Aspen is a year-round mountain town. Winter is about the four ski mountains — Aspen Mountain (Ajax), Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk, and Snowmass — that share a single lift pass. Summer flips the valley into a hiking, biking, and culture destination, anchored by the Maroon Bells, the Music Festival tent at the Aspen Meadows, and the wildflower meadows above town. Spring and autumn are quieter; September and early October are arguably the prettiest weeks, when the aspens turn gold.