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Surrounded by the spectacular peaks of the central Rocky Mountains, Pitkin County is nestled in the heart of the White River National Forest in southwest Colorado. The county covers 975 square miles and includes the communities of Snowmass, Woody Creek, Old Snowmass, Meredith, Thomasville, Redstone, portions of the Town of Basalt, and Aspen, the county seat. The area serves as the headwaters for the Roaring Fork and Crystal Rivers, which feed the Colorado River, and the county is defined by these two valleys - known as the Roaring Fork Valley (Aspen to Glenwood) and the Crystal River Valley (McClure Pass to Carbondale). Over 17,000 people live in Pitkin County and the area attracts a large number of tourists annually. It is a special place to live, work, and play and visitors and residents alike enjoy access to outstanding ski resorts, unique cultural and entertainment offerings, and breath-taking natural vistas.
Highway 82 is the major roadway in Pitkin County, leading into and out of Aspen via I-70 at Glenwood Springs to the north and over 12,000 foot Independence Pass to the south. For six months of the year, Aspen is at the terminus of the roadway, as Independence Pass is closed from November to May. roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) provides public transportation from Rifle to Aspen and is easy to use throughout the valley. The Aspen/Pitkin County Airport is one of the busiest in the state, behind Denver International and Colorado Springs Airports.
Beyond its world class skiing and 60 miles of cross-country/snowshoe trails, Pitkin County offers boundless outdoor recreational opportunities in all seasons, including world class fly fishing, road biking, mountain biking, hiking, rafting, kayaking, camping, climbing, paragliding, and golfing. An abundance of cultural and entertainment experiences are offered by the Aspen Institute, Aspen Center For Environmental Studies, Wheeler Opera House, Aspen Music Festival, Food & Wine Festival, Snowmass Village Free Concerts and Festivals, Aspen Sante Fe Ballet, Theatre Aspen, Belly Up, the Aspen Art Museum, with the X Games and Winterskol celebrated every January. Just outside the county, in nearby Glenwood Springs, you can explore the historic Fairy Caves and ride the coasters at family friendly Glenwood Caverns or take in an assortment of quality art shows, from informal coffeehouses and poetry readings, to community concerts and dance performances at the Glenwood springs Center for the Arts.
Pitkin County students are served by the Aspen and Roaring Fork School Districts. The Aspen schools sit at the base of the Aspen Highlands ski area and provide a unique outdoor/experiential education program for students in grades pre K-12. This progressive school district boasts high school achievement and high post-secondary continuing education choices. The Roaring Fork School District serves about 5,200 students in the Roaring Fork Valley, including the communities of Glenwood Springs, Carbondale, and Basalt, as well as unincorporated areas in Garfield, Eagle, and Pitkin Counties. The district recently implemented a strategic plan for improved academic excellence, character development, talent development, community partnership, and strategic use of resources. There are also several private schools in the area including Aspen Country Day School, Waldorf School on the Roaring Fork, and Colorado Rocky Mountain School.
For those seeking higher education, Colorado Mountain College offers courses at the Aspen, Carbondale, and Glenwood Springs campuses. Other area universities include Western State Colorado University in Gunnison, Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, and the Colorado School of Mines in Golden. Pitkin County is a well-educated area, with 96 percent of residents having at least a high school education, and nearly 60 percent being college educated.
Housing costs in Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley are high and very limited.
Limited assistance is available through Aspen Pitkin County Housing Authority.
Housing and community information can be found through our local newspaper, the Aspen Times.
Find out more information about Pitkin County through the Pitkin County Brochure.