50th year, September 12-14, 2025. A beloved Rocky Mountain tradition, the three-day Snowmass Balloon Festival features 30+ hot air balloons inflating with the backdrop of the mountains and skies of Snowmass Village. 

Due to fire restrictions in place in Pitkin County, balloons will remain grounded for this year’s festival unless conditions improve. Instead, the pilots will do a static inflate, meaning balloons will still inflate but will not leave the ground. This precaution was made with safety as the top priority.

Whether you’re coming for one day or all three, we have you covered on the best spots to take in the sights and sounds of the balloons,  7:00–9:00am Saturday & Sunday mornings, and the Night Glow 6:00-9:00pm Friday. Plus, see what’s going on in Snowmass Village while you’re here!

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After you’ve seen the balloons in all their beauty, explore the Snowmass Mall or Base Village:

• • Friday, Saturday & Sunday, 10:00am-5:00pm – Elk Camp Gondola, Lost Forest, and Snowmass Bike Park

  • Friday, 3:30pm – Ice Age Explorer Tour at the Limelight Snowmass

  • Friday, 7:30pm – Snowmass Live Comedy Series Presents Kira Soltanovich

  • Friday-Sunday, 2:00-8:00pm – Game Lounge and Selfie Den open at The Collective

  • Saturday-Sunday, 10:00am & 1:00pm – ACES Naturalist-guided Hike

Hungry? Check out Snowmass restaurants open for breakfast and brunch service after the Saturday & Sunday balloon viewing:

• Café V at Viceroy: 7:00am-12:00pm

• Toro at Viceroy: 7:00-10:30am

• JUS: 8:00am-12:00pm

• Crêpe Therapy Café: 8:00-10:00am

• Stark’s at Viewline: 6:30-10:30am

• Gorsuch Ski Café: 8:00am-4:00pm

• Fuel: 7:30am-3:30pm

• The Tavern Kitchen and Bar: 9:00am-3:00pm for brunch

• Heather’s Snowmass: 7:00-10:00am

• Daly Diner: 7:00am-12:00pm

Up Close and Personal:

Watch the stars of the weekend as they inflate, saturating Town Park with giant, vibrantly colored balloons. The softball field – located next to Black Saddle at the Snowmass Club – will be open to the public for up-close viewing on Saturday and Sunday. At the field, you can find light breakfast and coffee options. There is no seating on the field, but spectators are welcome to bring blankets and chairs to sit along the perimeter. Please keep in mind that no dogs are allowed on the field, and there is absolutely no parking on the road shoulders within Snowmass Village due to drought conditions.  Free parking is available at Town Park Station and the Rodeo Lot, as well as the Brush Creek Park & Ride, with consistent free shuttle service to the site and around Snowmass Village.

Hike & Bike:

Here are a few of the places you can hike and bike for the best views of this year’s Snowmass Balloon Festival. All parking in Snowmass Village lots and at the Brush Creek Park and Ride is free. 

The Brush Creek Bike Path/Trail winds along Brush Creek Road and Sky Mountain Park up to the Rodeo Lot to view the balloons on foot or by bike. 

From the Rodeo Lot or Tom Blake Trailhead, explore Sky Mountain Park for a variety of hiking and mountain biking trails. We recommend Viewline for prime balloon viewing! Please remember to share the trail as Sky Mountain Park is open to mountain bikers and hikers, and the uphill has the right of way.  

For a more mellow walk and view of the balloons, head to Owl Creek Trail, Cathy Robinson Playground, and the Snowmass Golf Course loop. The Owl Creek Trail connects with the Brush Creek Trail to circumnavigate the Snowmass Club Golf Course. These trails provide a paved 3-mile loop sure to keep you in the middle of all the action. 

Class 1 E-bikes are permitted on paved Snowmass trails like the Brush Creek Bike Path and available to rent from Snowmass Sports and Four Mountain Sports on the Snowmass Village Mall. 

BIKING BONUS – Buttermilk Parking Lot

Mountain bikers: head to Sky Mountain via Airline Trail for a ride that ascends the park alongside the balloons and the sunrise! Park for free at Buttermilk and follow Owl Creek Road along the back of Aspen Airport to meet up with the Airline trail. You will have to turn off the paved sidewalk so keep your eyes peeled for the trailhead!