Old Snowmass

Here is the good land: old-fashioned working ranches, family neighborhoods, the occasional lavish estate.

Snug in rolling hills, graced with tree-lined creeks, Old Snowmass-not to be confused with Snowmass Village-is a sparsely-populated settlement with about 1,500 residents. Think of this land as a place apart, yet so near all that's going on in our valley.

Here, pastoral, pristine wilderness remains everyone's faithful companion. Here is where neighbors have banded together to protect dark skies at night, where stars shine bright, and where migratory birds can find their way.

OUR TOWN

Local's Tradition: Appreciating and protecting the land and beauty that surrounds them. Where to Meet Them: At the Old Snowmass Market and the post office. Favorite Evening Diversion: Farm to Table dinners at Rock Bottom Ranch. Place to Walk Your Dog: Capitol Creek Road where the pavement ends, and it becomes a 4-wheeler trail; magical in fall. Surprise: The view of the vast Capitol Creek valley at the Capitol Lake trailhead. The very definition of breathtaking.

Old Snowmass Details

Elevation: 7,100 ft. at the Old Snowmass Post Office.

Climate: Depends on elevation and exposure: sunny, south-facing slopes can feel tropical in March; up a narrow valley in the forest, even summer afternoons are cool.

Population: Fewer than 1,500 permanent residents.

Schools: Basalt schools, which are part of the Roaring Fork Schools' RE-1 district. Some kids attend private schools up valley in Woody Creek or Aspen.

Transportation: Bus service to Aspen, Snowmass, Carbondale, Glenwood Springs. The Aspen airport is about 15 minutes from Old Snowmass.

Recreation: National Forest land all around, with access to miles of hiking and mountain biking trails. Horseback riding throughout the Capitol Creek valley. The bike ride from Snowmass Village down to the Snowmass Creek valley floor and back on up the valley to Woody Creek Tavern for lunch is a locals' favorite.