What to Wear in Aspen
United States · 9 monthly packing guides
Aspen runs Rocky Mountain heritage-resort — the heritage 1879 silver-mining town in Pitkin County (elevation 7,908 ft / 2,410 m), reborn after Walter Paepcke's 1945 Aspen Ski Co. founding and the heritage 1949 Goethe Bicentennial that drew Albert Schweitzer and José Ortega y Gasset to the high Roaring Fork Valley. Per NOAA Aspen 1SW data, December–February afternoons sit at -1 to 2°C / 30–35°F with overnight lows -10 to -12°C / 10–14°F and 70–90 inches monthly snowfall on Aspen Mountain (Ajax), Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk, and Snowmass; July afternoons hit a mild 24°C / 76°F with 9°C / 48°F mountain nights. Local register: Gorsuch (the heritage 1962 Vail-and-Aspen Bavarian-mountaineering outfitter on East Cooper Avenue, Loro Piana cashmere + Bogner shells + handmade Tyrolean knits + Italian leather), Pitkin County Dry Goods (the heritage Western-mercantile-meets-contemporary on the Hyman Avenue mall since 1969), Kemo Sabe (the heritage cowboy hat-and-boot specialist that built the recognized Aspen-cowboy crown), Distinctive Décor + Pomeroy Sport. Resort imports: Moncler, Bogner, Fendi, Chanel + Prada (Galena Street + Hopkins Avenue). Cultural anchors: Aspen Music Festival (the heritage Benedict Music Tent + Harris Hall, since 1949), Aspen Ideas Festival (the heritage Aspen Institute Doerr-Hosier Center, last week of June), Food & Wine Classic in Aspen (third weekend of June since 1983), Theatre Aspen, the heritage X Games Aspen (Buttermilk, late January). The Hunter S. Thompson register lives on at Woody Creek Tavern (8 miles down-valley). Skip flat-soled urban boots — Aspen sidewalks ice over by 16:00; pack Vibram-soled lugged boots minimum.
Choose your month below to match your layers and shoes to the weather. Across the months covered, average daily lows reach -12°C / 10°F in January; average highs reach 24°C / 75°F in July.
Compare Aspen by month
Monthly averages help compare packing needs; check the forecast before departure. Only months with published guides are listed. See the source notes below for station and measurement differences. Scroll across the table to see all weather details on a small screen.
| Month | Average low | Average high | Rain days | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January packing guide | -12°C / 10°F | 0°C / 32°F | 13 | 9h 45m |
| February packing guide | -11°C / 12°F | 2°C / 36°F | 13 | 10h 25m |
| May packing guide | 2°C / 36°F | 16°C / 61°F | 11 | 14h 5m |
| June packing guide | 6°C / 43°F | 21°C / 70°F | 7 | 14h 50m |
| July packing guide | 9°C / 48°F | 24°C / 75°F | 11 | 14h 50m |
| August packing guide | 8°C / 46°F | 23°C / 73°F | 13 | 13h 30m |
| October packing guide | -1°C / 30°F | 13°C / 55°F | 9 | 11h 5m |
| November packing guide | -7°C / 19°F | 5°C / 41°F | 10 | 10h 00m |
| December packing guide | -12°C / 10°F | 0°C / 32°F | 12 | 9h 25m |
Choose your Aspen packing list
Aspen in January: 0°C / 32°F afternoons, -12°C / 10°F nights, snow on the ground every day, and X Games at Buttermilk.
In this capsule: Glacier-blue insulated ski jacket, powder skirt, helmet hood; Charcoal insulated ski bib pants; Charcoal mélange merino base layer.
Aspen in February is peak ski-resort — -11°C / 13°F nights, 2°C / 35°F afternoons, 70+ inches monthly snowfall on the heritage SkiCo four-mountain (Ajax, Highlands, Buttermilk, Snowmass).
In this capsule: Bogner Sport ski shell or Moncler Grenoble jacket + matching Bogner pant; Smartwool Intraknit 250 base layer + Patagonia R1 fleece mid-layer; Sorel Caribou or Pajar Banff Vibram-lugged snow boot.
Aspen in May is SkiCo-closing-into-mountain-spring shoulder — 16°C / 61°F afternoons, 2°C / 36°F mountain nights, 11 rain days.
In this capsule: Lightweight wool layer + cotton long-sleeve tunic; Mountain Khakis Original Mountain canvas pant; R.M. Williams Comfort Craftsman boot or Hoka Speedgoat 5 trail shoe.
Aspen in June is peak Food & Wine Classic + Aspen Ideas Festival opens — 21°C / 70°F afternoons, 6°C / 43°F mountain nights, 7 rain days.
In this capsule: Lightweight cotton midi or linen wide-leg pant + cotton long-sleeve tunic; R.M. Williams Comfort Craftsman boot or Hoka Speedgoat 5 trail shoe; Loro Piana cashmere wrap + Brunello Cucinelli tonal knit — for evening.
Aspen in July is peak Music Festival + Ideas Festival — 24°C / 76°F afternoons, 9°C / 48°F mountain nights, 11 rain days from the afternoon-thunderstorm pattern.
In this capsule: Lightweight cotton or linen midi sundress + lightweight cardigan; Linen pant or cotton chino + cotton button-down; Hoka Speedgoat 5 or Salomon Sense Ride 5 trail shoe.
Aspen in August is peak Aspen Music Festival closing + Theatre Aspen — 23°C / 73°F afternoons, 8°C / 46°F mountain nights, 13 rain days.
In this capsule: Lightweight cotton midi or linen wide-leg pant + cotton long-sleeve tunic; R.M. Williams Comfort Craftsman boot or Hoka Speedgoat 5 trail shoe; Loro Piana cashmere wrap + Brunello Cucinelli tonal knit — for evening.
Aspen in October is peak Maroon Bells golden-aspen leaf — 13°C / 55°F afternoons, -1°C / 30°F mountain nights, 9 rain days. Aspen Filmfest runs 29 September to 4 October.
In this capsule: Loro Piana cashmere wool topcoat or Filson tin-cloth field jacket; Gorsuch Loro Piana cashmere turtleneck + Citizens of Humanity dark denim; Pajar Banff or R.M. Williams Comfort Craftsman boot.
Aspen in November: 5°C / 41°F afternoons, -7°C / 19°F nights, 20.5 inches of snow, and the high roads closing before the lifts open on 26 November.
In this capsule: Black glossy down puffer jacket, hip length; Cream wool ski sweater with a navy-and-red Fair Isle yoke; Oat merino long-sleeve crew base layer.
Aspen in December needs two clothing plans: one for the slopes and one for walking around town.
In this capsule: Bogner Sport ski shell or Moncler Grenoble jacket + matching Bogner pant; Smartwool Intraknit 250 base layer + Patagonia R1 fleece mid-layer; Sorel Caribou or Pajar Banff Vibram-lugged snow boot.
Climate sources by month
These credits follow the source recorded on each monthly guide. Climate figures inform the packing advice; outfit combinations and illustrations are editorial suggestions.
- January: NOAA · Aspen 1SW, CO · 1991–2020 normalsAt 2,410 m / 7,908 ft. Summer afternoons are mild rather than hot, and nights stay cold year-round.
- February: NOAA · Aspen 1SW, CO · 1991–2020 normalsAt 2,410 m / 7,908 ft. Summer afternoons are mild rather than hot, and nights stay cold year-round.
- May: NOAA · Aspen 1SW, CO · 1991–2020 normalsAt 2,410 m / 7,908 ft. Summer afternoons are mild rather than hot, and nights stay cold year-round.
- June: NOAA · Aspen 1SW, CO · 1991–2020 normalsAt 2,410 m / 7,908 ft. Summer afternoons are mild rather than hot, and nights stay cold year-round.
- July: NOAA · Aspen 1SW, CO · 1991–2020 normalsAt 2,410 m / 7,908 ft. Summer afternoons are mild rather than hot, and nights stay cold year-round.
- August: NOAA · Aspen 1SW, CO · 1991–2020 normalsAt 2,410 m / 7,908 ft. Summer afternoons are mild rather than hot, and nights stay cold year-round.
- October: NOAA · Aspen 1SW, CO · 1991–2020 normalsAt 2,410 m / 7,908 ft. Summer afternoons are mild rather than hot, and nights stay cold year-round.
- November: NOAA · Aspen 1SW, CO · 1991–2020 normalsAt 2,410 m / 7,908 ft. Summer afternoons are mild rather than hot, and nights stay cold year-round.
- December: NOAA · Aspen 1SW, CO · 1991–2020 normalsAt 2,410 m / 7,908 ft. Summer afternoons are mild rather than hot, and nights stay cold year-round.
Frequently asked questions
Start with your travel month. The 9 published guides cover January, February, May, June, July, August, October, November, December. Compare the average low as well as the high: among these months, January has the lowest average low at -12°C / 10°F, while July has the highest average high at 24°C / 75°F. For a trip spanning two months, read both lists before deciding which layers to bring.
No. They are monthly climate averages for planning, not temperatures promised for a particular day or hour. Check the local forecast close to departure and adjust your layers and rain protection. The source, station and averaging period are listed for each month where recorded; different stations or rain-day definitions can affect comparisons.
No. Treat the capsule as a set of clothing functions: walking shoes, a base outfit, weather protection and any change for dinner or a venue's dress code. Start with equivalents you own. Adjust quantities to your trip length and laundry access; the illustrations are outfit suggestions, not a shopping requirement.