Autumn in the Rocky Mountains is simply amazing, with it comes crisp mountain air, golden aspens, and less crowds. One of my favorite fall experiences in Colorado was a fall day hike in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness area near Aspen.
This post has information to help plan the perfect fall hike next time you’re by Aspen. Please check with the White River National Forest for any restrictions from ongoing wildfires and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Key Information
- Best Season: Early September to early October for fall colors, July to August for summer colors
- Nearest Airport: DEN – 4 hours east, large hub airport serving many US and international destinations
- Transportation: Rental car needed to get to the trailhead and around Aspen
- Difficulty: Easy to difficult depending on hiking route and weather conditions
- Parking and Shuttle: Parking and vehicle access is limited at the trailhead from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. A shuttle from the city of Aspen is required during these hours. The shuttle rains daily from June 9th to October 8th (dates subject to change – check online for the most current transit information for the Maroon Bells)
Hike Options
- Shoreline Loop (easy), 3-miles roundtrip, 150-ft elevation gain
- Crater Lake (moderate), 4-miles roundtrip, 750-ft elevation gain. The trail to Crater Lake follows the edge of the lake and climbs up to a peaceful lake basin with craggy 14ers in the background.
- Willow Lake (difficult), 12.5-miles roundtrip, 2,215-ft elevation gain
I missed the peak fall colors by about 2 weeks but picture the entire grove of aspens as vibrant oranges and yellow. Late September is typically the peak, but the peak colors vary each year.
Trip Report
On fall days, especially weekends, tripods line the lake edge every few inches so get here an hour or more before sunrise/sunset to secure your spot.
White birch trees reaching for the vibrant blue sky. Remember to look up while you’re hiking here. For photography, a wide angle lens (16-35mm, 18mm, etc.) is recommended to capture the height of these trees.
The weather started to deteriorate en route to Crater Lake, high up in the Rocky Mountain alpine. Winds were picking up so be ready to break out the windproof softshells and hat/gloves. I could definitely feel the high altitude’s thin air.
Crater Lake was perfectly calm and the shoreline reflected in the lake.
There was signs about bear activity and camping near the lake has been prohibited. I’d recommend carrying bear spray as a precaution.
The water is icy cold, only melted out for a limited window each summer and fall.
The stormy clouds produce a snowstorm at high altitudes. These 14,000 feet peaks layer together with sheer power and magnitude.
My hiking buddy and I made it back to the trailhead just in time before it started to significantly snow. Definitely many seasons in one beautiful fall day!
