Snowmass Village, Colo., (November 26, 2019) – Snowmass Village, CO is well known as a world class ski resort, with high end hotels, restaurants, shops, and other unique winter offerings. However, Snowmass also features a wide variety of free, or nearly free, activities and experiences for locals and visitors alike.

Free & Nearly Free Activities & Experiences in Snowmass

ACES Snowshoe Tour ($41)

Aspen Center for Environment Studies (ACES), is a non-profit environmental science education organization which provides programs for all ages in the areas of ecological literacy, agriculture, forest health, ecosystem restoration, and civic leadership. Daily in the winter starting December 10, ACES offers daily snowshoe and ski tours along the mountain streams and through the forests of Snowmass. Tours are offered at 10:00am and 1:00pm at the top of the Elk Camp Gondola and start at $41 with a lift ticket or season pass. 

Anderson Ranch Arts Center (Free)

Founded in 1966, Anderson Ranch Arts Center is a premier destination for art making and critical dialog in the contemporary art world, bringing together aspiring and internationally renowned artists to discuss and further their work in a stimulating environment. With a campus that’s free and open to the public, Anderson Ranch is a hub of creative energy and activity for adults and children alike, offering a host of interactive art workshops, lectures by today’s most influential artists and curators, weekend classes, children’s art workshops and more. For winter programming, please visit www.andersonranch.org.

Coffee, Cider, and Snacks (Free)

Snowmass offers free coffee in the morning, apple cider in the afternoons, and RXBARS at the end of the ski day on-mountain, and around the Village. A hot beverage and snacks are served up by a friendly ambassador team member who can also give advice on where to go for après, what runs to ski first in the morning, and how to check a pair of skis with the ski valet.

The Collective Snowmass

The winter 2019/2020 season sees the completion of the Collective Snowmass – the heart and soul of Base Village, a hub for community events. The project includes mix6 restaurant and MoxiBar, as well as sees the debut of the new Collective Lounge that features entertainment, speakers, and live music. Throughout the year, local organizations such as Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES), Anderson Ranch Arts Center, Pitkin County Library, the Thunder River Theatre Company, Aspen Film, and more, round out The Collective’s programming, each presented free or for a nominal fee. The building also includes the Collective Game Lounge ($10 for a day pass) with neon foosball, classic arcade games, artistic ping pong, a Ziegler reservoir-shaped ball pool (a tribute to the Snowmass Ice Age Discovery in 2010), and more. The Collective Snowmass is also home to Snowmass’ V.I.K. (Very Important Kids). For more information, visit TheCollectiveSnowmass.com.

Cross Country Skiing (Free)

Over 60 miles of Nordic trails makes Snowmass one of the largest free groomed cross country ski systems in North America. Classic or Skate Skiing for all levels may be accessed for free from the Snowmass Cross Country Center on the Snowmass Golf course. Cross country ski equipment can be rented for a fee.

Elk Camp ($59) & Ullr Nights ($10)

15 minutes up the mountain from Snowmass Base Village by scenic gondola, is Elk Camp. Guests can grab a bite to eat, enjoy rides on the Breathtaker Coaster, featuring a 5,700-foot track that winds through the trees outside the restaurant, snowbike, and take a spin on the tubing hill. Guests can purchase tickets for the Coaster and tubing à la carte, starting at $49 or as a package. In addition, on Friday nights, December 27, 2019 – March 27, 2020, and Bonus Nights on December 30, 2019 and January 1, 2020, Elk Camp is transformed into a winter playground for Ullr Nights. Ullr Nights offers family activities including tubing and the Breathtaker Coaster, as well as snowbiking, live music, and fireside s’mores. Guests can choose from a wide array of locally sourced and inspired cuisine, from pizza and sandwiches to roasted chicken and homemade stews. Gondola tickets are $10 for Ullr Nights, while food and activities can be purchased à la carte. For tickets and more information, please visit https://www.aspensnowmass.com/plan-your-stay/lost-forest/breathtaker-alpine-coaster/winter.

Historical Mountain Tours (Free)

Meet a knowledgeable local ambassador for a free, educational tour around Snowmass on skis or on a snowboard. Mountain tours meet every day at 10:30am at the top of the Village Express lift and at 1:30pm at the top of the Elk Camp Gondola. In addition, historical mountain tours on Tuesdays feature an expert historian providing an in-depth look at Snowmass’ rich history. History tours meet on Tuesdays at 11:00am and 1:00pm at the top of Sam’s Knob Chair.

Ice Skating (Free)

The Rink in Snowmass Base Village is open daily from noon to 9:00pm during the winter 2019/2020 season. Ice skating on The Rink and skate rentals are free all season long. New for the 2019/2020 winter season, The Rink features daily programming and themed skating nights, such as disco night. Game of Stones, last year’s highly successful free curling series, returns December 13, 20, and 27, as well as February 7, 14, 21, and 28. Also new this year, Ice Bumper Cars debut as a pop up this holiday season, daily from December 18 to January 2. Tickets are $20 per session.

Snowmass Recreation Center ($15)

This 18,000-square-feet recreation facility offers unique year-round saline outdoor pools, a state-of-the-art cardio and weight room, an indoor gymnasium, aerobics, yoga, and Pilates classes, climbing & bouldering walls, rec leagues, and more. Daily drop in fee is $15 for adults, $10 for kids.

Snowmass S’mores (Free)

Back for its third year, starting opening day, guests of all ages can enjoy Snowmass S’mores, free from 3:30pm – 4:30pm every day throughout the winter season, presented by Snowmass Tourism. Guests can find branded s’mores carts (which resemble oversized marshmallows and include step by step s’moring instructions) at the fire pits in Snowmass Base Village and on the Snowmass Mall, each serving up the classic s’more combination of graham crackers, chocolate, and roasted marshmallows.

Transportation (Free)

The Roaring Fork Transit Authority (RFTA) provides extensive free bus service from Snowmass to Aspen and various points throughout the valley (for a nominal fee) until 2:00am. Snowmass also has a free local shuttle service (Snowmass Village Shuttles) to all major activity areas in Snowmass Village. Shuttles depart every 10 minutes from the shuttle terminal located just below the Snowmass Mall on Daly Lane. Most lodging properties in Snowmass offer free shuttle service to and from the airport and around Snowmass Village.

Uphilling at Snowmass Ski Area (Free)

A local’s favorite way to earn ski turns: uphilling. Uphilling is the sport that is sweeping the ski nation – hiking up the mountain on skis or on a split board with skins (a special covering on the bottom of the ski that allows it to glide uphill and prevent slipping backwards) and specialized bindings. Guests can uphill all day at Snowmass Ski Area, although the best time is early in the morning before the lifts open to catch the fresh snow before everyone else. Uphilling is free for all guests, while equipment rentals are available for a fee.

V.I.K. (Very Important Kids)

Snowmass’ V.I.K. program is specifically designed to provide kids’ après activities for families once the lifts close. With different daily programming including crafts, storytelling, cookie decorating, an inside look at life in a mountain town, s’mores, and more, Snowmass offers activities all season long for children of all ages. Visit VIKSnowmass.com for schedule, pricing, and program descriptions.

For more information, please visit www.gosnowmass.com.

About Snowmass Village, Colorado – A renowned winter playground and vibrant summer community just 9 miles from Aspen, Snowmass consistently ranks as one of the best ski areas in the world. For 2019, Ski Magazine named Aspen Snowmass the #1 “resort of the year” in the West. Snowmass offers guests incredible views of mountain vistas, in addition to 2.8 million adjacent acres of wilderness, open for activities and exploration. Snowmass offers a wide variety of outdoor activities, 30+ restaurants, 95 percent slopeside lodging, shopping, unique special events and music – all year round. For more information and a complete calendar of events and activities, please visit: www.gosnowmass.com.

Snowmass Tourism Media Contact: Sara Stookey Sanchez, Public Relations Manager, Snowmass Tourism, 970-922-2285 or sstookey@gosnowmass.com.

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