Aspen’s Pine Creek Cookhouse receives recognition as ‘the real deal’

Pine Creek Cookhouse, Aspen’s iconic restaurant at the base of the Elk Mountains near the end of Castle Creek Road, has been identified as one of five “real deal” mountain dining experiences by Ski Magazine in anticipation of the upcoming winter season.

Listed alongside Kicking Horse’s Eagle’s Eye in B.C., Canada, Allyn’s Lodge in Sugarbush, Vermont, Big Sky’s Lone Mountain Ranch in Montana, and Telluride’s Alpino Vino, Pine Creek Cookhouse was highlighted for its blend of winter adventure, mountain views, and alpine food.

“We’re excited to be featured in Ski Magazine and we feel we offer a unique experience,” said Johnny Wilcox, who helps operate the restaurant with his family. “This is our 40-year anniversary, so we’re excited to celebrate that, too.”

Pine Creek Cookhouse can be accessed in winter by ski touring, Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, or taking a sleigh ride. Since 1971, when Ashcroft Ski Touring was established on private land owned by Ted Ryan, it has been collecting a fee in the winter from those accessing the county’s first Nordic trail system, according to John Wilcox, Johnny’s father and longtime co-owner of Pine Creek Cookhouse with his wife, Juliet, and family.

Now that a majority of land has passed into U.S. Forest Service ownership, a nominal fee for skiing on the USFS area continues to be collected by AST for winter and summer trails and parking maintenance, grooming, improvements, and public access to free trails. 

From 1986, when the Wilcox family became stewards of operations, to now, AST has operated under permit ownership with the USFS and expanded professionally groomed winter trails on 600+ acres across upper Castle Creek Road and private land, John Wilcox said. This is in addition to summer and fall trail, parking lot, and bridge maintenance for public use by community members, Aspen Center for Environmental Studies, the Braun Hut System, Aspen Historical Society, backcountry guides, and visitors.

Free winter trails in the Ashcroft valley maintained by AST include upper Castle Creek Road joining lower Cooper Basin Road, lower Cooper Basin Road starting at the Pearl Pass intersection and crossing private land to lead to the Lindley Hut and private cabins, and free access to the Ashcroft Historic Town site. Complimentary passes are available for the avalanche safety trail that crosses the permit area and private land to access the backcountry when avalanche danger is high, John Wilcox confirmed.

AST also always offers free skiing on the USFS permit and private land to the Aspen School District, AVSC ski teams, Aspen Deaf Camp, visiting veterans, and other nonprofits.

In 1986, Wilcox’s family also began offering sleigh rides to make Pine Creek Cookhouse and the surrounding area more inclusive to those who might not ski or snowshoe.

“We continue to try to make it accessible to everyone,” John Wilcox said. “We’re proud we’re part of the Aspen community … We’re merely stewards of the whole community and the Forest Service. We just take care of the place for everyone else.”

According to John Wilcox, Pine Creek Cookhouse’s feature in the national magazine came as a surprise, but he credited the staff, everyone “who works so hard here,” that keeps the place running as a reason he believes it’s well-deserved. 

This winter, dishes will draw inspiration from the alpine mountain setting. John Wilcox noted his team met Tuesday to discuss the winter menu.

“The spectacular views that they talk about in these magazines, it inspires us to create spectacular food that matches the views,” John Wilcox said.

Pine Creek Cookhouse winter reservations will open Nov. 1 and can be made at https://pinecreekcookhouse.com/reservations/.