Maroon Bells at Aspen 2022
This summer we took a vacation to Aspen, Colorado. Other than adjusting to the high altitude, we had a great time. The scenery was beautiful, the air was dry and crisp and we had a relaxing time visiting some of the sights in the area. One side trip which we took was to Maroon Bells which are twin mountain peaks in the Elk Mountains. The entrance to the area is about 12 miles southwest of Aspen. The peaks loom high above the other landscape in the distance. Maroon Peak is 14,163 feet while North Maroon Peak is 14, 019 feet tall. The peaks are in the Maroon Bells/Snowmass Wilderness which is the access to this area. The mountains are beautiful and the scenery made for some beautiful photography shots. Look closely in the photo above, a fly fisherman is trying his luck in the lake.
The Forest Service operates a bus service, by reservation, leaving every 20 minutes to transport tourists and hikers to the access point. This is a very popular attraction and it is estimated that there are close to 300,000 visitors each year. There are several options for trails and we decided to split up. Some took a more strenuous trail, while we took a gentle, well marked scenic hike. It was approximately one mile in distance to the Maroon Lake at the base of the mountain pass. The trail continued past the lake along a meandering stream.
Along the way we saw some attractions. Here are beautiful mountain wild flowers.
As we hiked along, we came upon a flock of Canadian Geese blocking the trail. When we got too close, they quickly let us know by squawking, rustling their feathers and necks and making aggressing gestures. Since these birds migrate in the fall and spring, flying thousands of miles, you can surmise how strong they must be. We quickly backed off.
At the head of Maroon Lake, looking back from where we came, we saw a beaver dam. We did not see any beavers today; but apparently these animals can cause quite a bit of damage to the terrain.
Far in the distance we observed a bear looking for grub on a rock slide. He appears as a tiny dot in the center of the photo. Glad we where on the other side of the lake, as the bear moved quickly.
More mountain wildflowers.
Above Maroon Lake, the path went beside a meandering mountain stream which flowed down over rocks making the soothing sound of water flowing. It also gave us a sense of the uphill elevation which we were hiking.
On the return portion of our hike, we saw a grove of Aspen trees in the distance. The white bark and shimmering leaves are quite striking. It is easy to see how the town got its name.
And these interesting sawtooth-looking mountains were past the Aspen trees in the distance.
And here is the view of Maroon Lake on our return hike. Still beautiful scenery. We walked at a slow leisurely pace, and enjoyed the sunny day. It was a great hike and visit to Aspen, Colorado.
