Crater Lake
The quintessential Aspen hike, short mileage and big views of the infamous Maroon Bells.
Easy Hiking
- Distance
- 5.8 km
- Ascent
- 209 m
- Descent
- 209 m
Uncover the most epic hikes in Aspen, Colorado with this guidebook!
Alpine Climbing, Hiking Easy, Moderate, Difficult
Aspen has reigned for years as one of the top hiking destinations in the state of Colorado. The majestic beauty of the Elk Range is renowned far and wide, and the collection of peaks known as the Maroon Bells is just a short drive from downtown. Regarded as some of the most recognizable and most beautiful mountains in a state known for such things, photographers flock from around the world to take their own photos of the Maroon Bells, sightseers hop on shuttle busses to view the panorama, and hikers and mountaineers begin longer adventures from the same trailhead.
As you can imagine, many of the trails around Aspen can get very crowded during the peak tourist season. This guidebook rounds up the best and most popular hikes in Aspen, and perennial favorites (and viral sensations) found in this guidebook, such as Conundrum Hot Springs, Crater Lake, and the Four Pass Loop, are guaranteed to have crowds.
But there's hundreds if not thousands of miles of hiking trails near Aspen (it just depends how large you draw your circle). So if you're willing to venture a bit of the beaten path, you can easily have a fantastic adventure deep in the Elk Range all to yourself. For instance, if you skip the 14ers and head to a 13er like Electric Pass Peak, suddenly you might find yourself all alone in the majesty of the Colorado Rockies!
The quintessential Aspen hike, short mileage and big views of the infamous Maroon Bells.
Easy Hiking
An epic backpacking route through Colorado's Elk Mountains.
Difficult Hiking
One of the quintessential Aspen hikes.
Moderate Hiking
Colorado's most popular hot springs hike.
Moderate Hiking
13,365-foot “Electric Pass Peak” is a rare 13er with a trail to the summit.
Difficult Hiking
A long day of steep, sustained hiking and scrambling up one of Colorado's most iconic mountains.
Moderate Alpine Climbing
An epic day hike featuring multiple alpine passes and lakes.
Difficult Hiking
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6 routes · Hiking
8 routes · Hiking
7 routes · Alpine Climbing · Hiking
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6 routes · Hiking
7 routes · Hiking