Aspen · RedAwning

Maroon BellsTwo 14,000-foot peaks reflected in Maroon Lake — the most-photographed mountains in North America, accessed only by reservation shuttle from Aspen Highlands

Maroon Peak (14,163 ft) and North Maroon Peak (14,019 ft) — twin fourteeners in the Elk Mountains ten miles southwest of Aspen, named for the maroon-tinted Maroon Formation mudstone that gives them their distinctive color. The 200-yard Maroon Lake reflection is regularly cited as the most-photographed mountain view in North America. Vehicle access is reservation-only between mid-May and late October; the Aspen Skiing Company runs daily shuttles from Aspen Highlands ($16 per adult).

Hours todayOpen 24 hrs – undefinedFriday hours
TicketsFrom $16Shuttle (round trip)
LocationAspen, ColoradoMaroon Creek Road, Maroon Lake Day-Use Area
Official sitefs.usda.govPlan your visit

14,163 ftMaroon Peak
14,019 ftNorth Maroon Peak
10 miDistance from Aspen
Most in NAMountains photographed

The Maroon Bells are two adjacent fourteeners — South Maroon Peak at 14,163 feet and North Maroon Peak at 14,019 feet — separated by less than a third of a mile of saddle ridge and rising 4,500 feet above the floor of Maroon Creek Valley. The maroon-purple color is from the Maroon Formation, a 280-million-year-old mudstone that's softer and more friable than the surrounding granite — the source of both the unusual color and the Bells' notorious nickname among Colorado climbers, 'the Deadly Bells.' The two peaks are among the more technical fourteeners in the state; the standard South Ridge route is a Class 4 scramble with serious rockfall exposure, and the eight-hour traverse between the two is graded Class 5.

For 99% of visitors, the experience is much simpler: ride the shuttle from Aspen Highlands, walk the Maroon Lake Scenic Trail (a 1-mile, mostly flat loop along the eastern shore), and watch the morning light land on the Bells. Maroon Lake is at 9,580 feet, glacier-carved, and 200 yards across — small enough that on still mornings the entire reflection of both peaks fits in one frame. Crater Lake (a 3.6-mile round-trip continuation past Maroon Lake) sits at 10,076 feet directly beneath the Bells, with no reflection but a more intimate vantage. Past Crater Lake, the route continues to West Maroon Pass on the Four Pass Loop, one of the most coveted backpacking circuits in the country.

Plan around the access window. From mid-May through late October, the only way in between 8 AM and 5 PM is the Aspen Skiing Company shuttle from the Aspen Highlands base ($16 round-trip, runs every 20 minutes from 8 AM to 5 PM) or a reserved private vehicle (limited daily permits through Recreation.gov). Sunrise photographers reserve the 6 AM shuttle or the 6:00–8:00 AM private vehicle window. From late October through April 30 the road closes entirely; the same trailhead becomes a 12-mile snowshoe and Nordic ski-in from T-Lazy-7 Ranch — quieter, harder, and free.

Maroon Lake Scenic Trail
A 1-mile, mostly flat loop along the eastern shore of Maroon Lake — the trail every shuttle visitor walks. Cleanest reflection composition is from the small spit at the southwest corner, 200 yards from the day-use area; allow 45 minutes for the loop with photo stops. Wheelchair-accessible to the main viewpoint.
Crater Lake — 3.6 mi round trip
Continuation past Maroon Lake to a smaller cirque lake at 10,076 feet directly beneath the Bells — 1.8 miles each way with about 600 feet of climb. Doesn't have the perfect reflection but puts you in the cirque, with avalanche-debris fans visible from the spring runoff. Bears occasionally feed in the boulder field; carry spray.
Aspen Highlands shuttle
The Aspen Skiing Company runs the only public bus into the valley between 8 AM and 5 PM. Service runs every 20 minutes from the Aspen Highlands base, $16 adult round trip, $10 child (6–13), free for kids 5 and under. Tickets through Recreation.gov or aspenchamber.org. Sunrise (6 AM) departures are first to fill — book six days in advance.
Sunrise alpenglow window
The most-photographed shot in Colorado: morning alpenglow lights the east face of the Maroon Bells while Maroon Lake sits in dawn shadow. The 15-minute window starts roughly 30 minutes before official sunrise — arrive on the 6 AM shuttle (or the private-vehicle 6:00–8:00 AM window) and walk to the southwest spit. Glass-still water until valley winds pick up around 9 AM.
Fall aspens — late September
The 28-mile Maroon Creek Road corridor is one of the densest aspen groves in Colorado — entire hillsides turn the same gold simultaneously, with the Bells as the backdrop. Peak color usually falls between September 22 and October 5; shuttle tickets in this window are the hardest of the year to secure. The Highway 82 / Castle Creek Road approach is a worthy plan B.
Four Pass Loop backpack
The crown-jewel backpacking circuit of the Maroon Bells–Snowmass Wilderness — a 26-mile loop over four passes (West Maroon, Frigid Air, Trail Rider, Buckskin) at 12,400+ feet, typically done in three to four nights. Permits are required via Recreation.gov and release four months in advance; July–August permits are gone within minutes of the release time.
Winter access via T-Lazy-7
From late October through April 30 the road closes to vehicles and the gate at T-Lazy-7 Ranch (5 miles from Maroon Lake) becomes the trailhead. The route in is 12 miles round-trip on snowshoes or Nordic skis — flat enough for intermediates, with the same peaks at the end. No fee, no reservation, but pack avalanche awareness for the final mile.
Climbing the Bells
Both summits are technical Class 4 climbs — 'the Deadly Bells' nickname dates to a 1965 incident when eight climbers died in a single season. The standard South Maroon route is the South Ridge from West Maroon Trail (Class 4, 12-mile round trip, 4,800 ft); North Maroon's standard line is the Northeast Ridge from the upper basin (Class 4, 9 miles, 4,500 ft). The traverse between them is Class 5 and rated among the hardest fourteener traverses in Colorado.

Open hours

Maroon Lake Day-Use Area is open year-round on foot, bike, or skis. Maroon Creek Road closes to private vehicles from 8 AM to 5 PM mid-May through late October — access during those hours is by reserved shuttle from Aspen Highlands or by reserved private vehicle (limited daily permits). The road is closed entirely from late October through May 1, with only foot, bike, ski, and snowshoe access; the road becomes a Nordic trail in winter.

MondayOpen 24 hrs
TuesdayOpen 24 hrs
WednesdayOpen 24 hrs
ThursdayOpen 24 hrs
FridayTodayOpen 24 hrs
SaturdayOpen 24 hrs
SundayOpen 24 hrs

Note · Sunrise is the iconic photograph — alpenglow lights the east face of the Bells while Maroon Lake sits in shadow. Reserve the 6 AM shuttle from Aspen Highlands or a private vehicle reservation in the 6:00–8:00 AM window. The lake is glass-still until about 9 AM, when valley winds typically pick up.

Ticket pricing

Per-person admission. Buy in advance to skip the gate line.

Shuttle (round trip)$16Adult — Aspen Skiing Co bus, Aspen Highlands base to Maroon Lake, runs every 20 min
Shuttle (child 6–13)$10Children 5 and under ride free with an adult
Private vehicle reservation$10Per vehicle, plus a $10 USFS day-use fee — limited daily permits via Recreation.gov
Day-use fee (USFS)$10Per vehicle if entering before 8 AM or after 5 PM (no shuttle required)

Reservation required during the May–October access window. Book shuttle tickets at aspenchamber.org or Recreation.gov; private-vehicle reservations open six days in advance and sell out for sunrise slots within minutes. The 8 AM–5 PM gate restriction applies only to private vehicles — bicyclists and shuttle riders go through anytime.

Reserve shuttle or vehicle

Where to stay