Your Pre-Arrival Guide
Book your lessons, rentals, and tickets in advance.
For detailed instructions and guidance on what to expect before, during, and after your trip - expand the tabs below.
Before Your Trip
Snowboarders and lifts at Snowmass
Book Ahead Online & Save
Lift Tickets
Equipment Rentals
No matter which of our four mountains you choose to explore, dialing in your gear is easy at Four Mountain Sports—the official retailer of Aspen Snowmass. For the entire 2023-2024 season, when you book your rentals at least 24 hours in advance, you’ll save 20%. Four Mountain Sports is the only outfitter conveniently located at the base of all four mountains—offering free overnight equipment transfers between our locations and easy storage, making gearing up easy, so you can spend more time on the mountain.
Ski and Snowboard Lessons
Know Before You Go
The Aspen Snowmass App
Make the Most of Your Day
The Aspen Snowmass App gives you everything you need to enjoy your on-mountain experience, right at your fingertips. View snow reports and trail maps, access your QR codes, track your Bowl laps and vertical feet, purchase lift tickets, lessons, and rentals, get real-time updates on parking, sign waivers, and more.
New for this season!
- Push notifications, including powder alerts
- Enhanced skier day stats and information
New Hero's Terrain
The new Hero’s terrain on Aspen Mountain adds 153 acres of skiing and riding, accessed by a high-speed quad. The legendary area offers steep glades and views of Independence Pass, appealing to skiers and riders from near and far who are on an eternal chase for snow-induced bliss. This season, it’s officially open to the public.
Your Aspen Card
Your Aspen Card is your key to your on-mountain adventure. There's nothing more frustrating than getting stopped at a gate just before getting on the lift. Here are a couple of tips to get you through the gates and on the hill hassle free:
Aspen Cards from a previous season can be used and scanned at any gate. New cards can be purchased online or in the app and printed at any in-resort Pickup Box located at the base of all four mountains.
Ensure that your Aspen Card is in a pocket of its own, separated from phones, credit cards, and duplicate Aspen Cards. These will cause the gate and scan to fail.
Only carry one Aspen Card on you per day. A single card is valid for all four mountains in a single day.
Make sure your Aspen Card is easily accessible and scannable throughout the day. Certain lifts higher on our mountains do have gates.
Ensure each group member has their own Aspen Card.
Add Direct-to-lift to your pass so that you can easily scan at the gate and go!
When You Arrive
An aerial photo of a double chairlift at Aspen Snowmass
Getting Here & Getting Around
Buses & Shuttles
Ride RFTA this Winter! Getting around the Aspen Snowmass area is simple and convenient. RFTA, our local system of public-transport buses, is timely, efficient, and features free routes between Aspen and Snowmass Village. Park at the Brush Creek Park and Ride lot for service to both towns, our four mountains, and everywhere in between.
Please note, the Highlands Flyer from Brush Creek will not be running this season, but Maroon Creek and Castle/Maroon Routes still provide easy access to Aspen Highlands.
Driving & Parking
Roaring Fork Express
Arriving at the Resort
Ticket Pick Up
You can purchase tickets and passes and complete your order entirely online to keep you out of the ticket office and onto the slopes. Pick up Aspen Cards at our contactless Pickup Boxes located at each mountain. If you have already purchased tickets or passes online, you can follow these steps:
- When you arrive at the mountain, locate a Pickup Box
- Open up the Aspen Snowmass App to access your QR code
- Scan QR code
- Your ticket(s) and pass(es) will print automatically
- If you would prefer the guidance of our staff, our ticket offices will be open to assist you with
Purchased through Stay Aspen Snowmass? Skip the ticket office and print your Aspen Cards at one of our conveniently located Pickup Boxes at the base of all four mountains. Grab your phone, find your purchase confirmation email, and scan the barcode located at the top of the email at the Pickup Box.
Rental Pick Up
Four Mountain Sports will continue to offer you the many benefits it is known for, including the only rental shop with locations at the base of all four of our mountains, free ski storage, and free ski transfer to the mountain of your choice. Alongside safety, we are also here to help make your rental process as fluid as possible.
Also, Four Mountain Sports will conveniently deliver and pick up your ski and snowboard rentals directly to and from your home or hotel in the Aspen and Snowmass Village area for a $200 delivery and pick-up fee.
Lessons
Know where and when to meet up with your Ski & Snowboard School instructor (Pro). Check your email for details about your specific lesson and view your meet up location here.
Guests can complete required forms in the Account Portal before arriving in order to unlock a more contactless and faster drop-off or meet-up. Anyone 17 and under must complete the Ski & Snowboard School waiver.
Uphill Policies & Pass
Uphill Policies & Pass
As a reminder, Uphill Passes are required for uphill access on our four mountains. An Uphill Pass, no matter how many days you use it, is $69, with $10 of this fee going directly to our local search and rescue organization, Mountain Rescue Aspen. Uphill Passes are complimentary for Premier Passholders. Uphill straps and new 2023-2024 stickers can be picked up in any open ticket office and are required for uphill events, including Full Moon Dinners and Friday Morning Uphill Breakfasts. Please view our Uphill Policies before heading out on the hill!
Frequently Asked Questions
a mountain with trees on it
Lift Tickets
What’s your refund policy on lift tickets?
All completely unused lift tickets (I.E., all 4 days of a 4 day lift ticket have not been used) are fully refundable back to the original form of payment. The monetary value on partially used lift products (I.E., 3 days of a 4 day lift ticket have been used) can be rolled over for use of purchases made for on-mountain products the following season (lift tickets, rentals, lessons and season passes).
Are reservations required to ski or ride at any Ikon Pass destination?
For the 2023-2024 winter season, lift reservations will be required at Aspen Snowmass, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Big Sky Resort, The Summit at Snoqualmie, Loon Mountain, Taos Ski Valley, and Brighton Resort. Reservations can be made in MyAccount on ikonpass.com once your Ikon Base Pass has been issued. Please note, Ikon Base Passes do not provide access to Aspen Snowmass or Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.
Are reservations required to ski or ride at Aspen Snowmass with a Mountain Collective Pass?
Yes, lift reservations to ski and ride are required during the 2023-2024 ski season to help manage capacity and improve the guest experience. Reservations will be available starting mid-September.
Ski and Snowboard Lessons
Where do I meet my instructor?
Meeting locations vary from class to class and mountain to mountain. Visit our Meeting Locations page to learn more.
Are Private Lessons limited to 5 people?
Yes, Private Lessons are limited to 5 participants. This provides the best experience for our guests.
How can I complete waivers and registration forms ahead of time?
Guests can visit the Aspen Snowmass account portal or the Aspen Snowmass App to complete Ski & Snowboard School waivers and registration forms ahead of time. Waivers are required for all guests 17 and under.
Are reservations required for Ski and Snowboard School Lessons or Clinics?
Yes. Reservations are required for all Ski and Snowboard School products, including Clinics, Max 5 Lessons, Private Lessons and Guided Experiences. We strongly encourage reserving at least 7 days in advance. Reservation can be booked online at shop.aspensnowmass.com or by calling one of our agents at 877-308-7859.
When I book a Private Lesson, what can I expect in terms of added perks?
Guests who book a Private Lesson can set the meeting time and location as well as curate their experience and agenda for the day with the insight and knowledge from their Pro. Lessons also given priority line access when loading our chairlifts and gondolas. Lift ticket and rentals are purchased a la carte. Private Lessons can include instruction or a guided terrain experience.
Do child lessons still include lunch?
Yes, all full-day, group child lessons, ages 12 and under include lunch. Private lessons are excluded.
Are you still providing storage and transfer with Private Lessons this year?
Yes, Private Lesson guests will still be able to store and transfer their skis, snowboards and poles to the mountain of their choice for free.
What is your cancellation policy on Ski School?
All Ski and Snowboard School products canceled or changed 48 hours or more in advance are fully refundable.
Can you provide a review of the different Ability Zones for matching my skills to the right lesson?
Ability zones are sorted by different levels which are documented below.
Skier
First Time SkierLevel 1: “I’ve never skied.”
Green Zone Skiers
Level 2: “I can slide, slightly change direction, and come to a stop.” – Easiest green terrain
Level 3: “I can link turns together and stop where I want to on the easiest green terrain. My turns are usually all the same size.” – Green terrain
Level 4: “I am linking turns together smoothly on all green terrain. I can make narrow and wide turns” – All green and easiest blue terrain
Blue Zone Skiers
Level 5: “I am skiing mostly parallel in a couple different turn sizes and shapes on most blue terrain. I am beginning to use my poles and can hockey stop in both directions.” - All green terrain and most blue terrain
Level 6: “I am skiing parallel and confidently on all groomed blue terrain. I am exploring un-groomed trails and the easiest bumps. I usually make the same turn sizes and shapes on un-groomed trails.” – All groomed blues, easy blue bumps, easy groomed blacks
Level 7: “I am able to make parallel turns with a pole plant on all blue and black terrain. I am exploring un-groomed black terrain, including bumps. I can change my turn sizes and shapes for the different challenges.” – All blue terrain and most black terrain
Black Zone Skiers
Level 8: “I am making different turns sizes and shapes, including rhythmic short turns and large carved turns, on all blue and black terrain (groomed or un-groomed). I feel comfortable exploring harder blacks and easier double black terrain.” – All black and easy double blacks terrain
Level 9: “I can ski the entire mountain and am working on skiing faster, smoother, difficult lines, and learning different strategies in the hardest terrain and snow conditions.” – Entire mountain
Snowboarder
First Time SnowboarderLevel 1: “I’ve never snowboarded.”
Green Zone Snowboarders
Level 2: “I have experienced sliding, traversing both directions, and stopping.” – Easiest green terrain
Level 3: “I can control my speed. while moving across the hill, and can stop with confidence. I am starting to turn in both directions.” – Green terrain
Level 4: “I can link skidded turns on green terrain.” – All green and easiest blue
Blue Zone Snowboarder
Level 5: “I am confident and can connect different turn sizes and shapes on all green terrain. I make more or less the same size and shape turn on easy blue terrain.” - All green terrain and most blue terrain
Level 6: “I am riding most blue terrain by connecting various turn sizes and shapes. I am also exploring switch riding, easy bumps, and/or freestyle.” – All blue terrain
Level 7: “I am able to ride all blue terrain in varied conditions and working on easy black terrain, including bumps, trees, and terrain parks.” – All blue terrain and groomed black terrain
Black Zone Snowboarder
Level 8: “I am confident performing dynamic turns on varied terrain and snow conditions, including trees, steeps and powder.” – All black and easy double blacks terrain
Level 9: “I am confident riding the entire mountain. I am working on a variety of tactics and techniques that will take me to the next level.” – Entire mountain, all conditions
Equipment Rentals
Q: Do I need to pick up my rentals the day of?
A: No. You can save time and hit the slopes sooner by picking up your rentals the day before, after 2:00pm.
Q: Are helmets included in the package pricing?
A: Helmets are not included in package pricing, but may be rented separately as an à la carte item.
Q: Will you be offering transfer of rentals this season?
A: Yes, transfer of your skis, snowboards and poles from mountain to mountain is available, free of charge, for guests that rent through Four Mountain Sports. There is a fee for guests who would like their personal equipment transferred.
Q: Will there be personal storage options in your stores this year?
A: There is no personal item storage inside Four Mountain Sports locations. There may be nearby lockers available for purchase. Additionally, we encourage our guests to pick up their rental equipment after 2pm the day before you want to hit the slopes so you can leave from the comfort of your residence the next day.
Q: What is your refund policy on rental products?
A: All unused rentals products are fully refundable through May 23, 2022. Refund will be returned to the original form of payment.
Q: Do you wax skis and snowboards before guest use?
A: Yes. We have applied Phantom, a permanent base treatment, to all rental skis through Four Mountain Sports. No matter what the conditions are on the slopes, Phantom will provide amazing glide performance across all snow temperatures. Unlike traditional wax’s that rub off and mix in the snow, Phantom doesn’t cause biological damage and doesn’t present any long-term environmental risks. Phantom is also available for guests to add to their gear tune.
Q: How do I know my boot size for ski and snowboard rentals?
A: Boot sizing differs from US shoe sizing and you should consult our boot sizing chart to select the best boot size to suit your feet.
