Maroon Bells, Aspen

The beauty of this place cannot be overstated. If you have the chance to go, do it! Rugged mountains, babbling streams, fields of wild flowers, turquoise blue lakes...all within view of the parking lot. If you don't have it in you for a hike, stroll around Maroon Lake, located 5 minutes from the parking lot. There are even a couple benches along the path if you want to sit back and take it in. If you're looking for a short, but rewarding hike, go to Crater Lake (about 3.5 miles round trip). We hiked from the parking lot, past crater lake, and up to buckskin pass. The apple watch gave a round trip distance of 10.5 miles (with some side diversions). Total hike time was about 4.5 hour with stops for snacks and lunch in the pass. We passed a handful of other people, but it never felt overcrowded considering it was a Sunday (though rain was in the forecast). The shuttle service from the Highlands was hassle-free. We took the 8am shuttle to avoid the afternoon rain. They recommend getting there 45 minutes early, but I think 15 would suffice. We sat around for a while waiting to board. At the drop off point there are bathrooms and a covered sitting area for convenience.

Heaven on Earth. One of my favorite places to see in Colorful Colorado. Our latest visit was on 10/03/2022. We hiked to Crater Lake and back, and then continued on Maroon Creek Trail. Fall colors are in full bloom.