The 5 Best Shrines Around Aspen

High above treeline, tucked into groves of evergreens and along ridges shaped by snowfall and silence, the shrines of Aspen form a kind of living storybook. Some are memorials, some are celebrations, and some are whispered tributes known only to those who happen upon them. The Best of Aspen, Snowmass and Basalt contest brought attention to how these spaces reflect a unique local culture: one that honors music, memory, humor, and the shared experience of being shaped by the mountains. Each shrine is part of the landscape, but also part of the people who return to it.

John Denver Sanctuary

The John Denver Sanctuary offers a quiet, contemplative space along the river, where stone pathways and engraved lyrics reflect themes of nature, gratitude, and grounded living. The sanctuary feels connected to its surroundings—native plantings, flowing water, and open sky creating a natural amphitheater of calm. Visitors often move through slowly, pausing to read, reflect, or simply listen. It’s a shrine that invites stillness rather than spectacle, with the lyrics resonating differently for each person who encounters them.

Bada$$ Women Shrine

The Bada$$ Women Shrine in Snowmass honors trailblazers—artists, athletes, activists, and everyday women who refused to be underestimated. The shrine changes over time, layered with new tributes, photos, and notes added by those who feel connected to its message. It stands as a reminder of the strength and stories that often move quietly alongside us. Reaching it feels like discovering a conversation already in progress, one that encourages appreciation and respect.

Jerry Garcia Shrine

The Jerry Garcia Shrine is playful and heartfelt, filled with symbols and mementos tied to a musical legacy that spans generations. It’s a gathering place for those who feel connected to the improvisational spirit of the Grateful Dead, or simply to the idea that joy and curiosity can shape how we see the world. Skiers often describe finding it as serendipitous—something stumbled upon more than sought. The experience is part memory, part celebration.

Hendrix Shrine

The Hendrix Shrine pays tribute to the creativity and electricity of Jimi Hendrix’s music, with artwork, images, and tokens left behind by visitors. Its atmosphere is intimate, almost hidden, and it reflects the improvisational energy of both Hendrix’s work and the mountain itself. In winter, when snow softens every sound, the shrine can feel like a quiet cathedral of color and memory.

The Wind Phone

The Wind Phone is a place for conversation—one-sided, empathetic, and deeply meaningful. Inspired by the concept of speaking to those who are gone, the phone sits in a quiet place where wind carries voices into open air. Visitors use it to express grief, gratitude, forgiveness, or simply to say things that have been waiting to be spoken. It offers no answers, but it offers release. The experience is private, profound, and entirely personal.

Thanks, ChatGPT.