Aspen

Aspen sits high in a wide valley shaped by glaciers and rivers, ringed by rugged peaks and forests of aspen, spruce, and fir. The Roaring Fork River threads along the edge of town, and nearby alpine basins give way to wildflower meadows, willow bottoms, and stands of shimmering aspen that paint the hillsides each fall.

Long before ski trails carved the slopes, the area drew people to its sheltered setting and access to timber and water. A mining camp grew into a bustling community during a silver bonanza, then quieted as prices fell and fortunes shifted. In the middle of the last century, skiing and a renewed focus on the arts set Aspen on a new course. Lifts rose on the steep face above town and visiting thinkers, musicians, and artists helped shape a culture that still defines the place today.

Modern Aspen balances a small town feel with a cosmopolitan streak. Galleries, live performance spaces, and public art sit steps from trailheads and riverbanks. Wildlife is part of daily life, from elk on the hillsides to foxes and birds along the river. Winters bring deep snow and sparkling bluebird days, while summers unfold with cool mornings, warm afternoons, and evening light that lingers on red rock walls and green hills. The setting is dramatic, the services are polished, and the landscape remains the star.