▁to ▁address ▁regional ▁issues ▁in ▁this ▁ge ographic ▁area . ▁ ▁Econom y ▁ ▁The ▁main ▁economic ▁engine ▁of ▁the ▁valley ▁is ▁the ▁Asp en / S now mass ▁recre ational ▁ski ing ▁complex ▁which ▁directly ▁or ▁indirect ly ▁drives ▁the ▁related ▁tour ism , ▁hospital ity , ▁ret ail , ▁construction , ▁real ▁estate , ▁professional ▁service ▁and ▁property ▁maintenance ▁indust ries . ▁Although ▁ski ing ▁forms ▁the ▁foundation ▁of ▁the ▁economy , ▁other ▁activities ▁increasing ly ▁contribute ▁to ▁visitor ▁numbers . ▁Non - w inter ▁recre ational ▁and ▁cultural ▁activities ▁such ▁as ▁fly ▁fish ing ▁on ▁the ▁F ry ing pan ▁and ▁white water ▁ra ft ing ▁on ▁the ▁Ro aring ▁F ork , ▁h ik ing ▁near ▁the ▁Mar oon ▁B ells ▁in ▁the ▁Mar oon ▁B ells – S now mass ▁W ilder ness , ▁enjo ying ▁the ▁ca ver ns ▁and ▁hot ▁spr ings ▁in ▁Glen wood ▁Spr ings , ▁the ▁Asp en ▁Institute ▁and ▁Rock y ▁Mountain ▁Institute ▁con ferences , ▁the ▁Asp en ▁Music ▁Festival , ▁and ▁numerous ▁other ▁cultural ▁events ▁attract ▁visitors ▁year - round . ▁ ▁Although ▁the ▁valley ▁floor ▁is ▁largely ▁priv ately ▁owned , ▁most ▁of ▁the ▁surrounding ▁high lands ▁are ▁within ▁the ▁White ▁River ▁National ▁Forest ▁and ▁are ▁another ▁major ▁source ▁of ▁recre ation ▁and ▁tour ism . ▁Agricult ure , ▁princip ally ▁liv est ock ▁raising , ▁plays ▁a ▁very ▁moder ate ▁and ▁decl ining ▁role ▁in ▁the ▁valley ' s ▁economy . ▁ ▁However , ▁the ▁ran ches ▁that