The Grottos Trail

The Grottos are a set of slots and caves the Roaring Fork carved into granite on the way down from Independence Pass, 9 miles east of Aspen, where ice lingers in the shade into July and the river drops over a series of cascades. The trail is a mile of walking and easy scrambling from a picnic area by the highway, and it is the stop everyone makes on the drive over the pass.

From the parking area, a footbridge crosses the Roaring Fork and the trail climbs a short slope into the granite. The ice caves are on the right: narrow slots between house-sized boulders where the river once ran, cool even in August and floored with ice into early summer. A headlamp helps in the deeper ones.

Above the caves the trail continues over open granite slabs, marked by cairns, to the cascades, where the river slides down long ramps of polished rock into pools. The slabs are the place to sit. The loop back to the bridge is short and the whole outing is about a mile; the trail markings are sparse on the rock, so keep the river in sight.

From Aspen, drive east on Highway 82 toward Independence Pass about 9 miles; the Grottos day-use area is on the right, 0.9 mile past the Weller Campground, just past mile marker 50. The lot holds about 30 cars, has toilets and picnic tables, and fills on summer afternoons. No fee or permit. Highway 82 over the pass is closed from early November until late May, which closes the trailhead.

Dogs are allowed on leash. The caves and the slabs are a kid's favorite, with the warning that the polished rock by the river is slick and the current below the cascades is strong; the river has taken people from these slabs. Stay back from wet rock. The area is at 9,500 feet. No water at the lot. Linkins Lake near the top of the pass is the other short stop on the same drive, and the Aspen hikes page lists the longer Independence Pass trails.