Maroon Bells — Attraction in Four Corners States

Alright, this will probably be the most helpful comment/review you'll read. Some things I learned while trying to accommodate their COVID Policies: You need to make a reservation on their website for a date/time. They require a mask on and off the bus but not in the park itself. Make a reservation for an EARLY slot. Too late in the day & you do not have time to see everything you want. Not to mention you have to make it before 5pm so you get on the bus before they leave you behind. Yes, they will leave you behind to hike the 11mi down their mountain which does have bear and moose everywhere. Beware of that. Their confirmation emails do not provide an address where you can go check in for the bus ride up to the Maroon Bells Scenic trail. In fact, when they tell you what parking garage to be at, it's incorrect. That was a complete disaster on their part. My advice to them is to provide an address so people know where to go. The address is: 1199 Prospector Rd. Colorado. You'll come into a shopping area, look for a small corner store looking spot, should have a sign letting you know they're the Maroon Bells Shuttle Provider. Go inside, check in. The hike to Crater Lake is a great hike but incredibly challenging. If you're not in some decent shape or on the older side, I would recommend against this hike. At one point, you're climbing over loose rocks and it's can be dangerous. Bring thick footwear. Simple tennis shoes will not protect your feet from the rocks & pain of walking on them. I provided a photo of the very rocky trail you can expect.

The area is beautiful. But a lot of the joy I would of had on this hike/trip was ripped away by the Shuttle Co.'s lack of forethought. I ended up 2mi away from where I needed to be to check in because they don't provide an address on your confirmation email. We also felt rushed due to the bus ride...

One of the most beautiful places I've ever been to. I'd highly recommend this place to anyone who loves nature. 2 Way shuttle bus tickets to Maroon Bells were around $30 per person, well worth all the gorgeous scenery you encounter, while you're here. It's a 9 mile bus ride to the staging area you'll begin hiking from, with large clean restrooms in the vicinity, as well.

2 short hikes you can do here are:

1. The Maroon Lake Trail, a 1.8 mile hike to a beautiful lake, above the initial one that reflects the mirror image of The Maroon Bells, twin 14,000 ft. peaks, named after their burgundy color. This trail has some unfriendly elevation rises to it.

2. The Scenic Loop Trail, a 1 mile easy hike, is the one we chose, with no substantial elevation changes, and a panorama of entrancing views. We began alongside the lower lake here, which reflects the Aspen Trees, & when full, the Maroon Bells. The trail crosses a bridge above a stream, & then follows this lovely stream-the one that feeds into this lower lake.

I didn't see a ton of animals on this hike, but I did witness lots of yellow & green Aspen Trees, growing on several steep mountainsides framing this small Alpine lake. My wife & I saw quite a few butterflies, wildflowers, some jagged, spire-like red rock peaks, a gorgeous stream, several extremely speedy little chipmunks, which took turns racing by a woodpile, a hawk, which was hunting a mountainous hillside, a small rainbow trout, which a guy caught from the stream, & then released, plus the ugliest grasshopper I've ever seen in my life.

My favorite part of this hike, was parking my tookus on a rock beside the stream, and listening to the mirthful chatter of this quickly flowing water, as it raced over & around many rock obstacles. Be sure to pause many times on your hike, to take in all the amazing views, which surround you...

Maroon Bells gets 5 stars however the 'aspenchamber dot org' group that apparently runs the reservation system gets 1 star.

We recently hosted friends and wanted to share with them one of the treasures of Colorado known as Maroon Bells.

I've never used the reservation system before and did not know what to expect of the shuttle bus that runs between Aspen Highlands Village and the Bells.

Here's what our experience was like.

We arrived 45 minutes early as recommended only to find a very small parking structure that was full except for one parking spot that we gladly snagged.

After a brief lecture on mask wearing we boarded a stuffy bus with windows that couldn't be opened.

With no air conditioning we settled in as the bus driver began his tram tour speech. I don't mind hearing about history and learning about local facts but I do mind when it is delivered over a speaker system that doesn't work.

We endured 30 minutes of non-stop 'charlie brown teacher' talking only in our case it wasn't funny.

Along the way up to Maroon Bells the bus passes a petting zoo that just felt wrong.

Eventually after a couple of run ins with cyclists we made it to the end of the road.

I gave the driver feedback that we didn't understand a word he said because of the speaker system. ......His response?.......He and the company knew the system doesn't work.

So if you know the system doesn't work, why do you subject your paying customers to 30 minutes of loud unintelligible garbled noise in such a beautiful setting?

The whole experience felt like amateur hour that cost more than a movie for 4. Shame on aspen...