While snow remains low, winter adventures abound near Aspen’s Ashcroft

Editor’s note: This article has been updated to reflect that ACES snowshoe tours pricing varies based on equipment rental, size of group, and length of tour.

If you’re looking for snow, upper Castle Creek Road has it for free.

With a lack of snow on Aspen’s surrounding mountains, visitors and residents can take advantage of three miles of free groomed Nordic trails to ski or hike.

“We’re lucky that we have the snow that we have up here and want to encourage people to come up and enjoy it,” said Johnny Wilcox, resort manager of Ashcroft Ski Touring and Pine Creek Cookhouse. “It’s great free skiing up here, and the views are unparalleled.”

According to Wilcox, the trails are typically groomed daily, although that ultimately depends on the day-to-day conditions. Pine Creek Cookhouse is also open seven days a week, with a la carte dining at the bar or reservation-based dining at tables. 

“Make the most of a low snow start to the season,” Wilcox said. “We’d love to see the community up here enjoying it.”

With Christmas Eve and Christmas just a couple days away, Wilcox noted reservations are encouraged at Pine Creek Cookhouse. He’s hoping everyone — from residents to visitors — feels free to come out and enjoy the sunshine, while still hoping for more snow.

“Everybody still do their snow dances,” Wilcox said.

Aspen Center for Environmental Studies is also offering 3.5 mile roundtrip snowshoe tours in the Castle Creek Valley and Ashcroft ghost town, with a naturalist guide discussing animal tracking, valley geology, avalanches, birdlife, winter habitats, and sub-alpine ecology, according to Pine Creek Cookhouse’s website. Pricing varies based on equipment rental, size of group, and length of tour.

“When my group of friends came to Aspen to ski, I took them on an ACES Naturalist-led snowshoe tour and they said it was the most fun thing they did all week,” said Chris Lane, CEO of ACES. “Getting off the grid and into a pristine forest with an ACES Naturalist is one of the most interesting things you can do this time of year. You’ll escape the crowds, get a little exercise, and learn a lot about the natural world.”

Reservations for these snowshoe tours are required and can be made at 970-925-5756 during open hours (Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.) or by emailing guide@aspennature.org. Tours are made possible through a partnership between ACES, Ashcroft Ski Touring/Pine Creek Cookhouse, and the White River National Forest.

For more information, visit https://pinecreekcookhouse.com/winter/.

The 10 Days of Toklat Community Open House will also be offering free daily nature walks at 1 p.m. through Dec. 30 at 11247 Castle Creek Road.