By Jen Murphy
Photography by Steven Goff
The allure of downtown Aspen is hard to ignore. In fact, so absorbing is the 3.66-mile hub of art, culture, shopping, and dining that, for some, it can overshadow the natural beauty that’s just beyond its doorstep. But that world of adventure is a lot closer than many realize: Just two hours with The Little Nell’s Off-Road Adventures is all you need to see a completely different side of this mountain town.
“There’s no better way to connect with nature,” says Steven Goff, an adventure concierge at The Little Nell. “The glitz of downtown can make people forget they’re in the Rocky Mountains, but when they join us for a tour up the mountain, they’re transported to the real heart of Aspen.”
Goff estimates he’s led more than 600 tours since The Little Nell launched its Off-Road Adventures in 2013. Part safari, part nature tour, the experience never fails to wow guests. “The oohs and aahs start before we even reach the summit,” Goff says. As the vehicle starts to climb up Castle Creek Road, cell service disappears, and guests are immersed in breathtaking scenery. Goff shares some of the area’s mining history as the vehicle passes remnants of old homesteads, all the while keeping his eyes peeled for brown bears and elk.
At the 11,212-foot summit of Aspen Mountain, Goff turns off the engine and sets up a picnic prepared by The Little Nell culinary team while his guests ogle 360-degree views of the Maroon Bells–Snowmass Wilderness out to the Continental Divide. From late May through August, the landscape is carpeted in purple lupin and columbine, fiery Indian paintbrush, and dozens more types of Technicolor wildflowers. Come September and October, the treetops shimmer a brilliant gold.
Daytime tours begin as early as 7 a.m. and are accompanied by homemade pastries, fruit, and coffee. Coolers of wine and beer and artisanal charcuterie boards can be arranged for sunset tours, which are the most popular experience, according to Goff. “I never tire of watching the sun set over the Roaring Fork Valley,” he says. “Below, the town starts to glow. The sky turns sherbet colors. It is truly magic hour in Aspen. People come back again and again and always say this is their favorite thing they did on vacation.”