**Updated March 4, 2024**
It's bittersweet to say farewell to ski season, but Aspen Snowmass does it right. Each closing day has a unique flavor. Read on to learn how to celebrate each one!
BUTTERMILK CLOSING DAY | MARCH 31, 2024
"The Biscuit," as its fondly called, is the first to stop spinning its lifts and celebrates the end of the season on March 31, 2024 with Bacon Appreciation Day. Buttermilk is overrun with salty-sweet treats, including bacon waffles at The Cliffhouse, bacon doughnuts from ColoraDough, bacon sample all over the mountain, and a bacon-and-beer happy hour at Buttermilk Mountain Lodge, formerly "Bumps".
Closing Day at Buttermilk includes a lot of BACON!
Photo: Aspen Snowmass
Views from The Cliffhouse atop Buttermilk are worthy of an uphill climb on closing day! | Photo: Aspen Snowmass
Aspen Highlands Closing Day | April 7, 2024
Mark your calendar for April 7, 2024. The Aspen Highlands closing party is notorious for its riotous dance party at the base after the lifts officially close. But if you want to really do it right, arrive in costume and spend the whole day on the mountain.
Hike the Highland Bowl and high-five the patrollers barbequing at the summit. Stop by Cloud Nine for a glass of champagne and a dance party on the deck. Have a snack at "Picnic Point," where crowds gather to soak in the views of Pyramid Peak. And finally, make sure you're at the base in time for the ski patrol descent when the crowd bestows the team with well-earned cheers for another season in the books.
Once the DJ starts the party at the base, settle in for gyration in ski boots until after the sun sets!
Want a front-row penthouse? Book a vacation week at The Ritz-Carlton Club at Aspen Highlands, ground zero for all the closing-day festivities.
Tag the top of Highland Bowl on closing day! | Photo: Aspen Snowmass, Catherine Aeppel
For some partygoers, the dance party at Highlands is the main and only event. Wear a costume! | Photo: Aspen Snowmass
Snowmass Closing Day | April 14, 2024
Snowmass hosts a full weekend of celebrations. For the fifth year, Elk Camp restaurant at Snowmass will host an end-of-season party on Saturday, April 13, 2024 featuring free leis, a dance party, hot tubs and margarita blender bikes. Wear your swim attire and skim along the pond outside of Elk Camp Restaurant or lounge in the hot tub on the patio. Skiers and snowboarders are highly encouraged to participate in the pond skim. After the party on the mountain is over join fellow skiers/riders from Elk Camp to Base Village where the party continues!
Stop by Gwyn's High Alpine on closing day at Snowmass. | Photo: Aspen Snowmass, Hal Williams
Elk Camp will surely be the center of on-mountain closing day festivities this year. | Photo: Aspen Snowmass, Hal Williams
Aspen Mountain Closing Day | April 21, 2024
As the birthplace of Aspen skiing, Aspen Mountain has many historic traditions for closing day. For example, locals gather atop Ridge of Bell at 1 p.m. for the infamous "Bump Off," a kamikaze race down the mogul field under the gondola. Spectators gather on Gent's Ridge to watch as skiers either make it or explode, with both results giving the crowds what they want!
Aspen Snowmass hosts closing-day celebrations at the Sundeck. A recent theme was 80's Prom and included a live DJ and a costume contest.
At the base of Aspen Mountain, Ajax Tavern and Chica will turn up the music at dueling apres-ski parties, and the sunny patios will stay rocking until well after the lifts have stopped spinning.
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