red poplar. There are four main options to consider when considering a trip to the heart of the mountainous Midwest for a fun-filled time at an Aspen ski resort.

Aspen’s oldest ski resort is located on Ajax Mountain. It all started for this place in 1947 when the longest cable car in the world at that time landed on its slopes. This destination has only gotten better with age. Not the place for the beginner, really. About half of its tracks are for intermediates and the rest are for experts. This is the place to visit if you have some skilled skiers mixed in with some novices who want to challenge themselves or just feel like they are challenging themselves.

Adjacent to this Aspen ski resort is the Aspen Highlands. This hill also has medium-expert runs, but offers more for the beginner. This is the kind of place you could spend days at, with over 130 races to its name. The Highlands may have derived its name from the 790-acre expanse and 3,645 vertical feet. Good thing you don’t have to walk or tow to get to the top! There are three high-speed quad chairs and one triple chair to get you where you want to go.

If you are looking for beginner skiing or snowboarding, so bigger doesn’t necessarily mean better. Buttermilk Mountain’s 420 acres have been designed to accommodate two types of people: snowboarders and beginners. Considering the relative newness of the snowboarding trend, there are plenty that are both. This Aspen ski resort has the longest terrain park in the world, stretching over 2 miles and containing more than 25 rails. If you’re going to strap a single board to your feet on this trip, you have to go to the Buttermilk.

Aspen’s fourth major ski resort it is actually 12 miles from the city itself. Snowmass is over 3,000 acres of winter pleasure. Rising 4,500 feet into the sky, the Snowmass has 84 slopes, many of which can take as long to get down as it would take to drive out of town. If you plan to go up this hill a lot, you may want to find an inn closer to the area. Of course, when debating which of these hills to spend the most time on, the proximity between them makes accommodation options less crucial.

The good news about all of these options is that you can get lift passes that allow you access to all four resorts. The amount of research you put into your preparations can really help make your vacation go smoother, but it’s good to know you can’t go wrong.