We spent that weekend in Aspen. On Friday afternoon, Anna and Alex set off in one car, while Rita, her boyfriend, Mike, and I set off in another.
Aspen is a 3-4 hour drive Southwest of Denver (roughly 150 miles). We stopped in Vail for a German dinner.
The city of Aspen is split between two towns--Aspen and Snowmass Village--and four mountains--Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Snowmass, and Buttermilk. Our weekend lodging was a large condo at the top of Snowmass Village.
Saturday morning was dedicated to hiking. We got an early start to explore the famous Maroon Bells. Located in the Elk Mountains of White River National Forest, Maroon Valley encompasses a reflective lake surrounded by snowy fourtneer peaks. Years of sedimentation and erosion give the "Bells" their distinctive color.
Sunrise is the best time to see the Bells reflected in Maroon Lake. We were surprised to see the outline of the lake already lined with awed spectators and photographers. It was a beautiful sight indeed.
Crater Lake Trail is a four-mile hike from the Lake, consisting of a rocky ascent through aspen forests.
The sun was not yet high enough to warm the valley, which made for a chilly morning hike.
At last, we reached Crater Lake at 10,076'.
The return journey offered a unique perspective to the scenery in the mid-morning light.
As you might have guessed, fall is one of the best times to visit Aspen due to the brilliant yellow palette of the trees. The shimmering golden specks are truly captivating.
The Scenic Loop Trail is a 1.5-mile hike that follows a stream through alpine meadows and aspen forests.
Eventually, we arrived back at Maroon Lake.
We followed the Maroon Creek Trail downstream a short piece on our way back to the parking lot. Although we did not spot any moose, we never tired of the glowing aspens.
That afternoon, we explored downtown Aspen. The charming mountain town has several quaint shops and restaurants. Aspen Brewing Co. has a small, sunny deck with a front-row view of the slopes--making us hungry for ski season!
On the short drive back to Snowmass Village, we stopped along the side of the road to greet some friendly horses.
On Sunday morning, we hiked around Snowmass. The Rim Trail is a challenging eight-mile trail for both hikers and mountain bikers. We only hiked part of the trail, however, climbing steep switchbacks to reveal breathtaking views of Snowmass Village.
By noon, we hit the road in order to allow time to drive through Independence Pass--max elevation of 12,095'.
