Top 10 Aspen Hikes 1. Sarah Chase Shaw And after a jaunt through old-growth conifer forest, it ends at Snowmass Lake, the still turquoise waters a picture-perfect backdrop for forays above the several campsites near the lake. All items available at Ute Mountaineer.—Michael Miracle, Late summer is an ideal time for the short-but-sweet hike to Linkins Lake, which lies in an open, glacial cirque near Independence Pass. Kid-friendly as it may be, the Grottos is not without potential hazards in the form of swift river currents and a looming crack in the roof of the ice cave. It’s also short enough and easy enough for young kids and grandparents alike, although it does have a couple of brief steep parts. It takes about 5-8 hours to hike in and 3-6 hours to hike out, on average. Ali Margo Those bold enough to climb the rope and make their way around the trail’s other obstacles can find two more large waterfalls and many smaller ones, plus a massive amphitheater of towering cliffs and sculpted hoodoos. Alex Spaeth | Special to the Daily. Take Village Shuttle bus no. Red rock predominates, and at times, as you follow a tortuous creek bed into the hills, the encroaching cliffs loom so close you’ll be forced to turn sideways as you pass. Full of aspen and pine groves, the … And while it’s not exactly a hike, it does offer a nice walk around Hallam Lake in addition to its other attractions. Not everyone does. If you are a serious hiker, you can cross the reservoir for a harder path. Take a right on Lincoln Creek Road and go 6.1 miles. But keep an eye on little ones, and the whole family will enjoy this popular area. There are two trailheads—you can start from Owl Creek Road near Sinclair Divide or hike up Assay Hill under the Elk Camp Gondola until the singletrack trail enters the woods on the left—and it connects seamlessly to other trails on the mountain at various junctures. It all depends on a unique mix of temperatures, moisture, and a host of other factors determined by Mother Nature. —TH. This type of pack will allow your child to take a break while the rest of your party keeps going. Have a nice long soak, enjoy the views, and don’t bogart the joint or the bottle when they’re passed your way. The steady uphill path with many switchbacks leads to a rocky outcropping overlooking Aspen. Coolmax material keeps your dogs from overheating, and the socks have an unconditional lifetime warranty. Each (literally) breathtaking climb seems to be rewarded by fields of flora: clustered around rocks along the rushing creek descending Minnehana Gulch, in the verdant alpine meadows above treeline with Buckskin Pass in sight, and finally, blanketing the steep hillside cut by switchbacks on the final grunt to the 12,462-foot pass. Jane Gendron, Cindy Hirschfeld, and Ted Katauskas, 07/14/2020 The Minimalist doesn’t sport the spiffy exposed waterproof zippers that have become standard on high-tech outerwear, but their absence saves you a hundred bucks—plus, the zippers don’t catch. Of course, you aren’t the only one who knows that, so expect a communal atmosphere on this overnight. The trailhead is on the left. Hike the trail to Cathedral Lake and then, after visiting the lake or just before you get to it, follow an obvious trail into a hanging valley to the north. Where: Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park ... Where: White River National Forest near Aspen Length: 14.5 miles out and back Of all the classic hikes in the Aspen area, this popular trek may be the most classic. Toward the end, things get steeper, and the trail leads past a tiny lake to a pass on the Continental Divide. Katie Hankinson Photography, 04/15/2019 A slightly longer hike will take you to the cascades, a series of scenic pools and waterfalls along the Roaring Fork River. During the Winter, there are also nordic specific trails that are groomed when the conditions are right. It’ll also give you somewhere to store extra clothes in case the weather deteriorates. If you don’t feel like hiking, take a walk around Maroon Lake. Styled by The hikes in this area are commonly at higher altitudes and will often start at 9,000 or 10,000 feet above sea level. The hike itself is not too bad, at just 1.8 miles each way to the top with an elevation gain of 1,650 feet. For most kids, especially young ones, hiking up a long, steep hill doesn’t sound particularly exciting. On the Grizzly Lake Trail, you’ll have multiple opportunities. There’s the ever-present, snowmelt-fed creek rushing down the path the glacier once did, slowing and meandering in flat spots now fashioned into beaver ponds. The Maroon Bells are my favorite spot in the state, and I think they are the first best place to explore a few Aspen Colorado hiking trails. For the truly fit looking for an aerobic workout, the Ute Trail is a steep, strenuous hike that can be easily accessed from downtown Aspen. Even if you don’t find the lake, the foliage and scenery make Tabor Creek worth the trip. Free nature walks with a guide from the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies leave from the top of the gondola on the hour from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. —TH, It may seem odd to think of the forty-year-old Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES) as unknown, but you’d be surprised how many people forget it’s there. Rainbow Gulch . Aspen, spruce, and pine stand along the trail, including several large bristlecones. A high altitude region dominated by pine, aspen, and mixed conifer forests, it’s a beloved summertime stomping grounds among Arizona’s adventurers. Located behind the Aspen Post Office on Puppy Smith Street, ACES is easily reached on foot. If you’re going for a longer hike, invest in a kid carrier. Most—probably three-quarters—of the hike starts at the top of the rope. —CL, Hike time: 7 hours each wayAbility level: 3, An advantage of being almost entirely surrounded by public lands is that Aspen and Snowmass offer several hikes you don’t need a private vehicle to access. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Aspen Sojourner Staff (The gondola ride down is free. Jen Gillette, 05/20/2020 Aspen Trail Finder Winter Trail Map (Aspen, Snowmass, Basalt, Carbondale, Glenwood Springs) Aspen. Knowing the conditions of the trail can radically effect your adventure. Great for hiking with family or friends, with a small reservoir at the end. The terrain flattens out before Linkins Lake, a good spot to contemplate the surrounding peaks along the Continental Divide. One of the easiest, most interesting kid hikes in the area is the Grottos, which can be found nine miles east of Aspen off Highway 82. Use 1 or all 4 drop downs to customize your search for the right trail. By Try this hike. The hike in is almost entirely uphill, at a fairly easy grade. —CL, 07/10/2020 —CL, There are few things nicer than a soak in a hot spring after a long hike. Author: Ted Alvarez Updated: Feb 14, 2017 Original: Sep 17, 2010. When asked to pick the most do-everything shoe he’s ever tried, Ute Mountaineer’s Damon Giordano pointed straight to the Drifter. Explore the Five trail options, Maps, and Driving Directions. 6 to the south trailhead behind the Mountain View condos. It's understandable that a lot of people aren't aware that this Colorado ski town actually has really easy access to incredible hiking and backpacking trails. Published in the Midsummer/Fall 2013 issue of The easy trail is 2.6 miles round trip and takes about 1.5 hours. From the heart of downtown Aspen, the Silver Queen Gondola delivers guests to the peak at 11,200 feet, where endless vistas and flower-laden hiking trails await. From the heart of downtown Aspen, the Silver Queen Gondola delivers guests to the peak at 11,200 feet, where endless vistas and flower-laden hiking trails await. Hunter Creek Trail. Available at Aspen’s Marmot store and smartwool.com. The trailhead is near Eagle, and wildflowers are abundant in the area now. Descending toward Technicolor-blue Lost Man Lake feels like entering a fairytale kingdom, especially when the wildflowers are in bloom. If you and your family are only going to do one hike while you’re in Aspen, this is probably the one you’ll want to do. If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device. Surrounded on three sides by three different Wilderness areas, Aspen and nearby Snowmass offer an extensive network of local trails right from the edge of town, as well as numerous options and access points for larger wilderness hiking adventures. There’s little doubt that the best way to see Colorado is to get deep into the wilderness and go camping. By Pyramid Peak, accessible via the 7.2-mile Pyramid Peak Trail, looms over Crater Lake and provides some of the most stunning views of the region’s wildflowers. Piney River Ranch, near Vail. Photography by From Snowmass Base Village, the Elk Camp Gondola sweeps through the trees and ends amid Lost Forest and … The mountains surrounding Aspen and Snowmass are awash with fields of wildflowers and extensive groves of aspen, offering hikes that vary with the seasons, within seasons, and even throughout the day as light and moisture change. Hiking Trails in Aspen. Crater Lake Trail. September is the best time of the year to see the changing aspens in Colorado, particularly during the 3rd and 4th weeks when they hit their peak splendor of golds, oranges, reds. Photo by Peter Honeyman under CC BY-NC 2.0 This demanding hike requires a high level of... 3. Red Mountain Trail (Jeanne Golay Trail/Red Mountain Road. The path climbs slowly to a beautiful cascading waterfall, passing through aspen forests along the way, crisscrossing over the creeks. Way to connect Snowmass and Aspen are options within the options connections and directions stand along Roaring! 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