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

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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!

Telluride Colorado, Hiking and Backpacking the Blue Lakes trail

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So you’ve gotten your backpacking gear and your looking for beginner to intermediate trails to do an overnight backpacking trip. One of the best places to start is Colorado, known for it’s immense amount of hiking trails throughout the state. Within Colorado are the San Juans, unlike any other mountain range in the state. Not too far from small towns Telluride and Ouray is the Blue Lakes trail, an amazing scenic hike with 3 alpine lakes at the top. It’s a doable day hike, but definitely worth backpacking camp gear and food in for a couple nights. In this post I’ll be going over how to get to the Blue Lakes Trail, what to pack, trail details, and what to expect. Alright lets do thisss.

How to get there

Drive through the Southwest part of Colorado and turn onto a dirt road (County Road 7) all the way to the trailhead for 4.3 miles. You don’t need AWD, but it helps. There will be a few bumpy areas, but overall the road isn’t too bad. Below I listed times and distances from major areas with Telluride having the closest airport.

Denver- 6 hours/336 miles

Telluride- 1 hour and 15 minutes/44 miles

Summit County- 5 hours/268 miles

Vail- 4 hours 15 minutes/240 miles

Durango- 2.5 hours/95 miles

Flagstaff- 7 hours/378 miles

Best time of year to backpack this trail

Mid June-Late September depending on snowfall and weather!

Can you park overnight for free

Yep, no overnight permits needed to park at the trailhead. Since the trail does get heavy usage in the summer, I recommend getting to the trailhead earlier to grab a parking spot.

Does the Blue Lakes Trail require permits to hike and camp

As for now NO, However! there is a proposed permit system by the Forest Service for future use going on right now in regards to how many people can hike the trail in a given day as well as camp overnight in a given day.

What to Pack

If your new to backpacking there’s a number of items I would recommend having to make the camping more enjoyable. The key with packing your camp gear into a spot is to keep the pack as light as possible. I listed the necessities below. I use Mountain Hardwear for my camp gear, however brands such as Nemo, North Face, Marmot, and REI all make great backpacking gear as well.

• Lightweight sleeping bag/Sleeping pad- There’s two types of sleeping bags, real down and synthetic down. Real down is more lightweight and packable while synthetic will hold its loft if it gets wet. I like real down because of the weight. It also can last up to 30 years if you take care of it. You’ll also want a backpack specific sleeping pad. Some people use foam, but I personally like REI sleeping pads.

• Water filter and water bottle- Use a filter for clean water from a natural water source. REI will sell these along with packable water bottles.

• Hiking boots/Socks- A pair of hiking boots with good traction and support is a must along with breathable socks that dry quick and wick moisture. Smartwool make my favorite hiking socks.

• Backpacking pack- I use a 70L Mountain Hardwear pack to carry everything I need, but a 50-65L pack will work great too. Make sure to buy a backpacking specific pack and purhase a pack that works best for your body size.

• Lightweight tent- Make sure that it is specific to backpacking

• Pocket Rocket Burner and Packable - A pocket burner is what you’ll cook food on and it’s very lightweight and packable. Also needed is fuel, utensils, and a stove to cook everything.

• Headlamp- Very useful, especially in areas that don’t allow campfires.

• Power Bank- Keep electronics charged up

• Rain Jacket- Lightweight and waterproof is the name of the game. Burton AK rain jackets check both of those boxes.

• Down Jacket- Once the sun goes down in the mountains at a high elevation, it can get cold, even in the summer. Burton’s Baker down is perfect for summer hiking missions, with it being lightweight and packable.

• Wilderness Wash- Get this at an outdoor shop or a local REI store. Works for handwashing, showering, and washing dishes.

• PackTowl- A lightweight camping towel

• Hiking Poles- These might seem kinda whack, but they work great for rocky hikes and maneuvering on trails

• Bug Spray- Summer is prime for Mosquitoes, gotta have bug spray

• Bear Spray/Bear Bag- Keep food sealed up and at a distance from camp.

• Alltrails app- I use this for app trail reviews, info, and navigation. Download the trail ahead of time for the best navigation!

What to Expect

The trail is great if you’re not looking to do anything too exteme, but still want awesome views of the surrounding terrain. This hike is also a doable day hike. Expect some elevation gain as you make your way to the lower lake as well as the middle and upper lakes. One of my favorite things about backpacking this trail, was making dinner up near the top lake for Golden Hour. There wasn’t anyone around and the golden sun shining on the San Juans was pretty epic. Check out the trail details below that I found on Alltrails.

Elevation Gain- 2,509 feet

Trail Type- Out and Back

Dogs Allowed- Yep and must be on leash in some areas

Mileage- 8.7 Miles

Time- Average of 5 hours and 8 minutes

Beginner Backpacking Tips

If you’re new there’s a few things to keep in mind to make the adventure more enjoyable. I’m still learning, but here’s a few things I’ve learned from friends and by doing.

• Less is more- Try to pack only what you need for the trip. No more then one other pair of clothes to change into. People backpacking will typically just hike and wear one set of clothes for the entire adventure.

• Keep the waist part of your pack tight as you want most of the weight of the pack to be carried on your hips not shoulders.

• Be prepared for weather- See packing list above for details.

• Plan ahead- Make sure to plan your route ahead of time and look at a map before you set out on the trail, majority of high alpine environments won’t have cell service.

• Be prepared in case of an emergency which includes having a first aid kit. It also is helpful to have a Garmin inReach in case you need to message or contact anyone.

• Pack food and meals that are easy to cook and cleanup. REI will have a number of backpacking meals that only require boiled water. Snacks such as beef jerky, trail mix, and trail bars are also great food items to bring.

• Camp and use the bathroom at least 200 feet from water and dig a hole if you are going to the bathroom. They sell backpacking shovels at any outdoor store.

• Pack out what you packed in

Trail Details

Once you’ve parked and grabbed your pack, you’ll notice signage for the start of the trail right by the bathroom. You’ll be entering the Mt Sneffels wilderness part of the Uncompahgre national forest. The first part of the hike will be through a wooded area with a good amount of elevation gain (about 2,300) before it starts to level out near the lower lake. As you get closer to camp there will be a waterfall on your left.

My friends and I set up camp at the lower lake, as there were a number of spots going around it. Keep in mind that you must be at least 200 feet away from the lake and that there are No campfires allowed.

There is also a great view of the lower lake if you take the trail that goes to the upper lakes. Use your All Trails downloaded map for help with navigation from the campsite.

Once you have camp set up, I recommend grabbing your dinner, utensils, your stove and heading up to the middle and upper lakes to catch the sunset while eating a good camp meal (weather depending). As you hike up to the top lakes, notice Mt. Sneffels to the left. This is a well known 14er in Colorado with an elevation of 14,159 feet. The Blue Lakes trail is one of the ways to hike to the peak of this 14er and I noticed couple of people heading up to do it with helmets on the following morning

The views when hiking to the upper lakes are some of the best I’ve seen thus far in Colorado, so pack a camera if you got it or use your cell phone for some amazing photos and enjoy the surrounding landscape of the San Juan mountains

Can you fish in the lakes

Yep, just make sure your Colorado Fishing license is up to date. This can be purchased/renewed online or typically at a local fly fishing shop

Should we check out any of the surrounding towns and the Million Dollar Highway

As mentioned above there will be three small towns close to the trailhead; Ouray, Telluride, and Ridgeway. All three have great restaurants, outdoor shops, hot springs, and lodging if you wanted to clean up for a night or two and chill before heading home. It’s also fun to hang out in either town for the afternoon and grab a bite somewhere after doing a backpacking trip.

Ouray will be a little more low key then Telluride with the Million Dollar Highway right outside of town. For a quick bite I recommend Maggies Kitchen. Inexpensive Burgers and fries that are pretty amazing. Drive south out of town and you’ll be on the infamous Million Dollar Highway. This highway goes from Ouray to the town of Silverton for 25 Miles, with the peak being at the top of Red Mountain Pass. I took it to the top of the pass (13 miles) from Ouray and then drove back. There’s pull-offs along certain parts of the highway for scenic views, just make sure to be careful driving this road as there are no guard rails with steep drop offs.

Looking for more Colorado adventure? Check out Leadville Colorado, a small town with lots of outdoor recreation. If you have any questions or information to add, please leave a comment below! It’s always cool to connect with people on here. Thanks for checking out the blog and I’ll see you on the next post.