Rio Grande Trail in Aspen transitions from winter, Nordic skiing use

Thanks to 3 feet of fresh, early-season snow, the Rio Grande Trail in Aspen opened prior to Thanksgiving 2024 — significantly sooner than its typical start.

Now, in March, high temperatures and prolonged sunny weather have melted out the multi-use trail enough that it is no longer usable for Nordic skiing, fat-biking, snowshoeing and other winter activities. 

The city of Aspen Parks and Open Spaces last week made the decision to plow the trail down to asphalt and return it to spring and summer usage conditions. This means that road bikers, runners, and other users will be able to use the trail unimpeded by groomed snow. 

The winterized trail connects Aspen to Basalt via a groomed Nordic system, enabling locals and visitors alike to access the 60 miles of free trails directly from Aspen. Additionally, it provides continuous Nordic trail access for users wanting to skate to or from Snowmass and Basalt. 

Aspen’s Nordic trails, occasionally referred to as “Aspen’s fifth mountain,” bolster the upper Roaring Fork Valley’s image as a winter sports destination and have been modeled after similar winter trail systems that connect towns and resorts in Europe. Because it is a human-powered activity, there is little environmental impact beyond what it takes to maintain the trails, allowing visitors another way to experience the region’s landscape without the purchase of an expensive ticket. 

“People need to get outside,” said Chris Petersen, Nordic coordinator for Aspen Parks and Open Spaces, “It’s a great way to connect with other people being outside.”

The trail, however, will remain open to the public during snow removal operations which are soon to be completed, according to Petersen. Portions of the trail will still have ice on them as cold conditions persist, but users will find the trail immediately accessible for walking, running, and biking.