Hit the Slopes in Style at Colorado’s Viewline Resort Snowmass

But the prime slopeside location is far from the only perk of staying at Viewline Resort Snowmass. From its convenient ski valet to its gorgeous lobby, this hotel makes an ideal home base for your next ski trip.

Photo: Viewline Resort Snowmass

Originally built in the late 1960s, the property has changed hands several times over the last six decades. Most recently, it reopened as the Viewline in February 2022 after a multi-million-dollar renovation that included a refresh of both the interior and exterior design. It’s now part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, a group of independent luxury hotels.

Designers gave the hotel a sleek, contemporary feel, with a mostly neutral color palette of grey, white, taupe, and natural wood tones. In a nod to the property’s groovy roots, the designers added tasteful ‘60s-inspired touches throughout the public and private areas, including mid-century modern furniture and artwork.

Since the backside of the hotel faces the slopes, the entrance is somewhat hidden and unassuming, which helps make the lobby all the more stunning. When I walked through the front door, my eyes were immediately drawn upward toward the massive chandelier hanging from the lofted ceiling. The lobby also has floor-to-ceiling windows that let in tons of natural light and offer views of skiers and riders gliding across the snow outside. With a ‘60s-inspired gas fireplace, chic couches and lounge chairs, and a bar, the lobby was one of my favorite places at the hotel.

Photo: Viewline Resort Snowmass

With 254 rooms and 20 suites, the Viewline is big for a ski town, but it’s small in the broader context of hotels — especially because it has an attached conference center and events space, as Vince Vito, the Viewline’s director of sales and marketing, tells me on a tour.

The rooms and suites are spread across six floors, with the most coveted accommodations being those on the side of the hotel that faces the ski resort. During my stay, I checked into what’s known as a premium suite, a 1,000-square-foot slopeside space with a full bathroom, a half bathroom, a living and dining area, and a bedroom with a king bed. In the mornings, I’d wake up, make myself an espresso, and nestle into the expansive couch to gaze out the windows and people-watch the skiers and snowboarders zooming down the mountain.

Photo: Viewline Resort Snowmass

For a ski-in, ski-out hotel, the amenities are just as important as the location. One of my favorites was the ski valet, located slopeside at ground level. At check-in, staffers took my skis, poles, and boots down to the valet area where they stored them safely (and warmly) indoors.

The next morning, I wandered down in my coat and snow pants, gave them my room number, and waited just a few minutes while they grabbed my gear. As I sat buckling my boots on a bench, the employees offered helpful tips and advice, such as which runs had the best snow conditions that morning and how to plan out my day of skiing based on the position of the sun.

Successfully geared up, I went outside, walked a few steps, clipped into my skis, and floated down to the base of Snowmass Mountain to catch the chair lift. It was quick, easy, and painless. (In the summer, the ski valet becomes a bike valet, and for good reason: Snowmass was recently named a gold-level ride center by the International Mountain Bicycling Association.)

Another top-notch feature of the Viewline is its pool deck, which is right next to the slopes. Featuring a heated pool and two hot tubs, this area was perfect for soothing my muscles after a day of skiing. I especially enjoyed watching folks ride by on the adjacent chairlift.

Photo: Viewline Resort Snowmass

The hotel also has a large, state-of-the-art fitness center — though with so many options for outdoor recreation in this four-season mountain town, it doesn’t get very much use, Vito tells me. (If you’re a gym rat, however, this means you’ll have the place all to yourself.) It, too, faces the slopes, which means you can take in the views while running on a treadmill, climbing the Stairmaster, or riding a Peloton bike. Meanwhile, the Lupine Spa offers a full selection of massages, facials, and body treatments, such as scrubs and wraps.

For weddings, events, and meetings, the Viewline has 24,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space, including a 10,800-square-foot ballroom. And if you don’t want to leave your four-legged friend behind while you go on vacation, you don’t have to: The Viewline is pet-friendly, and they really mean it. I saw lots of adorable pups hanging out with their owners in the lobby and romping around in the snow just outside the hotel.

Photo: Viewline Resort Snowmass

You don’t ever have to leave the hotel if you don’t want to, including at mealtimes. The star of the show is Stark’s Alpine Grill, a full-service restaurant offering breakfast and dinner. Its menu draws inspiration from the rugged Rocky Mountains, featuring hearty dishes like rack of venison, whole broiled trout, and red wine braised, bone-in bison short ribs.

The lobby bar and lounge is ideal for après-ski drinks, such as the aptly named “Snowboard Bunny,” made with gin, coconut water, lime juice, rose water, jalapeno simple syrup, and purple glitter for added flair. On some afternoons, the hotel even has a DJ spinning tunes on the adjacent patio, which is equipped with gas fire pits and overhead heaters to fend off the chill.

Photo: LanaG/Shutterstock

In the winter, skiing and snowboarding reign supreme throughout the Roaring Fork Valley. At 5,600 acres, Snowmass is the largest of four ski resorts owned by Aspen Skiing Company. From the Viewline, it’s easy to reach the three other ski areas — Aspen Mountain (or Ajax), Buttermilk, and Aspen Highlands — without driving, thanks to the robust Roaring Fork Transit Authority (RFTA) public bus system. Most routes are free, including the Four Mountain Connector, which ferries skiers and riders between the four ski areas.

Though downhill skiing is the main attraction, non-skiers will also find plenty to do. The region is home to one of the largest free cross-country systems in the nation, with more than 55 miles of trails. Called the Aspen Snowmass Nordic Ski Trail System, it’s accessible via cross-country skis, snowshoes, and fat bikes; some routes are dog-friendly.

While in town, you can also go snowmobiling, take a guided birdwatching tour at the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES), catch a concert, go shopping, or attend numerous events held throughout the season.

Photo: Viewline Resort Snowmass

Many travelers fly into Denver International Airport, rent a car, and make the roughly four-hour drive to Snowmass. But you can also skip the mountain driving altogether and fly into the small Aspen/Pitkin County Airport, which is serviced by United, American, Delta, and SkyWest. The Viewline Resort Snowmass offers a free airport shuttle, too, which makes the hotel even more appealing.

If you do decide to drive, you can choose between valet parking for a fee or free self-service parking at the hotel. Once you arrive, it’s easy to leave the car parked and take the free RFTA buses anywhere you need to go.

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