Maroon Lake Trail

The Maroon Lake Scenic Trail is the walk to the most photographed view in Colorado: the Maroon Bells reflected in Maroon Lake, 10 miles up Maroon Creek Road from Aspen. It is a flat mile and a half around the lake and through the meadow beyond it, paved and packed for the first stretch, and it is the one hike here that every visitor to Aspen does.

From the shuttle stop and parking area, a wide path leads a few hundred yards to the east shore of Maroon Lake, where the Bells stand across the water; this is the photograph, and the early shuttle gets it in still air. The Scenic Trail continues along the north shore, past a small beaver pond and through the willow flats at the lake's west end, with the peaks getting closer.

At the west end a loop returns along the south side of the meadow through aspen and back to the lake's outlet, making the 1.6-mile circuit. The Maroon-Snowmass trail toward Crater Lake leaves from the far end of the lake, a rockier 1.8 miles each way that most people with the time add on.

From mid-May through October, Maroon Creek Road above the T-Lazy-7 Ranch is closed to most private vehicles during the day. Visitors reserve a shuttle seat from Aspen Highlands or a parking permit that allows arrival before 8 AM or after 5 PM, both on the Forest Service's Maroon Bells reservation site. Summer and fall weekend slots sell out well ahead. Outside the reservation season the road is open until snow closes it, usually mid-November, and the lot is first come. Toilets and a ranger station are at the lake; there is no food.

Dogs are allowed on leash, and the shuttle takes them. The trail is flat, wide, and fine for strollers on the first section and for any child. The lake sits at 9,580 feet, so visitors just off the plane should walk slowly. Do not feed the chipmunks and marmots, which the rangers ask every visitor about, and stay on the trail through the meadow. Aspen is 30 minutes away by shuttle and car. The Maroon Bells visitor guide covers the reservation system in detail, and the Maroon Bells-Snowmass region page has the longer trips.