Maroon Bells Peaks

A must adventure for any visit to Aspen. Easy shuttles from downtown Aspen take you right to the trailheads (buy the $ 10 bus ticket at Four Mountain Sports in downtown). I did the Crater Lake out and back trail. Just took about 2.5 hours, nothing too strenuous, and you end up in a separate valley that is just beautiful. Be sure to bring water, because there are no fountains that I saw and you can’t risk drinking the river or lake water.

«Maroon Bells on a hill»
«But I never heard them ringing»
Beatles — Till There Was You Lyrics
Colorado is filled with stunning vistas but nothing I saw was more astonishing than Maroon Bells. The breathtaking snowy mountains against the wide river was jaw-​dropping and awe-​inspiring and all sorts of cliches that cannot communicate what I saw.
I visited in May shortly after the road had reopened but before the buses started running (be sure to consult the website because the timing and setup changes all the time). We drove in on the endless 5 mile driveway and paid the $ 10 honor system donation. Just a short walk from the parking lot the landscape opens up revealing a lake and those massive peaks. The ease of access combined with the natural beauty makes this a can’t miss spot if you are anywhere in the vicinity. In addition to the immediate view there are all sorts of trails and bridges and fishing and camping opportunities. I am sure it would be amazing to come back and get the full experience.

How is this not a national park with its beauty alone. Great for a quick scenic loop around the lake. Went before Memorial Day and was able to appreciate the post winter beauty with recent avalanches in the lower peaks and the start of the snow melt pushing down the creek.

This place is just beautiful. My suggestion is to take the buses that leave from the Aspen Highlands ($ 10 parking), tickets are $ 6 per person. Once it gets there it stops at maroon bells for about 30 minutes so make sure it doesn’t leave you on the way back. Between June and October ish (8am-​5pm) you can only go up via bus. Apparently there are a few hikes around the area but I haven’t done any of them yet. Once you are there you kind of just take in the beauty and the crisp fresh air. You must see this place!

How could this not get 5 stars? Absolutely stunning. We were able to go as the leaves were changing, which was magical. We took the shuttle up there, and I enjoyed the small history lesson given by our driver. Would definitely go back and spend more time hiking!

Conundrum Hot Spring Review
The hike itself is beautiful. I recommend staying the night. Also you may want to take waterproof shoes or chaos to go across certain areas of water along the trail.
I would not recommend someone who is new to backpacking or elevation to jump in and give it a go unless you’re prepared to get your booty kicked a bit.
A nice pair of ankle supporting footwear is essential as is a thick pair of socks.
What I did not like about this trail is the crowd in the hot spring in the evening during weekend nights.
Some lady screaming «I will trade booze for coke» not my type of party. I also overheard people who believed the rules about bear canisters didn’t apply to their group.
If you want a party go Friday and Saturday there will be plenty of booze. If you want a relaxing time it may be more calm during the week.

Review #400
Maroon Bells is twice as stunning as the pictures. Stop reading this review and go to Maroon Bells if you haven’t been there yet.
Prior to 8 AM and after 5 or 6 PM, you can drive to the peaks. If you have more than one person, this is the route to take. It is $ 10/​car to park at Maroon Bells or $ 6/​person to take the bus. At 7 AM on a cloudy day, we were some of the first people at the peaks. It is best to go when there aren’t a ton of people because many people move very slowly and/​or have very small children.
While you can come to Maroon Bells and just take pictures of the lake and peaks, I would recommend making the two mile hike to Crater Lake. It’s a little rocky but not particularly challenging. The reflection of the mountains on Crater Lake were spectacular, and there is plenty of wildlife running around up there as well.
***If you played Roller Coaster Tycoon (with the Loopy Landscapes expansion pack) as a child, you will be totally peeved at Hasboro because Crater Lake is way less crater-​y than they made it out to be.

5 stars for the beauty, 4 stars for the experience. My husband, dog, and I made the 3.5 hour drive from the Denver area to hike the sonic loop trail. We had also considered hiking the crater lake trail which also had great reviews. When we got there we were told that the area near the lake was closed to people with dogs because there had been 2 moose spotted there earlier in the day. They had lots of friendly staff who had other suggestions for nearby trails, so after admiring the scenery from a distance we set off to take the trail that follows the creek. Unfortunately it was super muddy and slightly treacherous, so the hike ended up being a different experience than expected. Overall it was still gorgeous with great views of the Aspen forests and wild flowers galore! We can’t wait to go back and hike one of the trails that we had originally planned on.

We visited post-​beautiful-​Aspens AND when the sun prohibited good photos of the peaks, but it’s still an impressive sight to see. On the day we went, Friday Oct 24, you could just drive up and park. There were maybe 10 spots still available at 3 in the afternoon. Do keep the time of day in mind when you go — it would have been better not to be looking at the peaks with the sun in our eyes.
The lake here has absolutely gorgeous shades of green and I can’t even imagine how beautiful this place must be when the Aspens are gold.
We started the long hike up to Crate Lake after the ranger/​guide warned us it was rough. He was right, my daughter couldn’t make it so I had to turn around with her. Based on the pictures and tales of brutal rock paths, I’m kind of glad we missed it.
The surrounding peaks are also impressive. Bottom line — don’t miss this when you visit Aspen.

Exceptional view! Very magnificent.
As most people know, one of the best landscapes in Colorado!

…perhaps one of the most stunning places to get married! And ones of my favorites to photograph at!

Can’t really add anything else that other Unilocalers posted. Amazing scenery and enjoyable hike. Saw two moose only 15 feet away!
Took the bus and it was an informative ride learning about the area. If you plan on going keep in mind you can only take a shuttle before 5 pm to get there. After 5 you can drive up on your own.

Aspen is known more for its skiing and other winter activities. I have to admit that I have never been skiing in Aspen, but I go there every summer for hiking and paragliding. My favorite hiking trails in the area are the ones that lead to Buckskin Pass and Mount Sopris (the latter is outside Aspen, closer to Glenwood Springs). The summer and fall hikes to Buckskin Pass necessitate rising early in the morning, which is the best time to see and photograph the splendid Maroon Bells. The trailhead is just past Maroon Lake. The hike is strenuous, but not technical, and rewards you with the most glorious views.

If I read your review for this Wonder and it is less than 5 stars, I might just think you are the worst person ever.
No words really, just Greatness.

Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?
The Maroon Bells are pinch-​yourself-​is-​this-​a-​dream beautiful.
We timed our visit during the first weekend of October to not only view the in-​your-​face wonder of the peaks, but to catch the fall foliage, as well. It was breathtaking. Breathtaking not just because we had to hike 9+ miles to see the things because our government shut down and banned vehicular access (at all other times you can ride a bus in), but truly so beautiful it makes you gasp.
Whether you’re a Colorado native or just traveling through, you NEED to go here.

One of the best hikes I’ve done in a long time. The location on the map is wrong. It’s up by snow mass, not at the airport, but maroon bells is like the top non skiing thing in Aspen so you’ll find it. It’s worth it!!!

Absolutely stunning… I took amazing photos and was in awe of the absolute beauty of it! This is what I think of quintessential Colorado!

I cannot wait to go back and next time with my dog! Seriously, one of the most beautiful places I have ever hiked or seen… mother nature at her very best!

6 stars!
Fabulous views from the first lake and even better from the second.
My friends and I came here early (which I would totally recommend to avoid crowds and parking) and had a nice morning hike. The terrain changes within a few miles, but is not difficult to hike.
My new favorite Colorado hike.

First of all, this should be the number one thing to see/​do in and around Aspen, CO. I have traveled all over Europe and 47 of the 50 states and I would classify the Maroon Bells as being among the top 5 most beautiful places I have had the pleasure of experiencing.
During the peak season traffic is restricted from 9−5pm unless you have a handicap placard or child in a car seat, all others are required to ride to the bus which you can board at the Aspen Highlands Resort: 199 Prospector Rd. If you arrive before 9 or after 5, you are able to drive up but will be required to pay $ 10 for a 5 day pass.
To really appreciate the entire area, I highly suggest you take the hike up to Crater Lake. As you follow the paths around Maroon Lake you will see signs to Crater Lake. Come prepared for both easy and mildly challenging terrain on your hike, e.g., packable rain jacket, lots of water and snacks. People of all ages are able to hike this trail of any experience level, yet I would still recommend coming more prepared with a good pair of hiking shoes and hiking backpack — you will thank me later. The trip out took about 1 hour and 20 minutes (taking our time with breaks along the way to take pictures). It is important to note that the trail up to Crater Lake is just that … it is UP with little relief until you get near the end. The hike down is significantly easier and only took us 40 minutes.
Once at Crater Lake we went around the Eastern side of the lake (left as you come down from the trail) as there is a tiny path to follow. Just before we got to a clearing where it is only rocks, we decided to see what was over the hill (just further east than the past). Upon cresting the hill I was amazed to find another lake that was crystal clear and still. There were literally trees submerged in the water still green as if the water had arrived yesterday. I believe this is a rare occurrence as I’ve never seen it in a photo, nor does it show up on Bing or Google Maps as a body of water. The GPS Coordinates are: 39.8 729, –106.96 408
While at Crater Lake, although it was sunny, it spontaneously began to rain — so definitely pack a light jacket.
All in all, whether you hike to Crater Lake or decide to hang out down at Maroon Lake, it is stunningly beautiful. The pictures you see do not give it justice as the mountain range surrounding you is just as stunning as the Bells themselves. This is definitely a journey I intend on making again!