Crater Lake Trail

Crater Lake is the hike everyone should do at the Maroon Bells: 1.8 miles from Maroon Lake up a rocky trail through aspen to a second lake directly under the Bells, closer and quieter than the postcard view from the first one. The listed 6.8-mile day reflects what most people make of it, adding the Maroon Lake loop and continuing past Crater Lake up the West Maroon or Maroon-Snowmass trail before turning around.

From the Maroon Lake shuttle stop, walk the Scenic Trail along the north shore of Maroon Lake to its west end, where the Maroon-Snowmass trail leaves toward Crater Lake. The trail climbs at once through a big aspen grove on a rocky, rooty tread, gaining about 500 feet in 1.5 miles, then levels through open rock and meadow to the outlet of Crater Lake at 10,076 feet, with Maroon Peak and North Maroon straight ahead and the reflection in the still morning water.

Beyond the lake the trail splits: the West Maroon trail goes left up the valley toward West Maroon Pass, and the Maroon-Snowmass trail goes right toward Buckskin Pass. Either makes a good extension for a mile or two through meadow and aspen before the real climbing begins, and the 6.8-mile version turns around when the legs say so. Return the same way.

From mid-May through October, Maroon Creek Road is closed to most private vehicles during the day. Visitors reserve a shuttle from Aspen Highlands or a parking permit that allows entry before 8 AM or after 5 PM, both on the Forest Service's Maroon Bells reservation site, and both sell out for summer and fall weekends. The shuttle runs every 15 to 20 minutes. Outside the reservation season the road is open until snow closes it, usually mid-November. There are toilets and a ranger station at Maroon Lake.

Dogs are allowed on leash in the wilderness, which begins near Maroon Lake. The rocky tread and the crowds are why this is marked hard rather than easy for kids here; school-age children manage it. Camping at Crater Lake is at designated sites with an overnight permit from Recreation.gov, and the permits are gone within minutes of release. Do not feed the chipmunks; the rangers will find you. Aspen is 30 minutes away by shuttle and car. The Maroon Bells visitor guide covers the reservation system, and the Maroon Lake Scenic Trail is the flat loop at the start.