My Neighborhood

waters that flow down the valley. Highway 82, the main road that connects Aspen to Glenwood and eventually the world beyond, runs parallel to the river, as does the Rio Grande Trail, a paved 44-mile bike path that follows the same route as the highway and offers cyclists a traffic-free corridor.

The upper valley includes Aspen, Snowmass, Woody Creek, downtown Aspen, and the Town of Snowmass Village. Aspen’s four ski areas are here, too (Aspen Mountain, Snowmass, Buttermilk, Aspen Highlands). Perched 8,000 feet above sea level, the City of Aspen is ringed by the iconic 14,000-foot peaks of the Elk Range, including the Maroon Bells, Pyramid Peak, and Capitol Peak. These majestic mountains form the unparalleled skyline, the multimillion-dollar view from such famed Aspen neighborhoods as Starwood and Red Mountain.

Like the elevation, the real estate prices are higher up valley. (A record-breaking listing at the base of Aspen Mountain came online last summer for $100 million.) Thanks to limited supply, sustained demand, and little development, they’re likely to remain at a premium.

Glenwood Springs, at the foot of the Roaring Fork Valley

Snowmass Village, considered “up valley”

It tends to be about 10 degrees warmer for every 1,000 feet you descend.

By contrast, real estate prices decrease along with the elevation as you move down valley. That’s not to suggest that they are low. “The billionaires pushed the millionaires down valley” is a common refrain.

The mid valley begins in the small town of Basalt, known for its world-renowned fly-fishing at the confluence of the Frying Pan and Roaring Fork Rivers, its central location equidistant to both Glenwood Springs and Aspen. It’s also where the valley’s commercial development has had room to grow and thrive, with completion of Willits Town Center, where The Arts Center at Willits anchors shops and restaurants.

The area known as down valley begins in the tightly knit community of Carbondale, where cowboys and hippies rub shoulders easily. The vibe is that of a cozy mountain town (microbreweries, coffee shops, vegan food, and a weekly rodeo). Legacy ranches are plentiful in the shadow of the mighty Mount Sopris, a formidable peak that erupts from the valley floor to 12,953 feet and is visible from almost anywhere in town. Despite its cowboy roots, Carbondale has become more upscale in recent years, and the price of real estate reflects that. Expect to pay between $1.5 and $2 million for a home.

Finally, at the entrance to the Roaring Fork Valley, you’ll find Glenwood Springs, known for its eponymous hot springs, majestic canyon, and funky historic downtown. Surrounded by the White River National Forest, it lies along the banks of the Colorado River, with easy access to the I-70 corridor. Glenwood has earned acclaim for its natural wonders, including the hot springs and the vapor caves, as well as its man-made ones, which include the Glenwood Canyons Adventure Park, a gondola-accessed, mountain-top amusement park.

As the elevation decreases, the temperatures rise, so it tends to be about 10 degrees warmer for every 1,000 feet you descend. When it’s 40 degrees and muddy in Aspen in the fall and spring, Glenwood (elevation 5,761 feet) is temperate, sunny, and warm, providing a much longer season for golf, hiking, biking, and river sports. —Alison Margo