Things to Do in Aspen: Maroon Bells, Free Art, Mountain Trails and the Gondola

Aspen has a reputation, and it's mostly about fur coats and private jets. But underneath the glossy version is a small, walkable mountain town with a free art museum, a riverside garden of song lyrics, trailheads you can reach on foot, and one of Colorado's most photographed mountain views just up the road.

This is a page from my travel notebook: the Aspen trip I'd plan if I wanted mountains more than glamour. It covers the Aspen attractions worth your time in both seasons. That means how the Maroon Bells reservation system actually works, which is the thing most visitors get wrong. It also covers the gondola, the in-town trails and the quiet free stops between them.

It's written for the reader who loves a good hike in New Jersey and wonders what that would feel like at 10,000 feet. Pack layers. Then pack one more.

How I put this together

Everything here comes from official sources: the White River National Forest, the official Maroon Bells reservation site, Aspen Snowmass, the Aspen Chamber Resort Association, the City of Aspen's recreation pages, and each museum's own website. I checked them all in November 2026. I haven't printed prices, hours that change, or reservation fees. Aspen's systems update every season, so I've linked each official page instead. The 2026 dates below are as published. Treat them as a guide to how the season usually runs, and check the 2027 dates when they're posted.

Aspen at a glance: summer vs. winter

	Summer and fall	Winter
Maroon Bells	Reserved shuttle or reserved parking	Road closed to vehicles
Silver Queen Gondola	Sightseeing, hiking, disc golf, yoga, music	Skiing plus winter sightseeing
In-town trails	Hunter Creek, Ute Trail, Smuggler, Rio Grande Trail	Check conditions
Aspen Art Museum	Open, free	Open, free
John Denver Sanctuary	Open dawn to dusk	Open dawn to dusk

Maroon Bells: the view, and how to actually get there

Maroon Bells Scenic Area

national forest scenic area · Aspen

Known for The twin peaks above Maroon Lake; reservations required in season for the shuttle from Aspen Highlands or for parking.

Maroon Creek Rd, Aspen, CO 81611

WebsiteDirections

Checked against official sources Nov 2026

The Maroon Bells are two maroon-colored peaks rising above Maroon Lake, about 10 miles up Maroon Creek Road from Aspen. They're in the White River National Forest, and the view across the lake is the postcard you've seen a hundred times. It's even better in late September, when the aspen groves turn gold.

The catch is access. You can't just drive up whenever you like in the main season. Here's how it works.

Reservations are required. The White River National Forest says: "Reservations are required to visit Maroon Bells Scenic Area and associated trailheads on the shuttle or in your personal vehicle." You book through the official site, visitmaroonbells.com. If you have a campground reservation, you don't need a separate reservation to park at Maroon Lake.

Option 1: the shuttle. The shuttle departs from the Maroon Bells Welcome Center at Aspen Highlands Ski Area. In 2026 it ran from May 22 to October 18. This is the easiest choice for most visitors. Book your seat, park at Aspen Highlands, and let someone else drive the narrow road.

Option 2: reserved parking. There are "very limited spaces" for personal vehicles at the Maroon Lake trailhead. In 2026 vehicle reservations ran from May 15 to October 31. Between May 22 and October 18, you had to arrive before 8 a.m. or after 5 p.m., depending on your reservation type. Leaving during the closed window was allowed. Those early and late slots are also the prettiest light of the day, so that's a happy rule.

Option 3: by bike. The Forest Service says Maroon Creek Road is open to bicycles and e-bikes. Wear a helmet and ride single file on the right. E-bikes are treated like motorized vehicles and pay the same amenity fee as motorcycles.

Late season and winter. From November 1, 2026, reservations were no longer required and parking was first-come, first-served. Starting November 10, Maroon Creek Road closes for the winter, and it typically reopens on May 15. The site says 2027 reservations will open in February. Watch for the exact date, because summer weekends book up.

Bring water. The Forest Service says, "No water is available this season at the Maroon Bells Scenic Area, so bring plenty!"

Two hikes from Maroon Lake

• Maroon Lake Scenic Trail (easy). This trail runs 1.3 miles one way, from 9,500 to 10,000 feet. It follows the lake to its far side, then meanders along the creek that feeds it. The Aspen Chamber calls it "a great place for pictures and picnics."
• Crater Lake (moderate). This one is about 1¾ miles one way from Maroon Lake. The Maroon-Snowmass Trail climbs through the aspens to the lake below the peaks.

Overnight trips into the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness need a permit from recreation.gov in the permit zones. That's a whole different trip, so plan it separately if you're tempted.

Silver Queen Gondola: the top of Aspen Mountain

Silver Queen Gondola

gondola · Aspen

Known for Rises from downtown Aspen to about 11,200 feet on Aspen Mountain, with the Sundeck, hiking, disc golf and music in summer.

WebsiteDirections

Checked against official sources Nov 2026

If you want the mountaintop without the climb, this is it. The Silver Queen Gondola rises straight from downtown Aspen to about 11,200 feet on Aspen Mountain. The Aspen Chamber puts the peak at 11,212 feet.

In summer, the top of the mountain is a playground. Aspen Snowmass lists hiking trails "from easy strolls to ambitious treks," disc golf, yoga and live music at the Sundeck. The Sundeck is the on-mountain restaurant with a patio looking out over the Elk Mountains. You'll need a sightseeing ticket if you're not skiing. Check the Aspen Snowmass summer page for this year's season dates.

In winter, the gondola carries skiers, and Aspen Snowmass also sells winter sightseeing tickets. For the 2026–27 season, it lists the Silver Queen as running from November 26, 2026, to April 18, 2027.

My tip: go up first thing on a clear morning. Mountain weather often builds in the afternoon, and you want the view, not the clouds.

Aspen Art Museum

Aspen Art Museum

contemporary art museum · Aspen

Known for Free-admission contemporary art museum with the Swedish Hill Aspen café on Level 3.

637 E Hyman Ave, Aspen, CO 81611

• wheelchair accessible

WebsiteDirections

Checked against official sources Nov 2026

The Aspen Art Museum, at 637 East Hyman Avenue, is the rare free stop in an expensive town. "Admission to the AAM is free courtesy of Amy and John Phelan," the museum says. It adds that its exhibitions and programming are free thanks to its members.

It's a contemporary art museum, so expect new work rather than old masters. The 2026–27 lineup includes Adrián Villar Rojas's "First Gods, Lost Animals," running July 2, 2026, to April 18, 2027. There's also Kerstin Brätsch's "Fossil Psychic Stone Mimicry (Aspen)," running May 20, 2026, to March 31, 2027.

Good to know. The galleries are closed on Mondays. The café, Swedish Hill Aspen, is on Level 3 and keeps shorter daytime hours, also closed Mondays. The museum is fully ADA-accessible, with free wheelchairs and folding gallery stools at the street-level desk. Street parking surrounds the building, and the Rio Grande Parking Garage is nearby.

It's an easy walk from the gondola, so pair them for a perfect mountain-then-art day.

John Denver Sanctuary

John Denver Sanctuary

city park · Aspen

Known for A riverside garden in Rio Grande Park with wetlands and boulders engraved with John Denver's lyrics; free, dawn to dusk.

470 Rio Grande Pl, Aspen, CO 81611

• Outdoor seating
• restrooms

WebsiteDirections

Checked against official sources Nov 2026

This is the quiet heart of my Aspen plan. The John Denver Sanctuary sits by the river behind the Rio Grande Field in Rio Grande Park. The City of Aspen calls it a peaceful, contemplative spot "created in memory of legendary singer John Denver."

The idea came months after Denver's death, in the spring of 1998. Jeff Woods, Aspen's parks and recreation manager, approached Annie Denver about a place to celebrate his life. The city dedicated the 4.5-acre site on August 15, 1998, the Aspen Times reported, and expanded it in 2012.

What you'll find. Wetlands, a perennial garden, and a walking path through large boulders engraved with Denver's lyrics. There are benches, picnic tables, restrooms and trail access too. It's a free public park with no tickets, open from dawn to dusk.

Parking. The Aspen Chamber says there's no public parking at the sanctuary and suggests using the nearby parking garage. It's a short walk from downtown and the art museum.

Bring a coffee, find a boulder with a lyric you love, and sit with the sound of the water for a while.

Hunter Creek and the in-town trails

Hunter Creek Trail

hiking trail · Aspen

Known for An easy-to-moderate climb along Hunter Creek toward Hunter Valley, past meadows and old homestead cabins, from Lone Pine Road.

Lone Pine Rd, Aspen, CO 81611

WebsiteDirections

Checked against official sources Nov 2026

One of the nicest things about Aspen is how fast you can be on a trail. The Hunter Creek Trail begins just east of the apartments on Lone Pine Road, or directly off the Rio Grande Trail extension. Both are an easy reach from downtown.

The Aspen Chamber rates it easy to moderate. It's a gradual uphill climb along Hunter Creek toward Hunter Valley. The upper sections open into alpine meadows with several abandoned homestead cabins, which are wonderfully photogenic and a little haunting. The elevation runs from 8,900 to 10,400 feet. The Sunnyside Trail merges with Hunter Creek in the valley.

There's also an upper trailhead. From town, drive north on Mill Street, veer left onto Red Mountain Road, and follow it 1.1 miles to Hunter Creek Road. Turn right and follow the signs to the parking lot.

Three more in-town options from the Aspen Chamber:

• Rio Grande Trail (easy). It starts behind the post office on Puppy Smith Road. The first two miles are paved, good for walking or biking.
• Smuggler Trail (easy to moderate). A short climb of about 1½ miles to a lookout over Aspen, reached by Smuggler Mountain Road. It connects to Hunter Creek.
• Ute Trail (difficult). About 0.9 miles and about 1,000 vertical feet of switchbacks, from Ute Avenue to a rock outcropping with a view over town.

A word on altitude. The Rio Grande Trail through town sits around 7,700 to 7,900 feet, and these trails climb well above that. If you're coming from sea-level New Jersey, take day one easy. Drink more water than you think you need, and save the steep hikes for later in the trip.

Two more quiet stops

ACES at Hallam Lake

nature preserve · Aspen

Known for A 25-acre nature preserve and environmental learning center, donated by Elizabeth Paepcke in 1968 and open year-round.

WebsiteDirections

Checked against official sources Nov 2026

The Aspen Center for Environmental Studies began at Hallam Lake, a 25-acre nature preserve and environmental learning center in town. Elizabeth Paepcke donated the property in 1968, and ACES says the preserve is open to the public year-round. ACES also runs naturalist programs and guided tours; check its website for what's on during your dates. Birders, take note: its fall 2026 calendar included morning birding at Hallam Lake.

Explore Books

bookstore and café · Aspen

Known for Aspen's bookstore with a café, events and weekly book recommendations.

WebsiteDirections

Checked against official sources Nov 2026

For a rainy afternoon, Explore Books is Aspen's bookstore with a café. It runs author events and sends weekly updates about new books and happenings. If you read my NJ bookstores guide, you know I'll always make time for a bookshop with coffee.

Getting there and when to go

Getting there. From New Jersey, Aspen is a fly-in trip. Aspen/Pitkin County Airport is the closest airport, just outside town, and many visitors also fly into a larger Colorado airport and drive. Once you're in town, the core is compact and walkable, from the gondola to the art museum to Rio Grande Park.

When to go.

• Summer (June to early September) is the high season for the gondola's mountaintop activities and the Maroon Bells shuttle.
• Late September brings golden aspens, and it's the most beautiful and most booked Maroon Bells window. Reserve as early as you can.
• Early November is the quiet shoulder. Maroon Bells parking was first-come, first-served from November 1 until the road closed on November 10 in 2026.
• Winter (late November to April) is ski season. The gondola runs for skiers and sightseers, and the Maroon Bells road is closed to cars.

Whatever the season, the free stops are always there: the art museum, the sanctuary, the riverside trails. If mountain air is your kind of reset, my weekend getaways and things to do in New Jersey guides have closer-to-home versions for the weekends between big trips.

Every place in this guide, on the map

1. Maroon Bells Scenic AreaMaroon Creek Rd, Aspen, CO 81611
2. Silver Queen GondolaAspen
3. Aspen Art Museum637 E Hyman Ave, Aspen, CO 81611
4. John Denver Sanctuary470 Rio Grande Pl, Aspen, CO 81611
5. Hunter Creek TrailLone Pine Rd, Aspen, CO 81611
6. ACES at Hallam LakeAspen
7. Explore BooksAspen

Questions people ask

Do you need a reservation for Maroon Bells?

In the main season, yes. The White River National Forest says reservations are required to visit the Maroon Bells Scenic Area by shuttle or personal vehicle, booked through visitmaroonbells.com. In 2026, the shuttle ran May 22 to October 18 and vehicle reservations ran May 15 to October 31. From November 1, parking was first-come, first-served until Maroon Creek Road closed for winter on November 10.

Is the Aspen Art Museum free?

Yes. The Aspen Art Museum says admission is free, courtesy of Amy and John Phelan, and its exhibitions and programming are free thanks to its members. The museum is at 637 East Hyman Avenue, a short walk from the gondola. It has a café, Swedish Hill Aspen, on Level 3. The galleries are closed on Mondays, so plan around that.

What is there to do in Aspen in summer?

Summer is Maroon Bells season, with reserved shuttles from Aspen Highlands to Maroon Lake. Ride the Silver Queen Gondola for hiking, disc golf, yoga and live music at the top of Aspen Mountain. Hike Hunter Creek or the Ute Trail from town, bike the paved Rio Grande Trail, visit the free Aspen Art Museum, and spend a quiet hour at the John Denver Sanctuary.

Can you visit Maroon Bells in winter?

Not by car. Maroon Creek Road closes to vehicles for the winter season starting November 10 and typically reopens around May 15, according to the official Maroon Bells reservation site. The road and the scenic area aren't a drive-up winter stop. For winter views, ride the Silver Queen Gondola, which runs for winter sightseeing from late November to mid-April.

How do I get to Maroon Bells without a car?

Take the reserved shuttle. It departs from the Maroon Bells Welcome Center at Aspen Highlands Ski Area, and you book your seat in advance through visitmaroonbells.com. The Forest Service also notes that Maroon Creek Road is open to bicycles and e-bikes. Riders should wear helmets and ride single file, and e-bikes pay the same amenity fee as motorcycles.

Spot something out of date, or know a place we should add? Tell us. Corrections are read first.