Right before Christmas, my parents, Patrick, and I traveled to Snowmass, CO to visit my brother and his girlfriend. Patrick and I didn’t ski, but we spent time meeting my brother’s friends, going out to local spots to eat, hot tubbing, eating lots of s’mores, and enjoying some spiked hot drinks (of course). A major highlight of our trip was visiting The Pine Creek Cookhouse located just outside of Aspen.
It was a bit of a drive, and even longer because we got lost and went way too far – from Snowmass Village it’s a 45-minute drive. Of course, since we were driving in the mountains, the views are breathtaking. Our phones didn’t have service, so I would really be clear on the directions or print out old-school map directions. If you have people meeting you there, plan on the fact that you won’t have service for the duration of your visit.
We intended to snowshoe, but when we arrived at Ashcroft Ski Touring, we realized that we had the option of walking to the Cookhouse. Since it was a nice day, we chose to walk the 1.5 miles (3-miles round trip) instead of renting anything else. You can also cross-country ski or ride in a horse-drawn sleigh. The walk through the snow to reach the lodge-style restaurant was charming and beautiful.
We made lunch reservations prior, and I definitely recommend this as the restaurant was full. We had a delicious lunch and some beverages – of course, because of the setting, prices are higher – but I would expect this as it’s more of an experience. It was fabulous to spend most of the day outside and to access a lovely spot off the beaten path. It doesn’t get better than a warm meal and a cold beverage in a cozy restaurant after a winter-wonderland hike!
