Since last weeks post was about Aspen I thought I would write about Maroon Bells and our hike to Crater Lake near Aspen. This hike dates back to August 2016 but it is a classic. I originally wrote about this hike in my post from June 2019 titled My Favorite Colorado Road Trip.
What and Where are Maroon Bells?
Maroon Bells are located about 10 miles west of Aspen Colorado off of Hwy 82 on Maroon Creek Road. Located in the Elk Mountain Range, these majestic peaks, named Maroon Peak and North Maroon Peak, tower over Maroon Lake and are considered the most photographed peaks in Colorado. Both peaks are fourteeners and reflect beautifully in the lake.
Getting to Maroon Bells
In the summer, between 8 and 5 you can only reach Maroon Bells by bus, as I understand it, this is to reduce the traffic at this popular and scenic area Before or after you can drive in on your own. For more information you can click here.
Maroon Bells
Maroon Bells was just as grand as I remembered! The peaks towering over the reflective pool is nature’s beauty at it’s best! Steve was just as awed as I was. I can’t begin to describe the feeling of peace and serenity I had just being here.
Hike to Crater Lake
We wanted to see more of this area so we decided to hike to Crater Lake. This 3.6 mile round trip is an out and back hike up a rocky path. Much to our surprise and delight, just after we started our hike there were Moose! They were at the far end of the lake and munching on foliage! We were excited to see them but Moose can be very mean and also dangerous. Because of this, the rangers there kept everyone at a safe distance and after a picture or two we headed up the path. Pretty amazing!
In addition to seeing moose, the hike to Crater Lake was beautiful. The ascending path was rocky at times but not difficult. We hiked through a beautiful aspen forest and also a meadow scattered wildflowers. All in all, a very pretty hike. In addition, we could see the Maroon Bells peaking out and getting closer.
Crater Lake
When we arrived to Crater Lake, it was similar to the lake at Maroon Bells but smaller. The peaks from Maroon Bells were much closer and also more majestic.
Conclusion
We loved Maroon Bells and also the hike to Crater Lake. Definitely one of Colorado’s Gems. If you are in Aspen and also have the time, this is one of those must see places which you will never forget.
In addition to this post, you can follow more of our Colorado adventures at these links:
Hikes
Silver Lake, Telluride, Colorado October 2020
Odessa and Fern Lakes Aug 2020
St Mary’s Glacier Hike Aug 2017
Jeeping
Road Trips
Our Rocky Mountain National Park Trip Aug 2018
My Favorite Colorado Road Trip Aug 2016
You take the best hikes!!!
We really do like to find good ones!!! Lots of researching!!!
Wow that is amazing! The scenery is stunning and I would be so excited to see the moose 😍😍
We were very excited to see the moose!!!
💗
Both of those hikes look beautiful and I can see why they call it Aspen!
I just love the Aspens!
such beautiful scenery; I can see why you would enjoy hiking there so much…
It was so beautiful! I love the area!
I love taking people to Maroon Lake! Been there…three times now (I think) but have never hiked past Maroon Lake. Might wait till I’m ready to climb the Bells, assuming I’m ever “ready” lol. Such a beautiful area.
That was my second trip to Maroon Lake first hike past that. Would be an awesome place to pitch a tent!!
Really a postcard-perfect place! The landscape looks like something out of a computer screen-saver…there is certainly a ton of beauty to Colorado that I didn’t know about, and I hope to return someday to see more of it. You best bet that Maroon Bells is at the top of my list!
Maroon Bells is a perfect bucket list place!
How lucky that you spotted moose on your hike (even though they can be dangerous). This looks like such a beautiful area with fabulous views of the mountains and wildlife!
The moose sighting was pretty cool . We used our zoom lens and stayed out distance!
Maroon Bells is a truly magical place. Looks amazing in all seasons!!
Magical is the perfect word for this area!!
It looks AMAZING – what incredible scenery 🙂
Very beautiful place! We had a perfect day being there!
Maroon Bells is a truly magical place. It Looks stunning in all seasons! Thanks for sharing!
Truly magical!
I love this hike so much. Great photos!
Thanks!!! It is a great one!!
Beautiful photos! Thanks for sharing. I hope one day to add moose photos to my collections. 🙂
Seeing the moose was an added bonus! Especially awesome as we were not expecting to see them!!!
I love that stand of aspen trees. Your post is reminding me that we have long wanted to hike Aspen to Crested Butte and back. I wonder if this no-international-travel summer is the year to do it…
It might be a good time! I still have hope for international travel late summer or early fall!
Hey there. Since we both like to hike and the outdoors, I nominated you for the travel photo challenge that has been going on blog sites. If you want to participate, great. If not, that’s ok too, but you have some great photos!
Thank you very much! I do appreciate it but unfortunately I won’t be able to at this time. I started a new RN job vaccinating for Covid at a drive thru site. I had retired from nursing over a year ago and not used to working, especially outdoors in the cold. I am worn out!! LOL. I basically work, eat and sleep and check my blog!! Again, thank you very much I do appreciate it! Take care!
Ok. No worries. It’s just a photo with no words so it’s not too time consuming but totally get being overwhelmed with a new job. Thanks for vaccinating! I want my vaccine!!
Nothing beats the reflections in a mountain lake Lori and so lucky to capture a moose. Not sure what has happened, but your posts do not seem to appear in my Reader any more. Also, there seems to be glitches in your Photos from an Ordinary week, where the photos do not shw. Stay well. Apologies for reading so late. Allan
I had some computer problems plus I have not been posting for the last few weeks. I tried to separate my Ordinary Week into a separate section of my blog and ended up deleting most of them a while back! Couldn’t seem to get them back or have the time to work on it! We were so busy giving vaccines that I pretty much went to
Work and went to bed after work, chilled on my days off. We have slowed down from 10+ hour days to 3 hour days as the people who wanted the vaccine have already gotten it. We even had people from Canada get the vaccine one day!! People from other countries as well. It surprised me how fast we went from not having enough to having plenty in our area. Anyway, I plan on catching up with other peoples posts and getting some of my own out soon! Take care!! Lori