Moose
Alces alces shirasi
DawnDusk
Willow meadows along Maroon Creek inlet host resident moose. Keep 75 yards minimum; never approach calves.
Photo: NPS Photo — public domain
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Elk Mountains · Moderate
Maroon Lake Scenic Loop
1.8-mi lake loop framing the Maroon Bells at 9,580 ft — timed-entry shuttle required
White River National Forest
Distance1.8mi round trip
Elevation500ft gain
High point9,580ft summit
Typical time1–3hours
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1.8-mi lake loop framing the Maroon Bells at 9,580 ft — timed-entry shuttle required. Editorial intro forthcoming.
Trip facts
Typical duration1–3hours
Trailhead9,580ft elevation
High point9,580ft summit
Dogs: leashes required.
How you'll find it
From Aspen, take Maroon Creek Road 9.5 miles to Maroon Lake. Timed entry permit required June–October — private vehicles prohibited without permit during this period.
Drive time
Personalize with your ZIP
We'll calculate drive time + a leave-by recommendation to beat the lot fill.
What you'll get
- View Maroon Peak (14,156 ft) and North Maroon Peak (14,019 ft) — Colorado's most-photographed Fourteeners — from a 1.8-mile lake loop at 9,580 ft
- Easy lake-level trail accessible to all fitness levels — the peaks themselves are technical alpine climbs, not part of this route
- Crater Lake spur adds 3.6 miles and ~500 ft of gain for a fuller day hike
- Timed-entry permit required May–October — reserve in advance
What locals know
Practical-craft notes for this specific trail — timing, route, photo, etiquette.
Trail tips
- Timing
Book the permit 2 months out (the hour they release)
Maroon Bells permits release on a 2-month rolling window at 8am MT. Peak-summer (Aug) slots sell out in under a minute. Either set an 8am MT alarm or take the $16 RFTA shuttle from Aspen Highlands (no permit needed).
- Route
Maroon Lake ≠ Crater Lake — different difficulty
Most photo-tourists stop at Maroon Lake (0.5mi, flat). Crater Lake is 1.8mi further with 500ft of gain — different commitment level. Decide which is your goal before starting; signage downplays the difference.
- Photo
Calm sunrise = the calendar shot
The iconic Maroon Bells reflection in Maroon Lake requires a calm windless morning. Best window is 6–7am before katabatic wind kicks up. Tripod essential; arrive in the dark with your composition already planned.
- Etiquette
Bike via dedicated path — quieter, free
Maroon Creek Bike Path runs parallel to the road. Riding from Aspen takes 60–90min one-way, gives you trailhead access at no cost, and lets you skip both the permit and shuttle queue.
- Weather
10,000ft altitude — Aspen visitors underestimate
Aspen sits at 8,000ft; the trailhead at 9,580ft puts altitude-naive visitors at headache risk. Drink double water the day before; the 3.6mi feels harder than the elevation suggests if you flew in.
Where you'll start
Maroon Bells is access-restricted May 15 through October — you need either a $10 timed-entry parking reservation (recreation.gov, sells out 60 days ahead) OR a $16 round-trip RFTA shuttle ticket from Aspen Highlands. Off-season is the only time you can drive in freely. Day-use only; overnight requires a wilderness permit.
Permit dates verified 2026-05-17 · Verify on visitmaroonbells.com before your trip
Parking cost
$10 permit (timed entry)
Overnight
Not allowed
Day-use only at Maroon Lake. Backpacking trips require a Maroon Bells-Snowmass wilderness permit (separate USFS process).
Park entrance
Free
Restrooms
Flush toilets
Fills by
Peak-season permits sell out the moment the 2-month rolling window opens
Cell service
Spotty
What's at the trailhead
- Restrooms — Flush toilets
- Water spigot
- Information kiosk
- Ranger station
- Park shuttle — RFTA Maroon Bells shuttle from Aspen Highlands Village — $16 round-trip, runs ~every 20 minutes during the May 15 – Oct access-restricted window. Required when driving in is not available.
- Spotty cell service
If the lot is full
RFTA Maroon Bells shuttle from Aspen Highlands ski-area lot — $16 round-trip per adult, no permit required; runs every 20 minutes 8am–5pm during permit season.
Alternative access
- RFTA Maroon Bells shuttle from Aspen Highlands ($16 round-trip, no permit required)
- E-bike from Aspen via the dedicated Maroon Creek bike path (popular alternative)
When to go
Highlighted months offer the best conditions.
Who shares the trail
The Maroon Lake basin is one of Colorado's most reliable moose-viewing destinations — willow meadows along the inlet creek host cow-calf pairs in summer. Black bears are active in the surrounding forest; mountain bluebirds and broad-tailed hummingbirds add summer color.
- Common
OccasionalBlack bear
Ursus americanus
DawnDuskNightActive in the forested approach trails. Bear-proof storage at the trailhead.
Photo: USFWS — public domain
CommonYellow-bellied marmot
Marmota flaviventris
Photo: USFWS — public domain
CommonAmerican pika
Ochotona princeps
Photo: NPS Photo, Rocky Mountain NP — public domain
What to watch for
What to watch for
- Timed entry permit required — do not arrive without reservation
- The two iconic Maroon Bells peaks (14,156 ft and 14,019 ft) are technical class-4 alpine climbs — not part of this scenic loop
- High altitude — Aspen sits at 8,000 ft, lake at 9,580 ft
- Afternoon storms common July–August
On the map
Overnight camping
Crater Lake's 3 designated wilderness sites are the only legal camping in the immediate Maroon Bells corridor — $9/night permits via recreation.gov, 4-month booking window, and bear-canister-required. Maroon Lake itself is day-use-only. Reserve well ahead; these sites sell out fast.
Designated sites
- Crater Lake zone (3 designated sites — most popular)
- Maroon Lake zone (closed to camping)
Water source
Maroon Creek and Crater Lake are both reliable; treat all water for Giardia + Cryptosporidium.
Food storage
Bear-resistant canister REQUIRED. White River NF has a hard-canister-only policy at Maroon Bells; hangs are not acceptable.
Fire policy
Campfires PROHIBITED in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness. Backpacking stoves only.
Trail-tested picks for Maroon Lake Scenic Loop
Curated for this trail's terrain, elevation, and typical conditions.
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