How to Visit Maroon Bells & Hike the Crater Lake Trail (Colorado, USA)

Planning on visiting Maroon Bells, Colorado, and wondering what to expect, when is the best time to go, or which Maroon Bells hike to do? This guide should answer all your questions – find out!

Maroon Bells in Colorado, USA, are said to be the most photographed mountains in all of North America. So it will come as no surprise that this stunning mountain landscape near Aspen attracts lots of visitors. In addition, just nearby, there is another spectacular mountain lake, Crater Lake that’s worth a visit just as much.

But how to visit Maroon Bells? And what to expect when hiking to Crater Lake? You should find all the answers to your questions in this article. Read on!

Aspen was part of our American road trip with a focus on nature. We visited Maroon Bells and hiked the Crater Lake Trail with kids. In this post, I am sharing our experience visiting Maroon Bells and hiking the Crater Lake trail. I hope that it will inspire you to visit this incredible area with your family!

In this post, you can also find lots of practical information to help you get the most out of your trip to these iconic Colorado mountains. Take a look!

 

How to Get to Maroon Bells

Location

Maroon Bells can be found in the Elk Mountains in Colorado. Maroon Bells’ car parking (see location on the map) is just 10 miles/20 minutes’ drive from Aspen town. Maroon Bells can be reached by car, bike, or shuttle bus via Maroon Creek Road (#13).

However, visiting by car is no longer as straightforward as it used to be – see more info below.

Some people say that you can visit Maroon Bells from Denver. But with over 200 miles and more than 4 hours driving distance one way, I really don’t think it’s the best idea to drive up and down on the same day. If you are looking for a nice day trip, consider visiting Rocky Mountain National Park from Denver instead.

Good to know: You don’t have to walk far in order to see Maroon Lake and the beautiful reflections. It’s literally just a few steps from the car park/ shuttle stop and the path is wheelchair/ stroller accessible. So anyone can easily visit Maroon Bells, also older people and families with very young children.

TIP: If you have some time to spare and are reasonably fit, don’t stop here! There are several beautiful hikes in the Maroon Bells area. More information below.

Maroon Creek Road

Maroon Creek Rd is a mountain road that is only open when snow conditions allow it. Weather permitting, it opens around mid-May and closes mid-November.

Maroon Bells is a popular destination and the road is rather narrow. So in high season, you are not allowed to drive the Maroon Creek Road during the busiest hours of the day (from 8 AM to 5 PM).

If you arrive before 8 AM or after 5 PM, you can drive all the way to the Maroon Bells hiking trailhead. However, you will need to reserve parking in advance. Otherwise, you can drop someone off, but cannot park.

If you come during the day, you will need to take a shuttle bus (which also has to be reserved). You can find all the up-to-date practical information here.

TIP: The Maroon Bells recreational fee is included in an annual U.S. National Parks pass, but parking reservations are still required and fees apply.

Good to know: Please note that the high season here stretches pretty much during the entire summer season (the second half of May to almost the end of October). The months of September and October are extremely popular because the Maroon Bells area is famous for its fall foliage. This attracts many visitors in the early fall as well. And – as said before – in winter, the road is closed completely… So when the road is open, it’s always busy here.

 

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit Maroon Bells is from late May to early October. That’s when the roads are open and there is no snow on the hiking trails.

The best time to see fall foliage at Maroon Bells is typically in the second half of September. Just try to avoid the weekends in the 3rd and the 4th week of September as it gets really busy.

TIP: The best time of day to visit Maroon Bells is early morning. This will give you direct access (no shuttle required), fewer crowds, better weather, and more chance for beautiful reflections with the most iconic views of Maroon Lake. More info below.

READ ALSO: Best National Parks to Visit in September

 

Why Visit Maroon Bells in the Morning

There are many reasons to arrive at Maroon Bells as early in the morning as possible. First, you can drive all the way up to the lake and don’t have to take a shuttle (nowadays, you can only do this if you reserve in advance). Second, you get to see amazing reflections.

Furthermore, there are fewer people around, and the chances of seeing wildlife are higher. And finally, the Colorado mountains are known for unpredictable afternoon storms, so it’s always best to go hiking in the morning.

We visited Maroon Bells in the busiest summer season, the second half of July. We left Aspen at around 7 AM and drove to Maroon Bells in order to get there well before 8 AM.

Reflections on the lake were simply mesmerizing in the morning! By the time we were back from our hike a couple of hours later, reflections were completely gone and the lake looked like any other mountain lake.

We started our day at Maroon Bells with a picnic breakfast by the lake. It has to be the best breakfast location ever! One more reason to take an early start when visiting Maroon Bells.

The chances of seeing wildlife are also much bigger in the morning or early evening when there are not too many people around. We saw a moose from afar, but it was already late by the time we started our hike. So you might get luckier if you arrive even earlier and start hiking right away.

 

Maroon Bells Scenic Trail

The shortest and easiest hike at the Maroon Bells is the Maroon Bells Lake Trail. It’s an easy walk of about 1 mile that starts at the Maroon Bells trailhead by the car parking at the end of Maroon Creek Rd.

First, you reach the lake, and if you walk further, you continue on the Maroon Bells Lake Scenic Trail. It follows the northern side of the lake, goes a bit past it, and makes a short loop before bringing you back to the same path along the lake. This hike is about 3 miles in total.

Anyone in reasonable physical condition should be able to do this walk next to the lake. Part of the trail is a dirt path, so it’s not accessible for strollers or wheelchairs. But I wouldn’t hesitate to take a 2-3-year-old child hiking on this trail.

Halfway on the scenic loop trail, the road splits. You can either stay left and continue your hike following the lakeshore or go right in the direction of Crater Lake (which is what we did). And, of course, you can do both – the scenic trail first and then the Crater Lake hike or you can do the rest of the loop after you come back from Crater Lake.

 

Hiking to Crater Lake

Crater Lake Trail is a moderate 3.8 miles (6.1km) hike that brings you to the base of the Bells. Count about 1 hour each way, so 2 hours for the entire hike. It took us about 2.5 hours, but we made lots of photo stops and we also spent quite some time at Crater Lake.

Crater Lake Trail is a popular hike, but don’t get discouraged by the crowds at the beginning of the trail. Soon, people spread out and it doesn’t feel too busy. Remember that only a fraction of people visiting Maroon Bells actually go hiking beyond the scenic loop trail.

The first part of the trail, the scenic loop, took us forever. I kept on taking too many pictures and the kids were in exploring mode and didn’t feel like hiking yet. But the moment the path started to climb, they switched to a higher gear and we had difficulties keeping up with them. That’s how our children always are – the more challenging the hike, the more fun for them (here you can read about our hike to Delicate Arch in Arches National Park at 100°F in summer).

The first part of the Crater Lake hike goes through a beautiful aspen forest. There are no grand views here, but the forest is really pretty. Just imagine how beautiful it is in September when all the trees turn yellow…

 

As you climb higher, you will leave the forest and cross a steeper rocky area. It’s quite flat here and this section of the hike is not difficult at all. However, there is no shade anymore and it can get really warm in summer.

At the end of the hike, you will see the Bells again. Once you reach Crater Lake, you will be rewarded with stunning scenery. It’s well worth the hike that took us about 1.5 hrs one way.

We were planning to have a picnic lunch by the lake, but it was still much too early. The Crater Lake hike took us much less time than we had anticipated, even with three young children. So we spent some time by the lake, let the kids play while I took a hundred pictures of the beautiful reflections…

 

Hiking Back to Maroon Bells

Since it was too early for lunch and the weather was starting to change, we decided to walk back to Maroon Bells instead of staying at Crater Lake longer. We were planning to have lunch at the same scenic spot where we had breakfast.

The walk back down to Maroon Bells was much more relaxed and it took us about an hour. The views are stunning and walking back the same way gives you a different perspective.

Just watch the knees as it’s rather steep at some places! If you have weaker knees, you might want to take trekking poles with you. (We use and highly recommend these extremely light foldable hiking poles.)

The moment we reached Maroon Bells, it started to rain. By the time we were back in our car, it was pouring. Farewell lunch with a view… We ran back to the car and headed back to Aspen.

By noon we were back in town, nicely in time for lunch. We carried all that food for nothing… Oh well, at least we used those rain jackets for once. As already said, the Colorado mountains are known for heavy afternoon storms. So this is just another good reason to visit Maroon Bells early in the morning!

 

Bear Safety

In a way, we were happy that there were many other people on this trail. Because this is a bear country and there were signs warning that you should carry bear spray when hiking to Crater Lake and beyond.

With so many people hiking on this trail and making noise, I think your chances of running into a bear are pretty slim. But you should always be alert! Especially if you hike early in the morning or late in the evening when wildlife is more active and there are fewer people around.

 

Crater Lake Hike with Kids

Yes, you can hike to Crater Lake with kids. But I will not tell you that the trail is easy because it’s not. There are some steeper sections and it requires some effort. However, it’s not a long hike and if you take your time, it’s really doable with kids.

Our boys hiked so well that we kept on passing other people all the time. At one moment, they even stopped to encourage a teenage boy who was about to give up the rather steep ascent.

If our 5-year olds could do it, then you and your kids can probably do it too. Just make sure that you wear good walking shoes, carry enough drinking water, have sun protection, and make regular stops along the way.

TIP: I would not take children younger than 4-5 years on the Crater Lake Trail unless you are prepared to carry them for a while. Maroon Lake Scenic Loop is a better alternative for families with very young kids.

 

Maroon Bells and Crater Lake – Worth It?

Yes, Maroon Bells is absolutely worth a visit. We included Aspen into our itinerary purely for Maroon Bells and would do it again without any hesitation.

I highly recommend the Maroon Bells and the Crater Lake hike when visiting or passing this area. It’s such an iconic place in Colorado; absolutely worth a trip.

If I had to pick my favorite places from our American road trip that included the Rocky Mountains, Arches, and Yellowstone as the main highlights, Maroon Bells would definitely be in my top 3.

 

What to Pack

There isn’t much special that you need to pack for Maroon Bells, especially if you drive all the way up to the lake and have your car next to you. I would advise wearing sensible shoes and carrying a rain jacket.

If you are planning to go hiking to Crater Lake, make sure to wear good hiking shoes though. A rain jacket is also a must as you never know when the weather will change. It’s also wise to wear a sun hat and use sunscreen lotion, as some areas have no or little shade.

In principle, it’s obligatory to carry bear spray when hiking beyond Maroon Bells. We didn’t know this in advance and therefore didn’t have one. I honestly don’t think that most of the day hikers had it with them either. But if you are reading this, then you are warned, so take one. It’s not like it costs a fortune, especially if you buy it online in advance.

If you are hiking without kids, a bear bell might be useful too. Hiking with kids, we never have to worry about being too silent and surprising bears by coincidence. 😉

Where to Stay

Aspen is the best base for visiting Maroon Bells. It’s just 20 minutes drive and makes it really easy to come here early. Just beware that Aspen is a very popular mountain resort, so make sure to book your Aspen accommodation in advance!

We stayed at the Tyrolean Lodge. It’s a very good price/quality option in the center of town. Also on Expedia, you can find some great deals for Aspen accommodation.

TIP: Using the map below, you can compare hotels and short-term rental accommodations in Aspen. Simply insert your travel dates and group size, and you’ll see what’s available in the area for your stay. Check it out!

 

Snowmass Village is also a good option. It’s about 30 minutes drive from Maroon Bells and accommodation here tends to be somewhat cheaper. Here you can find some of the best deals for Snowmass Village accommodation.

READ ALSO: Best Things to Do in Aspen

Maroon Bells FAQ

READ ALSO:
Itinerary Suggestions for Rocky Mountain NP, Colorado
How to Visit Rocky Mountain National Park from Denver

 

More travel inspiration for some of our favorite places in the USA:

• Yellowstone National Park
• Mount Rushmore
• One Day in Grand Canyon
• Grand Canyon – Antelope Canyon Itinerary
• Sedona Day Trip
• Best Things to Do in Las Vegas
• LA Itinerary
• San Diego Itinerary
• Things to Do in Moab
• Death Valley National Park
• Glacier National Park Itinerary
• Maui Itinerary
• Two Days in Chicago

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