This report is from Tuesday, January 27, 2026.

Did you know that if you hike to the top of Aspen Highlands’ Highland Bowl, to 12,392 feet above sea level, your run literally starts above the Ozone? Well, not above the actual Ozone Layer, but the trail right below that is called Ozone. Aspen Highlands is one of four Aspen ski areas. It’s the steep one, the really really steep one. According to the Highlands’ snow report, they are currently 94% open in terms of acreage; however, none of this terrain is for beginners. What makes this ski area so special is that it has no green runs, and it boasts an absolutely massive bowl (270 skiable acres) that is only accessible via roughly a 45-minute, breathtaking hike.

That is exactly how I started my day: with a quick warm-up run and then straight to the bowl. The hike up to the peak is equally as challenging, rewarding, and exhilarating an experience as the way down the bowl. There is one especially long and steep section, and a section with a rock climbing cable to use as support as you hike around the berm of a cliff’s edge. The hike itself covers over 700 feet in elevation gain, but when there is more snow, a snowcat machine takes guests up the beginning portion, saving about 10 minutes’ worth of hiking time.

Aspen highlands hike — A crowded section of the hike up to the Highland Bowl. *Credit: SnowBrains.*

When I got to the top of Highland Peak, I caught my breath, took a few pictures, and prepared to head down. This was my second time ever atop Highland Peak, and it was a flawless day with bright blue skies. Since a snowstorm came through over the weekend, I knew I needed to make the most of this run as I was only going to do it once today. Luckily for me, a ski patroller was willing to show me the way to the goods. We stopped by to check on one of his rescue toboggans, cutting between the G8 and G9 areas of the bowl, and made our way to Ozone. As Eric, the patroller, described, Ozone is the gut of the bowl, striking right through the middle. I was able to make a bunch of turns through four or five inches of leftover powder and then blasted down to the lower exit run of the bowl.

Taking a run with a patroller is the ultimate way to explore a new resort. Ski Patrollers are required to understand their mountains intimately and therefore have a clearer idea of where there might be good snow, where it might be risky, and can truly help a visitor feel the rhythm and patterns of a mountain. I got to ask Eric a few questions on the ride down and on the next chairlift up. He said that one time he had hiked the bowl five times in a single day. If I were pushing myself, I could probably get away with two or three times in a day, but five is out of this world. He also mentioned that for the bowl’s snowcat to operate, which it was not today, the trail it goes up needs to be wide enough to support the cat as well as potential hikers alongside. To create this wide of a path on such a steep and narrow ridge-line, Eric explained that Aspen uses some sort of tractor-cat to help move snow, which widens and forms the path. Shoutout to Eric for being such a cool patroller, showing me a sick line in the bowl, and taking some time out of his day to make sure that I enjoyed mine.

Our route down the bowl. From G8 and G9 down through Ozone. Credit: SnowBrains.

After I was done riding the bowl, I took a couple-minute water break at the mid-mountain Merry-Go-Round lodge. Although it is no Cloud Nine, another lodge on Highlands known for its après-ski scene, I was able to take a much-needed rest. The Merry-Go-Round is a conveniently located lodge to stop at for a mid-day break, and it offers a sunny outdoor patio with cornhole and Adirondack chairs to watch skiers and snowboarders descend Heather Bedlam, Scarlett’s Run, and Gunbarrel.

Then, quickly back to the action. Lapping a tree run and a few of the main groomers was about all I had left in the tank at this point, but that still entertained me for several hours. Trails worth highlighting include Soddbuster, a double-black diamond where you can float through steep, powdery trees, Broadway, one of the main runs with incredible views of the Aspen valley, and Gunbarrel and Red Onion, which are some of the widest, perfectly-pitched groomers I have ever ridden.

patroller highlands — Shoutout to Eric the patroller for taking me through the bowl. *Credit: SnowBrains.*

My day at Highlands was a success, and all that was left to do was grab a bite in town. As my bus arrived at Rubey Park in Aspen proper, I could not help but realize it was only 3:12, leaving me with exactly 18 minutes to get to the Silver Queen Gondola and take one final run on Ajax, the ski area in town, which was the only mountain I had not ridden this weekend. It only felt right. Usually, at the end of the day, I adhere to the universal mountain law of take two runs, skip the last, but today I took two and took them both. Carefully, I carved down one final run of this outstanding Aspen trip. Four for four.

Each of Aspen’s four mountains has their own personality, yet they are all skiable with the same one pass. I absolutely did not expect to snowboard all of them this weekend, and am soon headed to the Aspen airport feeling thrilled, satisfied, dead-tired, and looking forward to the next time I am here. I am only regretful that I could not stay one more night to go listen to Susan Orlean, a New York Times bestselling author and also my aunt, speak about her latest book Joyride: A Memoir at Aspen’s Winter Words Speaker Series event. If you are in town, I would recommend checking out this event!

Special thanks to Aspen, X Games, and my close friend Sam who hosted me. Aspen is such a warm, welcoming town, and if you have not been here yet, it is never too early to start planning.