High in the mountains of Colorado, fall always seems to show up quicker than we expect. Here, it isn’t uncommon to start seeing the first snow flurries shortly after school starts, and peak fall foliage season typically occurs around the third to fourth week of September.
If you’re looking to plan the ultimate Colorado fall getaway, then this well-known ski town should be number one on your list.
Aspen, Colorado.
This ski resort town is famous for its winter activities and luxurious lifestyle. But beyond the ski resorts, it is also famous as a jumping-off point for the stunning Maroon Bells.
These bell-shaped 14’ers (14,000+ foot tall peaks in Colorado speak) are touted as one of the, if not the, most photographed landmarks in the entire state.
During the fall months, groves of Aspen trees line the lake and creep up the hillsides, turning a brilliant golden color and turning the entire valley into a scene out of a painting.
Best of all, this jaw-dropping area is only 10 miles from downtown Aspen.
How To Get to the Maroon Bells
As mentioned earlier, the Maroon Bells are only 10 miles from Aspen. This makes the drive quick, but finding a place to park is another story.
The day-use parking lot is available by reservation only, and spots typically sell out months in advance. Another quirk about parking here, provided you can get a reservation, is that you must arrive before 8 AM for a daytime reservation or after 5 PM for an evening spot.
So, if you’re a night owl or want to take your time at brunch, parking probably isn’t the best option for you.
Another thing to know is that other than buses, commercial dropoffs are not allowed in the day-use area. That means an Uber is also out of the question.
Luckily, the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority offers an excellent public transportation option. Buses run every 15 minutes from 7 AM to 1 PM and every 20 minutes until 3 PM.
Reservations are required for the busses as well, but they are far easier to grab than the parking passes.
Things To Do At the Maroon Bells
Photograph the Mountains
Let’s be honest here. Given that the Maroon Bells are one of the most photographed mountains in the country, there is a pretty good chance you’ll be bringing your camera to capture a couple of shots of this iconic scene.
A visit in the fall only makes it that much more special, as the aspen groves paint the foreground of the mountains in swaths of gold.
The best time to photograph the mountains is in the morning during sunrise as the light filters across the mountains. This means that you’ll need a parking reservation to get there early enough to catch these first rays of light.
Hike the Maroon Lake Scenic Trail
This scenic 1-mile long trail gently loops around the perimeter of Maroon Lake and is a great way to take in the views of the mountains from various angles.
This area’s high elevation (the lake sits at over 9,500 feet) means that visitors can tire quickly, so an easy hike is the best option for many.
Hike the Crater Lake Trail
At 3.5 miles and 650 feet of elevation gain, this hike doesn’t seem like it would pose much of a challenge, but everything is just a little more difficult at 10,000 feet. Add in the rocky terrain, and it’s easy to make a misstep along this stunning path, turning an easy day hike into a knee-bruising affair.
Luckily, you’ll have the scenery to distract you from any potential pain as the trail takes you up to Crater Lake at the base of the Maroon Bells.
Here, you’ll be able to admire the majesty of these stunning Rocky Mountain peaks and hopefully even catch a glimpse of some of the area’s wildlife.
Bike to the Bells
While parking and bus reservations can be a pain for many, one of its biggest advantages is keeping the road to the bells relatively free of traffic after 8 AM.
Aside from the occasional bus, this road turns into a biker’s paradise, as you can pedal amongst the scenic beauty of the Rocky Mountains.
Although the ride is only 8 miles, it climbs over 1,300 feet, which will test even the fittest bikers at this elevation.
The ride back down will be a pure delight, though, as you’ll barely need to pedal.
Note that while the road is open to bikes, mountain biking is not allowed on the trails around the Maroon Bells.
