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Maroon Bells, Aspen, CO

Photo: Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

Sport & OutdoorIconicOutdoor Adventure

Maroon Bells

End of Maroon Creek Rd, southwest of Aspen · Aspen, CO

Why you should go…

The Maroon Bells are two fourteeners in the Elk Mountains, Maroon Peak at 14,163 feet and North Maroon Peak at 14,019 feet, about 12 miles southwest of Aspen. Visitors come for the view of the peaks above Maroon Lake and for the hiking trails in the scenic area. Reservations are required, either for the shuttle from the Maroon Bells Welcome Center at Aspen Highlands or for a parking permit. The peaks sit inside the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness of White River National Forest.

  • #mountain views
  • #hiking
  • #alpine lake
  • #scenic area
  • #fourteeners

Good to know

General sport & outdoor guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • Weather calls the shots

    Check the forecast the morning of and keep an indoor backup in your pocket for the day it turns.

  • Shoes, water, sun cover

    The three things that decide whether you last the whole outing or cut it short after an hour.

  • Parking and launches fill early

    On a nice weekend, lots and trailheads are often full by mid-morning.

  • Daylight shrinks in shoulder season

    Spring and fall visits need an earlier start than the same trip in July.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Maroon Bells, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Sport & Outdoor
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    Aspen Mountain

    $50+

    Ride the Silver Queen Gondola from downtown Aspen to the 11,212-foot summit for runs suited to intermediate and expert skiers.

    9.2 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Aspen

    Free

    The official visitor bureau for Aspen, Colorado, a mountain resort town offering skiing, hiking and arts programming.

    9.4 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

  • Shopping
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    Butte & Co.

    $25–$50

    A ski, snowboard, and bike rental shop at the base of Crested Butte Mountain Resort.

    14 mi awaySwitch it up: Shopping

  • Tours
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    Fantasy Ranch Horseback Adventures

    $50+

    Guided horseback trail rides through mountain meadows and forest around Crested Butte, Colorado.

    15 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours

  • Sport & Outdoor
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    CB Motorsports

    $50+

    Self-guided ATV and snowmobile rentals delivered to Crested Butte area trailheads.

    16 mi awayMore like this

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Outdoor Adventure

    Independence Pass

    Free

    Drive Highway 82 over the Continental Divide at 12,095 feet and walk a paved path to alpine tundra overlooks.

    20 mi awayMore like this