The third of the four Aspen mountains, Highlands is the locals' favourite for the simple reason that the top of the mountain — the famous Highland Bowl — is reached by a 45-minute bootpack from the upper lift, which keeps the crowds away. The bowl drops 800 metres of treeless 38–45 degree powder, one of the most consistently good expert runs in North America when the snow is fresh.
The mid-mountain Cloud Nine Alpine Bistro is famous for its long lunch — a French-Alpine bistro that turns into a champagne-spraying dance party every afternoon around 2:30pm when the second seating ends. Reserve months ahead. Below the bowl, the rest of Highlands has long, well-graded intermediate cruisers (Thunderbowl, Golden Horn) that get less traffic than Aspen Mountain across the valley.