wildernet

Aspen Ranger District

Quick Facts

West Maroon Portal Trailhead

Elevation:

9,580 Feet (2986.3 Meters)

		Satellite and Topo Map

General Description

The Maroon Lake parking area provides access to many backcountry hiking trails

The West Maroon Portal provides access to the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness. The Maroon Creek and Maroon-Snowmass Trails start from here. Popular destinations include Crater, Maroon, Snowmass and Willow Lakes, West Maroon and Buckskin Passes, Maroon, North Maroon and Pyramid peaks. Additional parking is available just up the road at Maroon Lake.

Directions from Aspen: Drive 1/2 mile west of Aspen on Highway 82 and turn left onto Maroon Creek Road at the roundabout. Keep right and continue 9 1/2 miles to the Maroon Lake Parking Area.From mid-June through September, the Maroon Creek Road is closed from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and you will need to take a shuttle bus from Ruby Park in Aspen. The bus includes an informative guided tour of the valley. Contact the Roaring Fork Transit Agency at 925-8484 for more information.

Seasonal Information:
Normally Accessible: May through September (NOTE: Most trails above 10,000 are not accessible before the Summer months.) .

Current Conditions & Trip Reports

Inaccessible during Winter. Updated: 2002-12-23 14:47:00.0

Add your own trip Report! Newly re-released feature. One of the most popular features on Wildernet, trip reports allow you to share your experiences with others. This is an invaluable resource for determining what to expect on your outdoor adventure, so please participate! To prevent spamming, you must be a registered user of Wildernet in order to submit a trip report

No trip reports filed to date. Please be the first one to do so!

Recreation Opportunities

Activity		Remarks	On Site
	Trailhead Parking	West Maroon Portal Trailhead	Yes
	Backpacking	Maroon, Buckskin, Willow Lake and West Maroon Trails.	Yes
	Hiking & Walking	Maroon, Buckskin, Willow Lake and West Maroon Trails.
	Horseback Riding	Maroon, Buckskin, Willow Lake and West Maroon Trails.

Related Activities

Maroon Creek Area - The Maroon Creek area is located southwest of Aspen. The scenic Maroon Bells are the focal point of this area but not the only attraction.

Maroon Creek Road - Maroon Creek Road leads to Maroon Lake and the Maroon Bells, the most photographed mountains in the country. This route is good for taking an all day trip with a picnic stop.

Maroon Creek Trail - This trail offers a less crowded alternative to viewing the Maroon Valley. There are good views of the Maroon Bells and Pyramid Peak. This is a good day hike and is also a popular trail for horseback riding.

Maroon-Snowmass (Willow Lake) - This scenic trail is heavily used. Hiking, backpacking, horseback riding, fishing and camping are available. The trailhead is 9 1/2 miles up Maroon Creek Road. It's located within Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness.

Pyramid Peak - Pyramid Peak is one of Colorado's most difficult and dangerous fourteen thousand foot summits. No one should attempt this climb without the proper equipment and without advanced mountain climbing skills.

West Maroon Trail - This trail is one of the most heavily used trails in the Aspen area. Hikers, backpackers and horse travelers enjoy the wildflowers and access to the wilderness areas.