Explore Snowmass through trails with distinct features: the Basalt-Old Snowmass Trail is paved and open year-round, while a four-wheel-drive vehicle is required for the final stretch of the access road to the Capitol Creek Trailhead. There is also a publicly accessible horseback riding loop and the landscape of Snowmass Canyon. When planning, it helps to distinguish between the activity, trail distance, and access route; the place names and trails each answer different questions.

Trails between Basalt and Snowmass Canyon

The Basalt-Old Snowmass Trail is a paved trail that connects Basalt with the Rio Grande Trail. It is open year-round and groomed for Nordic cross-country skiing in winter. Since winter grooming can change, check the current trail status before heading out for a ski. The connection to the Rio Grande Trail and the winter grooming give the trail two specific features to consider when planning: its role as a connector and its use for cross-country skiing in the colder months.

The Rio Grande Trail runs through Snowmass Canyon, crossing Lower River Road twice and staying close to the Roaring Fork River. The canyon, road crossings, and proximity to the river describe the route of this trail. This clearly distinguishes it from the information about the Basalt-Old Snowmass Trail: one connects Basalt with the Rio Grande Trail; for the Rio Grande Trail itself, the defining waypoints here are its route through the canyon and its two crossings of Lower River Road.

Old Snowmass: Conservation, Wildlife, and Horseback Riding

An award for Old Snowmass recognizes the protection of the nighttime environment through comprehensive lighting guidelines, educational outreach, and active conservation measures. The conservation effort therefore involves more than lighting alone: educational outreach and conservation are also among the approaches recognized. This adds another perspective on the area and its environment to your trail planning.

Large herds of elk and mule deer regularly migrate through the Old Snowmass Valley. This wildlife migration is a distinct aspect of the landscape alongside the protection of the nighttime environment. For another activity option, Windstar Preserve in Old Snowmass has a publicly accessible loop trail for horseback riding. These different themes sit alongside one another: protection of the nighttime environment, herds that regularly move through the valley, and a loop trail that can be used for horseback riding.

Capitol Creek: Distance and Access

For the two Capitol Creek details, it is important to distinguish between trail distance and access. The Capitol Creek Loop is 6.6 miles long, including the out-and-back distance. The Capitol Creek Trailhead is reached from Old Snowmass via Snowmass Creek Road. The final one-mile stretch follows a road that requires a four-wheel-drive vehicle. Road and access conditions can change seasonally. If you plan to use this route, check current conditions before driving.

The 6.6-mile length of the loop and the one-mile access road answer different planning questions: the first figure includes the loop's out-and-back distance, while the second refers to the final road segment to the trailhead. Keep the two measurements separate so it remains clear which refers to the trail and which describes access to the trailhead.

Snowmass offers several specific options for choosing activities: a paved trail with winter grooming, the Rio Grande Trail's route through the canyon, a horseback riding loop, and the Capitol Creek details about trail distance and access. Which ones suit your stay depends on whether you want to focus on cross-country skiing, horseback riding, or a route on foot. For conditions that can change seasonally, check the relevant information before making plans.

More destinations

Discover more destinations: Snowmass Village, Woody Creek, Aspen, Carbondale

Back to the main travel overview: Pitkin.