The most photographed peaks in Colorado, an alpine wilderness of 181,535 acres, and ten trails — from the easy lakeside loop to the four-day backpacking circuit through it all.
Aspen sits at the gateway to the Maroon Bells–Snowmass Wilderness — 181,535 acres of alpine basins, glacial lakes, wildflower meadows, and the seven 14ers of the Elk Mountains. The Maroon Bells themselves are the most photographed peaks in Colorado, and over 300,000 people pass through this gateway every summer.
What follows is the working hiker's list. Ten trails for ten different days, from the wheelchair-accessible loop around Maroon Lake to the four-day Four Pass Loop. Reservations are required for parking at Maroon Bells, the shuttle is the easier option, and afternoon thunderstorms in summer mean an early start is not optional.
Ten miles up Maroon Creek Road from Aspen, the Maroon Bells rise above an alpine lake — twin 14,000-foot peaks (Maroon Peak at 14,163 ft, the 27th highest in Colorado, and North Maroon at 14,019 ft) reflected in the still water at sunrise. The whole scene is so iconic that it appears on more Colorado postcards, calendars, and travel guides than any other view in the state.
The wilderness area protects 181,535 acres across the White River and Gunnison National Forests. From the Maroon Lake parking area, trails branch out: a flat 1.9-mile loop around the lake, a moderate climb to Crater Lake, a difficult ascent over Buckskin Pass, and the legendary 28-mile Four Pass Loop that takes three to four days to complete.
Reservations are required to drive up Maroon Creek Road ($10 parking, before 8 AM or after 4:30 PM only). The easier option is the shuttle from Aspen Highlands, which runs every 20 minutes from 8 AM to 5 PM during summer. Bicycles can use the road at any time, no fee — the climb is 9 miles and 1,600 feet of elevation.
Ordered roughly from easiest to most difficult — from the family-friendly lake loop and the in-town climbs you can walk to from your hotel, all the way to the four-day backpacking circuit and the technical 14er ascents.
The classic. A 1.9-mile loop around the lake at the base of the Maroon Bells — the most photographed peaks in Colorado reflected in still alpine water. Mostly flat, suitable for almost any fitness level, and the views are real from every angle. Start before sunrise for the best photographs and the smallest crowds. Active beaver pond along the trail, alpine meadows, and the Bells towering 4,500 feet above the water.
The locals' default. Trailhead is a fifteen-minute walk from the Aspen core — through aspen groves, along Hunter Creek, over wooden footbridges, into a quiet valley. Great for a morning walk before breakfast or an after-dinner stroll in summer when daylight runs late. Multiple branches let you turn around at any point, or continue up into the Hunter–Fryingpan Wilderness for a longer day.
A short, geological-curiosity hike off Independence Pass Road. The Grottos are a series of ice caves carved by the Roaring Fork River through smooth, polished granite — even in midsummer there's ice in the deepest chambers. A small waterfall crashes through one of the slots. The whole loop is well under a mile and the trailhead is right off the highway, but it's worth the stop and the kids will remember it.
The locals' fitness climb. Trailhead is at the end of Park Avenue in downtown Aspen — you can walk to it from any hotel in town. A steady, switchbacked climb up a wide dirt road to a viewing platform that looks straight down on the Aspen core, with Highland Bowl, Pyramid Peak, and the Maroon Bells in the distance. Most locals do it before work. Dogs welcome. The descent is on the same road, easy on the knees.
The next step up from Maroon Lake. Trailhead is the same — the Maroon Lake parking area — but this trail climbs a rocky path through aspen groves up to Crater Lake at the base of the Bells. Views of the Sleeping Sexton, Sievers Mountains, and Pyramid Peak open up as you climb. The lake is fed by snowmelt and dries up by late summer, but the hike is worth it regardless. 4.8-star rating from over 7,000 AllTrails reviews — one of the most popular trails in the state.
The most direct climb up Aspen Mountain — a brutal switchback ascent that gains over a thousand feet in under a mile, ending at a rock outcropping at 9,185 feet. Locals use it as a fitness test. The reward at the top is a panoramic view of Aspen and the Maroon Bells. You can ride the Silver Queen Gondola back down for $32, or hike the easier service road back to town. Start before 9 AM in summer to beat the heat — the lower part of the trail is fully exposed.
One of the most popular trails in the state, and one of the most rewarding day hikes anywhere in Colorado. The trail climbs steeply up Pine Creek Valley through aspens and spruce-fir forest, opening into a dramatic alpine cirque beneath rugged granite peaks. Cathedral Lake itself sits in a glacial bowl at 11,866 feet, surrounded on three sides by 13,000-foot walls. Trailhead is on Castle Creek Road, accessible by any car with decent clearance. Parking fills up fast — arrive before 8 AM.
The hardest of the standard Maroon Bells day hikes. From the Maroon Lake trailhead, take the Maroon-Snowmass Trail past Crater Lake, then split off and ascend steadily through Buckskin Basin to the 12,500-foot pass. From the top, panoramic views extend to Capitol Peak, Snowmass Mountain, and Mount Daly. Lightly used compared to the lower trails — most hikers turn around at Crater Lake. A long full-day effort. Start before 6 AM and plan to be off the pass by early afternoon to beat thunderstorms.
The connector hike to Crested Butte — a 13-mile round-trip over the 12,500-foot West Maroon Pass, through some of the densest wildflower meadows in Colorado in July and early August. From the top of the pass, you can descend to Schofield Park outside Crested Butte; the full traverse is about 12 miles point-to-point and most hikers arrange a shuttle (Dolly's Mountain Shuttle or Alpine Express) for the return. The top of the pass is steep and the soil gets slick when wet. A bucket-list day for serious hikers.
The classic Colorado backpacking loop — and one of the most iconic in the United States. 28 miles, four 12,000-foot passes (Buckskin, Trail Rider, Frigid Air, West Maroon), three to four days, 8,549 feet of total elevation gain. You walk a full circle around the Maroon Bells massif: through wildflower meadows, past alpine lakes, over exposed rocky passes, through aspen and spruce-fir forests. Bear canister required. Advance overnight permit required for camping at Snowmass Lake, Crater Lake, and Geneva Lake — book months in advance. The most rewarding multi-day trip in the lower 48.
Parking ($10) and shuttle reservations are required from mid-May through October. Book at aspenchamber.org. Private vehicles allowed before 8 AM and after 4:30 PM only. Shuttle runs every 20 minutes from Aspen Highlands.
Overnight permits required for Conundrum Hot Springs, Capitol Lake, Crater Lake, Snowmass Lake, Geneva Lake, and the Four Pass Loop. Bear canisters mandatory for backcountry camping. Book months in advance.
Aspen is 7,908 ft. Maroon Lake is 9,580 ft. Trail passes go to 12,500+ ft. Spend at least one night at altitude before hiking high. Drink twice as much water as you think you need.
Afternoon thunderstorms are the biggest danger above treeline in summer. Plan to be off any exposed pass or summit by early afternoon. Start at sunrise for the longer hikes. Lightning kills hikers in Colorado every year.
Late June through early October. Wildflowers peak mid-July to early August. Golden aspens peak mid-September to early October. Snow blocks higher passes through early summer; the lower trails open by mid-May.
Layers (mountain weather changes fast), proper hiking boots for the rocky terrain, rain shell, sun protection, water filter for any trail beyond Maroon Lake, headlamp for the long days. The local outfitter Ute Mountaineer in downtown Aspen rents most of it.