Currently, masks are optional in most public spaces in Pitkin County

Traveling to Pitkin County

Welcome! We are thrilled you have selected Aspen/Snowmass as your travel destination. Our entire community has worked hard to manage the impact of COVID-19. 

Please note that as of Feb. 22nd, 2022 there are no standing public health orders and, masking is no longer required on local public transportation. Aspen Valley Hospital, along with local clinics and doctor’s offices will continue to require the use of masks. Some businesses and buildings may still require masks as well, please check with each location and respect any requests to mask.

CDC Compliance

Adhere to CDC travel guidance for domestic and international travel including requirements for testing and vaccinations.

Follow COVID-19 Local Guidelines

• Stay home if sick – Be alert for symptoms. Stay home and do not travel. Seek testing.
• Get tested – If you have a known exposure to someone with COVID-19 or develop symptoms, seek testing immediately. Visit the testing information page or the testing site finder for testing resources. If you need help you can call the COVID-19 Infoline at 970-429-3363.
• Get vaccinated – Delay travel until you are up to date on your COVID-19 vaccinations. Verify your vaccination. Note: You will find businesses that may have additional COVID-19 protocols like requiring all visitors to show proof of vaccination or masking. 
• Keep washing and distancing – Wash your hands often. Limit contact with frequently touched surfaces.
• Cooperate with Public Health if contacted – If contacted by Public Health contact tracing due to an exposure, please follow instructions for quarantine or isolation requirements.
• Stay informed by checking local requirements – Keep in mind that requirements can, and do change rapidly. Please be mindful and respect local business as well as public health requirements.

Additional Resources for Visitors

• Aspen Visitor’s Guide is available to help you navigate restaurants, shops, lodging, and activities. 
• Snowmass Information for all things Snowmass!
• Social Media – Follow Pitkin County Public Health on Facebook and Instagram for up-to-date information.
• Frequently Asked Questions about local COVID-19 protocols.

Domestic Travel

When planning to travel Domestically in the United States please use the following guidelines to help assess your risk and determine which preventative steps are required by your travel carriers and destinations, and which are merely recommended in order to better protect yourself and those around you. You can read the most up-to-date information from the CDC.

• Step 1 – Assess your personal risk by using this personal/group risk assessment tool. 
• Step 2 – Check your destination for any specific COVID-19 Public Health Orders, restrictions, or requirements.
• Step 3 – Assure you are up-to-date on your COVID-19 vaccinations.
  • If you received your vaccinations within Colorado and need a copy of your vaccination record, please use our vaccination record finder.
  • If you would like to schedule a vaccination appointment within Pitkin County, see our clinic information page for upcoming clinics and providers.
• Step 4 – Check with your travel carrier to see if they require pre-departure testing and what type of tests are accepted. Many airlines continue to have testing requirements.
  • Please note: Many carriers will require a proctored test; at-home tests will not qualify.
  • If you need to schedule a COVID-19 test, please see the Pitkin County testing page.
• Step 5 – If traveling by public transport (plane, train, bus, etc) you will be required to wear a mask while traveling per the federal mask mandate.

Do Not Travel if you have tested positive for COVID-19 and are currently in Isolation, are awaiting results for a COVID-19 test, or are currently experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms.

International Travel

Updates: Starting December 6, 2021, all air passengers, regardless of vaccination status, must show a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than 1 day before traveling to (or returning to) the United States.

When planning to travel internationally please use the following guidelines to help assess your risk and determine which preventative steps are required by your travel carriers and destinations, and which are merely recommended in order to better protect yourself and those around you. You can read the most up-to-date information regarding international travel from the CDC.

Pitkin County Public Health is unable to tell you what the COVID-19 travel requirements are at your destination. Many countries have easy-to-use websites to help travelers navigate their country’s unique COVID-19 entry requirements.

• Step 1 – Determine risk levels, any travel advisories, COVID-19 travel restrictions, and requirements at your destination.
  • The COVID-19 situation, including the spread of new or concerning variants, differs from country to country. Be sure to check the conditions at your destination before traveling. 
  • Learn about the current travel environment at your destination, including any COVID-19 related advisories, on the US Department of State’s country information webpage.
  • You must also check with your destination country to determine any vaccination, testing, or quarantine requirements for entry. Pitkin County Public Health is unable to assist you in finding this information. 
• Step 2 – Assure you are up-to-date on your COVID-19 vaccinations.
  • If you received your vaccinations within Colorado and need a copy of your vaccination record, please use this vaccination record finder.
  • If you would like to schedule a vaccination appointment within Pitkin County, please see the Pitkin County clinic information page.
  • Do not travel internationally until you are fully vaccinated. If you must travel before you’re fully vaccinated, follow the CDC’s international travel recommendations for people who are not fully vaccinated. 
• Step 3 – If applicable, attain a travel letter documenting prior infection with COVID-19.
  • In order to receive a travel letter from Pitkin County Public Health you will need to have tested positive from a proctored COVID-19 test; at home tests without a medical proctor are not able to get a travel letter. 
  • Please complete the pitkin county travel letter request form and a member of the Pitkin County Public Health Disease Investigation team will be in touch. 
    • Note:  Letters can only be issued for travel within 90 days of your first proctored positive PCR or antigen test. Letters can not be provided for unproctored, at-home tests.
• Step 4 – Schedule a pre-departure COVID-19 test.
  • Know which test types are permitted; antigen, NAAT, RT-PCR.
    • Only proctored tests will be accepted; at-home tests without a medical proctor are not allowed.
  • In order to schedule a test within Pitkin County please see the Pitkin County testing page.
• Step 5 – Know how you will obtain a COVID-19 test within 24 hours of your arrival back into the United States.
  • As of December 2021, all travelers into the United States regardless of citizenry, vaccination status, or prior infection history are required to provide proof of a negative test result before entering the United States.
  • Check local testing options in your destination and schedule a COVID-19 test within 24 hours of your departure; Pitkin County Public Health does not know about international testing options.

Do Not Travel If: you have tested positive for COVID-19 and are currently in isolation; are awaiting results for a COVID-19 test, or are currently experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms.

Travel Documents FAQ

Q: What counts as a proctored test?

A:

• A proctored test means that your test was administered or observed by a medical professional who then submitted the results of your test to the local public health department. These tests are done at community testing sites, doctors officers, private testing labs or at home tests performed via telehealth visit. 
• At-home tests without a telehealth component (such as are ordered through state or federal programs, or purchased at a pharmacy/online) are NOT considered proctored tests even though positives from these tests are true positives.
• You can schedule a proctored test through any provider by using the Pitkin County testing site finder.

Q: I need my vaccination record to travel. How can I find mine?

A:

• If you received your COVID-19 vaccination within Colorado you can use the Pitkin County vaccination record finder to locate your vaccination record.
• If you did not receive your vaccine within Colorado, all vaccine records are accessible through your state’s Immunization Information Systems (IIS). You can find information regarding your state’s IIS through the CDC’s contacts for IIS immunization records page.
• Please Note: Pitkin County can not access your vaccination records for you; you will need to work with your medical provider or states IIS in order to access or rectify your vaccination records.

Q: How can I request a travel letter?

A:

• PItkin County Public Health can provide you with a travel letter verifying prior infection history if you meet the following criteria:
  • You or a dependent has tested positive within 90 days.
  • You or a dependent has tested positive through a proctored test.
    • Unproctered at-home tests do not qualify.
• If you meet the above criteria and require a travel letter, please fill out the Pitkin County travel letter request form and you will be contacted by a member of the Disease Investigation Team.
• You may also be able to receive a travel letter from your primary care physician.