Name: Maroon-Snowmass Trail
Rating: 4.6

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Features Birding · Fall Colors · Lake · River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

The Maroon Bells Scenic Area is a recreation fee area; there is a mandatory fee. The Interagency, Senior & Golden Access Passes are honored.

Reservations are required to visit Maroon Bells, whether by personal vehicle or shuttle. Take the shuttle from Aspen Highlands Ski Area, which leaves every 20 minutes; dogs are allowed on the bus. rfta.com/routes/maroon-bells/

Description

According to the Forest Service ( fs.usda.gov/recarea/whiteri…), Maroon Bells Access: Reservations are required to visit Maroon Bells by personal vehicle or shuttle in 2021. Vehicle access begins May 15 and the shuttle system from Aspen Highlands begins June 7. You can start making reservations for either beginning April 12 at aspenchamber.org/maroon-bells

This trail is one of the most heavily used trails in the Aspen area. Hikers, backpackers and horse travelers enjoy the wildflowers, views and access to other areas within the Wilderness.

Camping at Crater Lake (designated sites only) and Snowmass Lake (designated sites only) can get very crowded. Expect a large numbers of campers at Snowmass Lake, especially on the weekends.

The trail starts at the Maroon Lake parking area. To the right of the Lake, the Maroon Snowmass Trail traverses through a meadow to a Forest Service bulletin board at the far end of the lake. The trail continues to climb through scree fields and aspen groves before a beautiful "rock garden". From here the trail drops down to Crater Lake.

The road appears to be paved.