Horseback & Snowshoe Adventures at Pine Creek Cookhouse Aspen

Located just outside Aspen, Colorado, Pine Creek Cookhouse offers an uncommonly authentic mountain experience that combines rugged outdoor activity with refined dining. This unique outfit specializes in horseback rides and snowshoe tours that bring guests into the heart of the Elk Mountains’ dramatic landscape, finishing every adventure with a memorable meal in their log cabin restaurant.

The Ashcroft Horseback Adventure invites riders to follow historic routes through the shadow of towering granite cliffs and ancient spruce forests. These guided rides navigate quiet, high-elevation valleys carved by the Roaring Fork River, where wildlife sightings like mule deer and eagles are common. The slow rhythm of the horses lets visitors absorb the vast alpine vistas and geological formations defining the region — from sculpted ridges to thick stands of conifers.

As dusk falls, the Sunset Dinner Horseback Adventure emerges as a signature experience. Riders arrive just as golden light silhouettes the snowy peaks, calming into an evening glow. Back at the cookhouse, a hearty multi-course meal awaits, featuring locally sourced ingredients. This blend of active outdoor immersion with gourmet cuisine captures the spirit of Western heritage combined with modern mountain hospitality.

Winter shifts the focus to snowshoe tours operated alongside the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies. These public and private tours lead through silent, snow-covered forests and frozen wetlands, offering intimate encounters with winter ecology. Crisp air, crunchy snow underfoot, and dark pine groves set the scene for deeper appreciation of this fragile ecosystem.

Pine Creek Cookhouse uniquely weaves together physical adventure, natural beauty, and culinary craft. Its location offers both a gateway into Aspen’s wilderness and a social anchor for unforgettable mountain memories. Whether on horseback in summer or snowshoeing in winter, travelers gain a direct connection to Colorado’s high-country landscape paired with genuine, welcoming service.