Aspen weather in December
December in Aspen: freezing, a little rain, with clean air — an excellent time to visit.
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
#3 of 12 months in Aspen · #196 of 1413 destinations to visit in December · comfort 87/100 (tier A)
- Days
- 2°C
- Nights
- -10°C
- Wet days
- 9
- Sun
- 7.3 h
- Humidity
- 72%
- Daylight
- 10 h

Traveller notes on Aspen in December
Aspen-forum threads on mid-December conditions are candid that early-season snow varies a lot year to year - some Decembers arrive with a genuine mid-winter base already in place, others run noticeably thin with only a portion of terrain open by mid-month. Posters recommend checking a live snow report rather than relying on how a given December performed in past years, since the pattern here is called genuinely inconsistent this early in the season. Temperatures are expected to sit below freezing as the norm regardless of snow totals, proper insulated layers standing advice for any December trip. Regulars call intermediate terrain generally the most reliably open early in the season, with the more advanced runs often waiting on additional natural snowfall or continued snowmaking before opening fully. The record: a frigid 2C by day dropping to -10C at night, a notably high 74.9cm of fresh snowfall and 72 percent humidity.
Other months in Aspen
Aspen-forum threads on an April visit describe Aspen Mountain and Snowmass as typically staying open to around April twentieth, posters naming Buttermilk as closing earlier and Highlands roughly a week before, though Highlands can extend on weekends after a fresh dump. Regulars call spring days here genuinely bluebird, several posters naming softening afternoon corn snow and fewer crowds as real advantages over peak winter. Posters call closing-day traditions a real feature of the season's end, several regulars naming Bacon Appreciation Day at Buttermilk and Hawaiian shirts on Aspen Mountain as standard send-offs. Regulars call real sun protection genuinely necessary despite the cold air, several threads warning glare off remaining snow catches visitors off guard. Posters recommend checking closing dates before an April trip, several regulars calling this standard given how much they vary. The record: 11.2C days, -2.5C nights, 58.4mm across nearly 9 days and 65 percent humidity.
Aspen-forum threads on a June visit describe early June as genuinely quiet compared with later in the month, posters calling the transition from lingering cover to wildflowers still underway at the start. Regulars call higher elevations capable of holding real accumulation well into June depending on the season's snowpack. Posters recommend Maroon Bells as a real must, though parking requires taking a shuttle bus this time of year rather than driving directly. Regulars call Aspen genuinely pricier than many comparable mountain towns, summer visitors describing it as aimed at a wealthier crowd. Posters recommend hiking and biking as strong June options once the month gets fully underway, conditions considered reliable by mid-month. The record: 23.3C days feeling like 24C, 7C nights, 26.4mm across nearly 5 days and 38 percent humidity.
Aspen-forum threads on early March describe conditions as genuinely excellent by seasonal standards, posters calling this stretch through mid-March the best combination of deep base and manageable crowds before Spring Break arrives. Regulars call the snow base near its peak for the season, expert terrain still holding real texture with long mogul runs not yet groomed flat. Posters describe daytime readings in town as comfortably mild while mid-mountain stays genuinely cold, a proper shell layer standing advice for the upper lifts regardless of how warm Aspen itself feels. Regulars call March hard to predict, some years delivering the best skiing of the season. Posters recommend booking before Spring Break hits if flexible, crowds climbing considerably once that window opens. Regulars call Aspen and Snowmass both worth checking for the better conditions on a given day. The record: 6.4C days feeling like 3C, -6.3C nights, 72.3mm across over 10 days and 69 percent humidity.
Aspen-forum threads on Maroon Bells and Independence Pass conditions describe September mornings as clear, crisp and genuinely gorgeous, most days comfortable in the low seventies Fahrenheit with plenty of sunshine. Posters call a brief afternoon shower a near-daily feature, the odds rising as the day wears on. Regulars are direct nights can plunge into the thirties and forties, and posters describe real accumulation as entirely possible mid-month, one visitor reporting a night with a genuine dusting during an otherwise mild week. Posters recommend real layers covering the range from cold mornings to a warm midday. Regulars call the changing aspen groves the reason locals name September their favorite month. Posters recommend checking current pass conditions before a high-elevation drive given how quickly things can turn. The record: 21.7C days feeling like 20C, 5.9C nights, a notably high 3cm of fresh accumulation and 55 percent humidity.
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Aspen climate normals — December
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Aspen in December
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
Peak crowdsChristmas and New Year peak, Winter / Christmas break in United States, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Aspen's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Best weatherAspen's weather peaks December–February, best around January.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Aspen in December
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Closure
Independence Pass closed
1 Nov – 21 May · usuallyCO 82 over the pass shuts for the winter around the first serious storm in November and reopens the Thursday before Memorial Day. Until then the drive in from Denver goes the long way, via Glenwood Springs. Source ↗
- Season
Ski season
26 Nov – 18 Apr · usuallyBook earlyAspen Mountain and Snowmass open around Thanksgiving, Highlands and Buttermilk in December, and all four run to mid-April. Highland Bowl needs a settled base and opens when it opens. Source ↗
- Holiday
Christmas and New Year peak
18 Dec – 4 JanChristmas & New YearCrowdedBook earlyThe dearest fortnight of the Aspen year. Lodging goes months ahead, the town runs at capacity, and the early-season snow is rarely as good as the prices suggest. Source ↗
- Season
Snow season
Ski seasonAbout 75 cm of snow falls in the month.
from the climate normals
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Aspen — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Aspen?
Aspen in December — FAQ
- Is December a good time to visit Aspen?
- December in Aspen: freezing, a little rain, with clean air — an excellent time to visit. It ranks #3 of 12 months for Aspen on SeasonMap's comfort score (87/100).
- What is the weather like in Aspen in December?
- In December, Aspen averages a daily high of 2°C and a low of -10°C, with about 55.4 mm of rain over roughly 9.2 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Aspen in December?
- Aspen has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 46 in December.
- Does it snow in Aspen in December?
- Aspen sees roughly 74.9 cm of snowfall in December.
Within 300 km: Vail's Ski season around 13 Nov – 18 Apr, and Rocky Mountain National Park's Ranger-led snowshoe walks around 15 Dec – 15 Mar.