Take a Stunning Trip to Maroon Bells in Early June

This post is all about my trip to Maroon Bells

Since moving to Colorado, I have become a hiker and a traveler. I love spending my weekends going hiking and seeing all the beautiful views. Growing up in Indiana you experience a lot of flat hikes. So the idea of hiking up something I wasn’t prepared for. Especially going up to a 10,000 foot elevation.

As a late graduation and birthday present to myself, I planned a trip to Aspen. Which meant the Maroon Bells was on the list to see. And even thought it was early in the season, this hike did not disappoint. It was full of stunning views of aspen trees, mountains, and waterfalls. Well worth the rainy weather and long drive.

Here is my experience of Marron Bells

Getting to Maroon Bells

Maroon Bells is a popular spot to visit. Because of this, reservations are required. There are two ways to reserve your spot. Either reserve a parking spot at the trailhead or a spot on the shuttle. Because parking spots are limited we chose to take the shuttle.

When you first arrive at Highland Center, you will go inside to retrieve your boarding pass and get on the shuttle. Make sure you do not lose your pass because you will need it to get back on the shuttle after the hike. You are also greatly warned to be one time for the last shuttle. If not, your consequence is an 8.5 mile walk back. Or the range suggests spending the night in the bathrooms for a little warmth. There is no cell service up there to save you.

The shuttle ride is about 20 minutes long. You drive up into the Bells while listening to interesting facts about the area, even slowing down for scenic views. The shuttle eventually drops you off at the base of the trailheads and next to the lake where you can see the iconic Maroon Bells view. 

Carter Trail

We started with Carter Trail which is a great option if you like walking straight up and climbing rocks. This trail was no joke but well worth it. The trail has stunning views of trees, waterfalls, and the 14ers. Make sure to take it slow, bring good shoes, water, and anything else you might need to hike the 3.2 miles long trail. 

While we were prepared for the rain, mud, and rocks, we were not ready for the snow after reaching 10,000ft. It was slick and slushy, I unintentionally attempted the splits three times by slipping on ice. But the views towards the end were beautiful, giving a great view of the 14ers. 

(We might not have been as prepared for ice as we wanted, but there were still people walking up in flip-flops and shorts. Do not recommend!)

The trail continued on from this point for another 20 minutes. But we did not continue because of the ice and snow. But those walking back from the end said the view was stunning.

Scenic Trail

For an easier and relatively flat walk, the Scenic Trail is great. We did not complete this full trial since we had already done the majority of Crater Trail. But this was a great spot to see the lake and wildlife next to it. It is very calm and you can get amazing photos. This option is great for those who want to visit the Bells but don’t want to experience a major hike at a high altitude. 

Maroon Bells was a great trip

I would happily revist Maroon Bells anytime. The views were well worth the hour drive to get there. There are several options of various levels of hikers and vistors. If you are visiting Aspen, I recommend getting a reservation to view the Bells.