Buttermilk, Colorado

Buttermilk sits closest to Aspen among the four Aspen Snowmass mountains, and it serves a purpose the others don't: welcoming new skiers and families to the mountain with patient, accessible terrain and one of the best-regarded ski schools in Colorado. The gentle slopes and long, forgiving runs make Buttermilk the natural starting point for skiers at the beginning of their journey.

The mountain's character is defined by approachability — lower angle pitches, wide runouts, and organized progression terrain that builds confidence without overwhelming new riders. Intermediate terrain is available for those ready to advance, and the Tiehack area provides slightly more varied runs for skiers moving beyond the beginner stage.

Buttermilk is also the longtime host of ESPN's Winter X Games, transforming each January into one of action sports' most high-profile competition venues. The superpipe, slopestyle course, and big air setup that appear for X Games are built on terrain that spends the rest of the winter as gentle family skiing — an unlikely but entirely successful combination. A free shuttle connects Buttermilk to the other Aspen Snowmass mountains and to downtown Aspen.