Maroon Bells · Aspen, Colorado
Maroon Bells: Maroon Lake to Crater Lake
How to actually get to the Maroon Bells (shuttles, parking permits, and timing), plus the full walk from Maroon Lake up to Crater Lake.
Before you go
- Book a shuttle seat or a parking permit at visitmaroonbells.com. Without one you can't drive up Maroon Creek Road during the reservation season.
- Shuttles leave from Aspen Highlands. The parking permits go fast for sunrise, so book as soon as your dates are set.
- Fill out the free wilderness permit at the trailhead kiosk before you head past Maroon Lake.
- You start above 9,500 feet. Drink extra water and take it slow if you just arrived from low elevation.
- Afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer. Plan to be back at the lake by early afternoon.
The hike
The Maroon Bells are the most photographed mountains in Colorado, and the view from Maroon Lake is the reason. Most people stop at the lake. If you have two or three more hours, keep going to Crater Lake, which sits right at the base of the peaks.
The video covers the part that trips most visitors up: getting there. Access is controlled during the main season, so you need either a shuttle reservation or a parking permit before you show up.
From Maroon Lake, the trail climbs steadily through aspen groves and a rocky boulder field. It is never technical, but the elevation makes it feel harder than the numbers suggest. Crater Lake is the turnaround point for this hike. Water levels drop through late summer, and in fall the aspens on the way up turn gold.
Trail details last checked October 2026. Rules and reservation systems change from year to year, so confirm with the White River National Forest before your trip.
Gear I'd bring for this one
Packable rain jacket
Mountain storms roll in fast up here, and the Crater Lake trail has little cover once you leave the trees.
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