Crater Lake via Maroon-Snowmass Trail

Aspen, Colorado

4.6/5

based on 5 reviews

Save

View all 12 photos

All 12 photos

Save Review Directions Add Photo

Details

Distance

3.77 miles

Elevation Gain

722 ft

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

Added by Eric Schuette

Crater Lake is a beautiful and easy destination with much smaller crowds than the nearby Maroon Lake. In the fall, the trail goes through a beautiful Aspen grove that ends at the Lake, which is at the bottom of the famous and awe-inspiring Maroon Bells.

The crater lake trail begins at Maroon Lake and quickly breaks off from the scenic trail at .3 miles. Be sure to follow the signs to crater lake, which will be heading higher into the valley. The trail passes through a beautiful Aspen grove most of the way with wonderful views of 14ers, the Maroon Bells and Pyramid Peak that dominate the skyline.

Just before you reach the lake you will descend a little bit from the crest of the trail at mile 1.7. Once you start dropping you will be very close to the lake, which will be on the left at 1.8 miles. The shore is open and can be explored, but please be careful as some of the shoreline is wet meadow that can be damaged easily. This is a great spot for a snack if this is you final destination or if you have higher aspirations.

Download the Outbound mobile app

Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use.

Get the app

Download GPX File

Features

Camping

Photography

Backpacking

Hiking

Dog Friendly

Easy Parking

Family Friendly

Forest

Lake

Scenic

Wildflowers

Wildlife

Reviews

Drew Thompson

Crater Lake via Maroon-Snowmass Trail

04/30/22

Great hike, fairly easy and much less crowds than the usual Maroon Bells area. This trail also brings you to some great backcountry options or trails that lead to the tops of the Bells themselves.

5.0

Explorer

Haley Baker

Explorer

Crater Lake via Maroon-Snowmass Trail

08/05/17

Such a great way to avoid the masses at Maroon Lake - there's still going to be people, but significantly less than the Scenic Loop or Maroon Lake. Make sure to look back towards Maroon Lake, though, as those were some of my favorite views the whole hike.

5.0

Kelley Dodge

Crater Lake via Maroon-Snowmass Trail

12/31/16

I started this trail immediately after sunrise at Maroon Bells and it was very crowded. Maybe sunrise at Crater Lake would have been a better alternative! Regardless, it's a beautiful, short hike.

4.0

Explorer

Johnathan .

Explorer

Crater Lake via Maroon-Snowmass Trail

01/07/16

This is an easy hike, but there are some parts that are rocky, make sure you're wearing the appropriate shoes!

4.0

Explorer

Jason Hatfield

Explorer

Crater Lake via Maroon-Snowmass Trail

12/23/15

Skip the crowds at Maroon lake and hike here for a fall sunrise.

5.0

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

The Maroon Bells Traverse

I do not want to encourage those who are not capable mentally or physically to go on this hike, that is how accidents happen. Confidence is a must. This route is loose, long, chossy and complicated. The exposure and shear milage covered make for a heck of a day! That being said, I suggest you do this climb for obvious reasons... We took off from Aspen around 4am on Sept 1st to drive into the Be...

Backpack to Snowmass Creek in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness

For beginner backpackers or just those who can't take off 3-4 days to do the Four Pass Loop, there's still options near the iconic Maroon Bells. If you are planning to do an overnight at the Bells, you need to get there early or late - before 7:30 am or after 5 pm. The overnight lot fills quickly in the mornings, and doesn't start emptying until the afternoons. Just be sure to tell the ranger ...

Explore the Maroon Bells & Snowmass Wilderness

The beautiful and iconic Maroon Bells-Snowmass wilderness is home to some of the most amazing scenery and adventures to be had in all of Colorado. It is world-famous for the Maroon Bells, two challenging 14ers just outside of Aspen, Colorado. The third 14er, Pyramid Peak is also considered a classic hike and all serve as sentinels to a wonderfully scenic wilderness area. If you're making a quic...

Car Camp at Maroon Lake

Maybe you've seen the photos a million times before - it's for good reason. Maroon Bells is just stunning. Watching the first rays of sunlight scratch the very top of Maroon Bells and slowly crawl their way down the massive slabs of granite is simply a must for the checklist. Taking in the sunrise is great, no doubt, but you won't be alone. Chances are you will be on the shores of the lake thro...

Relax at Maroon Lake

The Maroon Bells are known around the world for being some of the most iconic, beautiful mountains in all of the United States. Even if you haven't heard of them, there's a chance you've seen them. And if you've seen them in person, it's likely you were there with 800+ of your closest friends.If you'd like to enjoy the Bells in solitude, without any agenda to complete some great through-hike fr...

North Maroon Peak

Start your hike at the parking lot/trailhead at the end of Maroon Creek Rd. Keep in mind that the road is closed from about 9am-8pm to traffic and is only accessible by shuttle bus during that time. You'll be wanting to get a very early start anyways, so it shouldn't be an issue. Your path begins at Maroon Lake, where you can see you destination looming above you in the distance. You'll take ...

Crater Lake via Maroon-Snowmass Trail

Details

Description

Download the Outbound mobile app

Features

Reviews

Leave No Trace

Nearby

The Maroon Bells Traverse

Backpack to Snowmass Creek in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness

Explore the Maroon Bells & Snowmass Wilderness

Car Camp at Maroon Lake

Relax at Maroon Lake

North Maroon Peak

Discover

Community

Company

Follow Us

Mobile Apps