The Ultimate Buena Vista Colorado Guide (How to Spend 4 Days)

Disclosure: When you buy something through the Affiliate product links I have created below, I earn a small commission. I only promote products and companies I support as well as believe in.

Looking for a warmer part of Colorado close to the mountains with around 300 days of sunshine every year? Buena Vista is one of the coolest towns I’ve been to in Colorado and after you read this post I hope it inspires you to visit this unique corner of the state. Located right on the Arkansas river and at the base of the Collegiate Peaks( the largest concentrated area of Colorado 14ers in the state). What makes BV so unique is the High Mountain desert-like climate in town with a High Alpine climate just minutes outside of town up Cottonwood Pass.

Combine these two different climates and you have a number of different outdoor activities to choose from. In this post I’ll be going over how to get to Buena Vista, where to stay or camp, outdoor recreation activities, and what to expect. Coool, lets do this..

Where is Buena Vista

Buena Vista is Southwest of Denver and in between Twin Lakes and Salida. Coming from the front range there’s two main routes to take, either Highway 24 through Leadville or US 285 through Fairplay. Both will be scenic drives through the mountains, making the start of your trip more exciting in my opinion. For flying, the closest major airport will be Aspen with other airports being in Colorado Springs along with Eagle. I listed miles and distances from major areas in Colorado below.

Denver- 123 miles/2 hours 15 minutes

Colorado Springs- 93 miles/2 hours

Breckenridge- 60 miles/1 hour and 15 minutes

Boulder- 134 miles/2.5 hours

Where to Stay

There will be a number of places right in town or walking distance to town. BV has a number of side streets and neighborhoods not far from the Main street that run through town. I stayed in a nice two bedroom condo that I booked on VRBO that was a 1/2 mile to Main Street.

Another place I’d recommend staying is the Surf Hotel and Chateau, place looks awesome. With an in-house restaurant and Lobby bar, the idea is to combine the outdoors with European style luxury hospitality. They have live a music venue outside, as well as an indoor ballroom for weddings and events. If you want a more secluded experience next door is the Chateau with cottage style units.

Where can you camp

There will be paid campsites as well dispersed campsites. I booked a campsite at one of my favorite campgrounds, Ruby Mountain, right on the Arkansas River, overlooking the collegiate peaks. They have bathroom facilities, picnic tables, and a fire grate to cook food over or to have a campfire.

To book this site go to Colorado Parks and Wildlife >Camping Reservations>Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area>Site List. There will be different campgrounds to choose from with Ruby Mountain and Railroad Bridge being the closest paid sites to downtown BV. To look for dispersed camping (free) download apps Dyrt or Gaia.

Buena Vista Day 1 Itinerary

Walk along the Arkansas River Trail

Once you’ve checked in and gotten settled, I recommend first doing a small walk along the Arkansas River. Park at the Whitewater Park and follow the River Trail. You will probably come across kayakers and river surfers! If you want more views of the mountains, check out the Barbara Whipple trail in the same vicinity. It will have more elevation gain and require hiking footwear.

Dinner at Crave

One of my favorite restaurants in Colorado is Crave. It is a Pizzaria along with italian influence menu items. During the summer I recommend walking in and putting your name on a list or expect a wait. The vibe inside is authentic with a brick building and open kitchen so you can see your pizza being hand tossed from house made pizza dough.

Crave is also a really awesome place to grab lunch, as they open at 11am.

Catch a movie at the local Drive In Theater

Built in 1966, The Comanche theatre is one of 8 Drive in theaters left in Colorado, with only 320 left in the entire country! For point of reference, in the 1960’s there were over 4,000. If you’ve never gone to a drive-in theater it is a really cool experience. The theater is open Friday-Tuesday in the summer and weekends only after Labor Day with movies starting at dusk. You’ll park your car, set the radio station to the correct channel, and watch the movie from you’re vehicle.

Comanche will sell the typical movie theater snacks; popcorn, candy, hot pretzels, and pizza. Movies alternate every week with weekends being the busiest time to go. You can arrive early, grab a spot, hang out and watch the sunset before the movie starts. The theater is right outside of town on Highway 306 and is the highest drive-in theater in the country.

Buena Vista Day 2 Itinerary

Grab Breakfast at Cool River

Located on the East Side of Main Street, close to the river, this was my favorite coffee shop in town. The lighting in the morning is amazing and if you grab a window seat there will be surrounding town and mountain views as you drink your coffee or eat breakfast. There’s a lot of home made options and they have an awesome in-house bakery with Gluten Free as well as vegan options.

There’s also a full breakfast and lunch menu, not a bad place to start your day off.

Go Rafting

This area of Colorado will have some of the best rafting in the state, book a half day or full day rafting trip. I went with River Runners, 10 minutes from the downtown area, however there are a number of different rafting companies to book with. Lunch will be provided for full day raft trips and the raft company will provide full transportation to and from the river.

For beginner to intermediate rapids there is Browns Canyon and for people looking for a more intense raft trip there is Royal Gorge and Numbers! Rafting season runs from about Late May-Early September with the best rapids being late spring to early summer. A good snow season will effect how good the rafting summer will be, as the snowmelt eventually ends up in rivers and streams.

I’ve done Royal Gorge in the past and although it is a beautiful area the rapids are more intense. This rafting trip I went with Browns Canyon. Good for families as well as people who’ve never gone rafting before. Browns Canyon is mix of rapids with slower scenic areas. There was even an area along the river where our guide let us jump from a boulder called “jump rock.”

Dinner at Eddyline Brewery

After a day on the river grab a drink and food at Eddyline Brewery. There’s two locations, a restaurant and a Brewpub, both on the opposite ends of each other in town. Eddyline’s story started in 2009 making wood fired pizzas and brewing beer for the outdoor enthusiast looking to relax after a day of adventure. The Brewery has a nice hang out vibe and there’s a back patio for those nice summer evenings.

Sunset at Cottonwoodpass

One of my favorite things to do in Buena Vista is to catch the sunset up on Cottonwood Pass. Get on West Main Street, which turns into Highway 306 and take this road all the way to the top of the pass. There will be a few switchbacks towards the top so take it slow! The parking lot will be on the left. Bring a blanket and hang out in the parking lot or you can hike to the look out point, not far from the parking lot. You can see part of the Collegiate Peaks off to your right in the distance as the sun sets.

If you get to the top of the pass early enough you can hike part of the Colorado trail too. Follow the trail from the parking lot and it will eventually take you across a ridge with surrounding mountain views, which is part of the Gunnison National Forest! For help with navigating download All Trails Route #1978 Cottonwood South. The top of the pass is where the San Isabel National Forest and Gunnison National Forest meet, which is part of the Continental Divide!

The Continental Divide is the Topograhic line that seperates drainages either to the Atlantic Ocean or Pacific Ocean. It goes down the Spine of the highest points of the Rocky Mountains from Alaska all the way to Mexico. Water either eventually ends up in the Pacific Ocean or the Atlantic.

Buena Vista Day 3 Itinerary

Breakfast at Blend

I would say this is the healthiest place to eat in all of Buena Vista. Amazing smoothies, breakfast sandwiches, wraps, and baked goods. If you plan on going for a long hike in the morning or mid day, this is a good place to get some good fuel before you hit the trail. The inside is also a good spot to get some work done if you need to, with a cafe lounge type atmosphere.

Hike Ptarmigan Lake

Once you are fueled up grab your hiking boots and get on Highway 306 again, the same road to Cottonwood pass. On the left, 14 miles west will be the Ptarmigan Lake trailhead. Parking can be limited at times, especially on weekends! This trail will be 6.1 miles out and back with 1,466 feet of elevation gain, so pack a good water bottle and some snacks. I wrote a blog post on this trail specifically, check out a complete guide on Ptarmigan Lake.

Happy Hour at Terrace on Main

End the afternoon at Terrace on Main from 4-5 pm with drink specials for cocktails, wine, and beer. Grab a seat on the rooftop that overlooks the town and mountain peaks. There is also a bites menu with appetizers and a small desert menu with ingredients from locally sourced farmers. What I liked about Terrace on Main is they keep it simple yet have an inviting atmosphere that makes you feel right at home.

Buena Vista Day 4 Itinerary

Sunrise Hike at Lost Lake

Recently re-routed with a new parking lot at the trailhead, Lost Lake is a must if you like hiking and are in Buena Vista. If you’re able to wake up early enough for sunrise, it is so peaceful and chances are there won’t be anyone up at the lake or on the trail.

The elevation gain is only 423 feet with some rocky areas as you approach the lake so make sure you have good hiking boots! The trail is close to 3.5 miles round trip and takes about two hours or more depending on speed and time at the lake

Coffee at the Midland Stop

This small coffee shop on the East side of town, will have a number of different drink options as well as a small amount of breakfast items. I liked how peaceful and quiet it was compared to restaurants in downtown BV. It’s a great place to go in the morning to start the day or after you’ve hiked Lost Lake.

Check out the shops downtown

Most small towns in Colorado will have a downtown area filled with eclectic shops and if you have time I recommend walking around to see if there’s a store or two you’d want to pop into. Two of my favorite shops in BV are Trailhead and CKS. Both will have lots of outdoor gear for adventures, but also a number of different clothing/lifestyle goods too. CKS will have most of what you would need for river/water sports activities while Trailhead is directed more towards the hiker, backpacker, and camping enthusiast.

Lunch at Simple Eatery

Inside Trailhead will be a lunch and dinner place with indoor and outdoor dining. They have healthier options with salads, soups, and sandwiches as well as artisan baked bread if you want to take something to go!

Mount Princeton Hot springs

End the trip by relaxing at the Mt. Princeton Hot Springs! There will be different areas that you can soak in including; Chalk Creek, the Soaking Pool, and the Infinity Pool. The backdrop when hanging out in the infinity Pool is Mount Princeton with an elevation of 14,200 feet! These pools are a combination of rain and snow melt mixed with geothermic water that comes from the different fractures in rock.

The creekside pool will be right along the river with a more natural hot springs feel to it. The soak pool and private pools will be more like swimming pools. The infinity pool is pretty awesome as it overlooks Mount Princeton and the surrounding peaks! This pool can also be rented out privately. If you’d like to go more then a day, there is lodging, dining, and even a small grocery store on site.

Other Restaurants in BV

Buena Vista Roastery Cafe- Right in downtown BV, with usually a line out the door in the summer. This is not a bad place to get some work done or grab a cup of coffee in the AM.

K’s Old fashion Burgers- BV in the summertime is something special. Stopping in at K’s old fashion burgers mid day after being on the river all day or hiking a trail hits the spot. They’ve been around since 1955! Shakes, Fries, and burgers will be their main menu items.

Roosters Crow Cafe- Looking for a diner style breakfast? Roosters Crow cafe serves breakfast and lunch and has that old school feel to it with prices that are affordable.

Wesley and Rose- Inside the Surf Hotel, this lobby restaurant and bar will serve cocktails, starters, and some awesome seasonal dinner items. Wesley and Rose also does private events as it is a perfect place to rent out for a group.

Other Activities

Biking- Lot’s of different mount biking trails in BV, this place is a hub for biking enthusiasts (especially when spring rolls around).

Browns Canyon National Monument- Located just past Ruby Mountain Campground, this national monument has hiking trails, views , and colorful rock outcroppings all around. National Monuments were first initiated in 1906 and are a way to protect, conserve, and restore landscapes with lots of diversity and science. Parking is free at the trailhead, but not the Ruby Mountain recreation area. There will be trails along the river and through the Canyon. It’s honestly somewhat confusing in areas, but grab a map at the trailhead to decide what route you’d like to take. There is private property in the area so try to obey and closed areas you might come across.

River Surfing- Challenging, but fun! There is river surfing in Salida and at the Adventure park area in Buena Vista. Salida has a wave right in town near the surf shop Bad Fish. Bad Fish offers two hour demos, but you would need to rent a wetsuit elsewhere in town. There’s also the staircase wave in Buena Vista along with a new wave down river in the same Adventure Park Area being rebuilt fall of 2024. The staircase wave you’ll need a board with a lot of volume as it is a paddle in wave. For more skilled surfers, running and jumping to get on the wave is a possibility. For Rentals, go to CKS. They offer wetsuit, helmet, life jacket, and leash rentals!

St Elmo Ghost Town- Once a mining town in the 1800’s that eventually became abandoned, the historical buildings are still up kept today so visitors can experience what life might have been like in this time period. It’s a fun way to spend an hour or so walking around, reading the different historical facts.

Looking for more Colorado adventure in the summer? Check out the town of Leadville, not far from Buena Vista! Thanks for checking out the blog and I’ll see you on the next post. It’s cool to connect with everyone so if you have any questions or comments to add please leave them down below.

Aspen Colorado, A guide to Maroon Bells and Hiking Crater Lake

Disclosure: When you buy something through the Affiliate product links I have created below, I earn a small commission. I only promote products and companies I support as well as believe in.

Looking for easy trail navigation? Check out Alltrails; an app with trail reviews, navigation, and trail stats. Predownload trails in case of no service.

Considered to be the most photographed mountains in all of North America, Maroon Bells located just outside of downtown Aspen is a great way to spend a day trip or weekend in Colorado, especially in the fall! It’s a bit of a process to get there because it’s such a sought out destination. However, once you get there, it’s definitely worth it.

In this post I’ll be going over how to get to Maroon Bells, parking, what to expect, trail details, and best times to visit. Alright lets do thisssss.

The Maroon Peaks straight ahead are both above 14,000 Feet

How to get to the Maroon Bells and what to know about parking

Parking

Located off of Maroon Creek Road (6 miles from Aspen), to access the Bells you either have to make a parking reservation or a shuttle reservation during the Spring, Summer, and Fall months.

Parking reservations are required from Mid May to the end of October while shuttle reservations are required from early June through late October. The parking is tricky, and to alleviate some of the hassle with specific time windows, Aspen offers a 24 hour reservation option and two day option as well. As long as the road is open it will always cost $10 to park. Maroon Creek Road will close in November when the snow starts to fall. After November 1, no parking reservations are required, however you are still required to pay the $10 fee!

Once the road closes for winter you can access the Bells by snowmobile, cross country skis, and snow shoes. The road will be about 7 miles from T-Lazy-7 ranch.

If you decide to take a shuttle you’ll park at Aspen Highlands. It’s $5/hour or $40/day for parking. Weekends and peak times such as fall, you’ll want to plan ahead and arrive to Aspen Highlands early to get a parking spot. Once you park you’ll check in at Guest Services above the parking area, where the buses are stationed. Aspen suggests that you arrive 45 min before your reservation time to check-in and get your shuttle ticket. The shuttle ride is about 20 minutes to Maroon Bells. Make sure to not miss the last shuttle on the way back!

If you end up driving, the parking lot is at the end of Maroon Creek Road. They will have a separate lot for overnight parking. For more information visit the USDA Forest Service website. Parking reservations fill up quickly, so I would plan weeks in advance if you are deciding to go that route. For Fall foliage make your parking reservation in May, the day of the reservation window opening for September and October.

To make a shuttle or parking reservation visit the Aspen Chamber of Commerce website.

Directions

Please Note, Independence Pass Closes during the winter months usually around the beginning of November

As mentioned above, Maroon Bells and the Crater Lake trail are located off of Maroon Creek Road, past Aspen Highlands Ski Resort. There are two ways to access Aspen during the Spring, Summer and Fall months and that is on I-70 and Independence Pass. Independence Pass is the most scenic route going over the Continental Divide and is 32 miles long between Leadville and Aspen. Below I’ve listed distances and average times from Major areas in Colorado to Aspen Highlands via I-70. For flying, there will be an airport near Buttermilk ski resort, not far from downtown Aspen.

Denver- 198 miles/3.5 hours

Boulder- 204 miles/4 hours

Evergreen- 181 miles/3 hours twenty minutes

Summit County- 132 miles/2.5 hours

Vail- 102 miles/2 hours

History of the Maroon Bells

Created millions of years ago from the Tectonic Plate movement the Maroon Bells and Crater Lake are part of the White River National Forest and also the Elk Mountain Range. The name is derived by the shape of the rock formations and the color (maroon) when the light hits the peaks at the right time.

In the late 1800’s there was a Silver Boom in Colorado and interesting enough Silver is what founded the town of Aspen. However, the town didn’t bring world wide publication until the 1950’s when Aspen became a resort town. As tourism picked up so did trips to the Maroon Bells.

In 1964 the Wilderness Act protected areas like the Bells and Crater Lake.

The two peaks that make up the Maroon Bells are the Maroon Peak and North Maroon Peak.

What makes Maroon Bells so special

The rock that makes up most of the Maroon Bells is a red shale and lighter siltstone called, the Maroon Formation. The maroon color that you see is derived from very small iron particles that have been oxidized (rusted). The formation of these peaks was caused from sea bed deposits over 290 million years ago that were compressed and then elevated with the rest of the Rocky Mountains. These rock formations in the Aspen area are over 3 miles thick. Due to the fact that this kind of rock is brittle and soft, it can break easily, so be careful if you decide to hike in the Aspen Area, especially fourteeners!

Best time to Visit Maroon Bells and Crater Lake

Spring through late October are the best times to visit. Crater Lake is usually dried out by October, as was the case when we went. Honestly, it was still a beautiful hike and the area surrounding Crater Lake is amazing for photography. The best time to hike Crater lake would be in the summer and Fall (June-October). Fall in Aspen is an amazing time to visit because of the fall foliage and leaves changing. This time of year will bring a lot of crowds, so book ahead if you plan on visiting in the Fall!

Late Fall and Late Spring (May and October) are better times to visit if you want to avoid larger crowds. The other cool part about late spring is there is still snow on the peaks and late fall is when Colorado starts to get snow dustings. I think it adds a different/unique perspective to the peaks.

As mentioned above you can still access Maroon Bells during the winter, however one thing to keep in mind is Avalanche Danger when traveling on Maroon Creek Road with snow.

If you are looking to shoot photos of the peaks, the best time to do that is early in the morning, right before the sun gets too harsh. Google Maroon Bells and a lot of beautiful photos of the peaks will pop up.

Is Maroon Bells Dog Friendly

Dogs are allowed they just have to be on a leash at all times due to surrounding wildlife that can show up in the area!

Does it cost anything to Visit Maroon Bells

As mentioned above parking will cost $10 on Maroon Creek road and also $5/hour at Aspen Highlands ($40 for the day)

Biking on Maroon Creek Road is free.

The Shuttle is $16 for adults and $10 for seniors over 65 and kids under 12.

What to Expect and Trail Details

Shuttle busses run every 15 minutes with the last one picking up people at 5pm to head back to Aspen Highlands, make sure not to miss the last bus! Otherwise it’s a nine mile walk back with almost no cell service.

There are couple of trails for day hikes at Maroon Bells with the first one being Maroon Bells Scenic Loop and the next one being Crater Lake. Although Crater Lake was listed as a moderate hike on All Trails, I would rate it as a more challenging hike because of how rocky it was and technical in areas. There was also snow and ice when we hiked it which made the hike even more challenging.

Maroon Bells Scenic Loop

This is a pretty easy scenic trail that goes around Maroon Lake. At times, you will be walking through Aspen trees. Great for families with younger kids or people looking for an easier trek.

• Distance- 1.9 Mile Loop

• Elevation Gain- 160 ft

• Difficulty- easy

Crater Lake

This hike was more challenging then expected. Pretty Rocky and steep at times. You walk through a wooded area at first with mountain views to the left of Pyramid Peak. Towards the top on the right you will see the Sievers Mountain range. As you get towards the top you’ll have breathtaking 365 degree views of the Maroon Bells and the Elk Mountain Range. Awesome hike and I highly recommend using hiking footwear and hiking poles. I saw a number of people with improper footwear and clothing. With improper footwear on a trail like this, you might risk an injury.

• Distance- 3.8 Miles out and back

• Elevation Gain- 688 Feet

• Difficulty- Moderate to difficult

Where is there a good place to stay in Aspen

Snowmass- In the fall, rates here will be cheaper then in downtown Aspen. There’s also other surrounding trails in the Snowmass area if you plan on staying for longer then 1 night. One of my favorite trails was right by the hotel I was staying in called Spiral Point, a must hike for sunset! I booked a room at Stonebridge Inn as they had parking on site, a restaurant, pool/hot tub area, and fitness center. It was about a 20 Minute drive to the Maroon Bells as well as downtown Aspen.

Downtown Aspen

I get it if you want to be in downtown Aspen because it is a cool spot to grab some food, walk around, shop, and enjoy the fall colors around town. The St Moritz Lodge will be on the more inexpensive end for overnight stays with Limelight, The Little Nell, and Hotel Jerome being on the more luxurious side for lodging. There are also a number of awesome options on VRBO.

Is there Camping nearby the Maroon Bells and Crater Lake

Yep, there are campgrounds located near the Bells that will be along Maroon Creek Road. These are popular campgrounds that need to be booked months in advance! The three campgrounds are Silver Bell, Silver Bar, and Silver Queen. Parking at the Bells is included with a campsite reservation, grab your parking pass or print out the camp reservation when driving to the Maroon Bells. Head over to recreation.gov to make a campsite reservation.

Where is a good place to grab something to eat in Aspen

Most restaurants in Aspen will be on the more expensive side. Probably one of the best restaurants in Aspen is the White House Tavern. Located in an old historic building on the corner of Hopkins and Monarch; the ambience, music, simple menu, and amazing food make this a great spot to grab something to eat after a day of hiking.

What to pack

Hiking boots- If you plan on hiking up to Crater Lake, these are a must have. Make sure your hiking boots or footwear have good traction and support.

Hiking Shorts and/or Pants-Not needed, but it’s nice to have some lightweight and breathable clothing when hiking around Maroon Bells or up to Crater Lake.

Rain Jacket- Burton makes a number of awesome jackets, that will keep you dry in case weather rolls through

Lightweight Puffy- Especially if you go in the fall like I did, a down jacket will keep you warm when the temps are low

Water Bottle- Stay Hydrated while hiking!

Maroon Bells Quick tips

• Book reservations when the booking window opens, months in advance for Peak times, especially fall

• Pack the proper hiking footwear and outdoor clothing

• Sunrise-early morning is the best time for Photography

• Leave no trace

• For shuttles, never miss the last bus back

Looking to visit Aspen in the winter for skiing or snowboarding? Check out Aspen Highlands and what you need to know when Hiking Highlands Bowl. Thanks for checking out the blog and I’ll see you on the next post!