Note: The Four Pass Loop is often snow-bound from October through June. The last mile to the first pass is a set of steep switchbacks, but the view at the top is the reward. 14. There will be spots that have snow but you’ll be able to navigate around them or get across them easily enough. At approximately 3:30 p.m. Saturday, rescuers made contact with the overdue hiker near the summit of West Maroon Pass. Bus service from Aspen Highlands to the Maroon Bells trailhead on the Aspen side. Follow Highway 82 west to the roundabout. On the bright side, you'll see far fewer people. It's the most commonly used route for thru-hikers between Aspen and Crested Butte, and the first encountered when traveling clockwise on the 4-Pass Loop. Contact the Aspen Ranger District (970.925.3445) for the latest weather, trail conditions and trail-specific guidelines when planning your trip. In the early season, expect muddy trails, big creek crossings, and snow on the passes. Wind (gust) / Humidity; Today . ... Areas by State; Map; Favorites; Mobile; Widget; Colorado | Maroon Bells. West Maroon Trail, Aspen Picture: Looking over Crater Lake - Check out Tripadvisor members' 7,379 candid photos and videos. Trip Report about hiking East Maroon Pass: Here. West Maroon Pass is busy hikers again, snow continues to melt, flowers continue to grow, and… Read more. Daily; Hourly; Map; Averages; 11/14/2020 << Previous Week. There are some campsites in this area. This area is very open and Crater Lake can be seen in the distance. Note: The Four Pass Loop is often snow-bound from October through June. Maroon Bells Scenic Area lies at the edge of the wilderness, but the Maroon Lake and the peaks of the Maroon Bells as backdrop are the main attraction for most visitors. Most of this route is above treeline, but is lined by bushes and wildflowers during the summer. I'd prefer to go later in July but due to schedules this is the only time we could coordinate. West Maroon Pass (12,465') is located 6.45 miles from Maroon Lake in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness. We arrived at the pass at 10 am, after hiking 4 miles and climbing 2100 feet from the trailhead. There is still some… Read more. The trip details below outline our Maroon Bells adventure, and everything we packed for it. Wildflower bloom peaks in mid-to-late July. July 14, 2019 Update. 23 mph (44 mph) 63% humidity . Sometimes it also delivers an … I was the last hiker of the day heading to West Maroon Pass. Max Elevation: 12,480' (West Maroon Pass) When to Go. Near mile 4.2, (mile 2 if you started at Schofield Park), bypass the Hasley Basin Trail and continue toward a rolling basin below Frigid Air and West Maroon passes. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Maybe bring spikes in case. I've been in some hairy situations forging on west maroon pass in the spring. on the trail up the valley . Because this part of the wilderness area provides access points to many of the surrounding 14ers and different trails, like Buckskin Pass, it can be very crowded. Hiking down from Frigid Air, making way to West Maroon Pass. Getting Here and There From Aspen . Jul 2019. maroonbellsshuttles Uncategorized. Keep your eyes on the clouds and know when to turn back. This complete one-day epic hiking trail from Crested Butte to Aspen traverses through stunning alpine scenery of snow-capped peaks, lush forests, and beauty-filled meadows of native wildflowers. Nov 14. Depending on the previous winter's snowfall, the trail typically becomes passable in late June to mid-July. The hike starts at 9,580-feet at the Maroon Lake trailhead, and climbs 3,000 feet over 6.5 miles to West Maroon Pass before descending another 4.5 to Schofield Pass. The new plan was to sleep long and deeply and be transformed into well-rested machines for the 13 mile, 4,000 vertical foot hike to Snowmass Lake on Day 2. In this blog, I’ll share the logistics of our planning, the experience of the hike itself, and the realities of some of our miscalculations. In fact, we didn’t make it over the first pass, West Maroon. From Aspen to WMP it's 6.5 miles with the first 5 miles being up/down, up/down with plenty of rocks on the trail and sometimes all rocks. After gaining the pass, the trail angles to the left and descends steadily through willow and then tundra. The trail is primarily used for hiking, camping, nature trips, and bird watching and is best used from April until September. Conditions on West Maroon Pass have greatly improved since our last post. Finally the trail will start to veer to the right (west) as you find yourself at the bottom of a high alpine cirque. Trip Report about hiking West Maroon Pass: Here. The trail from CB to the West Maroon Pass is only 4.5 miles and is a gradual climb with few rocks on the trail. Point weather forecast for West Maroon Pass: Here. View from the top of West Maroon Pass. Number of nights – This Four Pass trail is typically done in four days. Needless to say, they are the most photographed peaks in North America. At 10:45am (mile 22, 12500ft) we made it to West Maroon pass. Forecast High / Low Precip. If using this trail as part of the Four Pass Loop, the West Maroon Trail starts from an intersection with Fravert Basin Trail in Scholfield Park where you'll head east, away from Schofield Park to West Maroon Pass. The trail from CB to the West Maroon Pass is only 4.5 miles and is a gradual climb with few rocks on the trail. Please don’t pick, cut, or walk on wildflowers or other plants. Weather and conditions should be very good that time of year. From Aspen to WMP it's 6.5 miles with the first 5 miles being up/down, up/down with plenty of rocks on the trail and sometimes all rocks. ( northeast ) and leaves the River behind as it heads East through spruce along... 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