This trailhead accesses Smuggler Mountain Road, one of the most popular recreation areas in the immediate Aspen vicility. Any spring, summer or fall afternoon, Smuggler Mountain Road is busy with Aspenites hiking, running, mountain biking or walking their dogs. This four-wheel drive road is open to motorized vehicle use to the Warren Lakes area, though generally not busy with motorized traffic.Many users turn around at the primitive overlook deck, about 1 1/2 miles up, but others continue on up Smuggler Mountain Road toward Warren Lakes, turn left to loop into the Hunter Creek Valley and back to Aspen, or even continue from Hunter Creek over to Lenado or the Sunnyside Trail. In winter months, the trailhead to access the Benedict Huts of the Tenth Mountain Hut System.
Directions from Aspen: Travelling east on Main Street in Aspen, turn left (north) onto Mill Street. Travel 1/4 mile and turn right after the bridge onto Gibson. Follow Gibson 1/8 mile to a "Y" intersection and bear left onto South Avenue. Shortly, turn right onto Park Circle and follow for 1/8 mile to the Smuggler Mountain Road on the left. There is parking on the right.
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