Maroon Bells and Maroon Lake
Two fourteen-thousand-foot peaks reflected in Maroon Lake, ten miles from downtown Aspen. The most photographed mountain view in Colorado and the one stop nobody should skip.
Colorado
Aspen & Glenwood Springs
Aspen is Colorado's most glamorous mountain town and also one of its most beautiful: a Victorian silver-mining settlement at roughly 7,900 feet in the Roaring Fork Valley, ringed by four ski mountains, the twin fourteeners of the Maroon Bells and the high road over Independence Pass.
This guide covers the whole experience in one place. In the town itself you can ride the Silver Queen Gondola, walk the pedestrian malls, take a ghost tour or a historic walk, visit the Aspen Art Museum and hear world-class music under the tent in summer. Around it are Snowmass Village, the Highlands Bowl, the ghost town of Ashcroft and the best-known mountain view in the state at Maroon Lake. Down the valley, Glenwood Springs adds the giant hot springs pool, Glenwood Caverns, the hike to Hanging Lake and half-day rafting through Glenwood Canyon. Twelve hotels run from the grand Hotel Jerome and The Little Nell to boutique, family and value stays in Aspen, Snowmass, Basalt and Glenwood Springs, and six guides cover itineraries, where to stay, Maroon Bells, budgets, the seasons and the Glenwood day trip.
Don't miss
Maroon Bells and Maroon Lake
Two fourteen-thousand-foot peaks reflected in Maroon Lake, ten miles from downtown Aspen. The most photographed mountain view in Colorado and the one stop nobody should skip.
Silver Queen Gondola and Aspen Mountain
A fifteen-minute gondola ride from the edge of downtown Aspen to the 11,000-foot summit of Aspen Mountain, with big views, a mountaintop restaurant and trails in summer.
Aspen Highlands and Highlands Bowl
A ski mountain loved by locals for its steep terrain, the Highlands Bowl and a famous view of the Maroon Bells from the Cloud Nine area. In summer, a gondola-free hike to the same ridge.
Snowmass Village and Snowmass Mountain
A family-friendly ski-in, ski-out resort village with the largest of the four Aspen mountains, a pedestrian Base Village, summer festivals and plenty of kid-friendly activities.
Things to do in Aspen & Glenwood Springs
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
Silver Queen Gondola and Aspen Mountain
A fifteen-minute gondola ride from the edge of downtown Aspen to the 11,000-foot summit of Aspen Mountain, with big views, a mountaintop restaurant and trails in summer.
Independence Pass Scenic Drive
A high mountain road over the Continental Divide at more than 12,000 feet, with alpine tundra, ghost towns, lakes and some of the best views in Colorado. Open only in the warm months.
Half dayDetails →
Downtown Aspen and the Pedestrian Malls
A compact Victorian mining town turned global playground, with brick pedestrian malls, boutiques, galleries, restaurants and a mountain at the end of every street. Free to wander all year.
2 to 4 hoursDetails →
Aspen Highlands and Highlands Bowl
A ski mountain loved by locals for its steep terrain, the Highlands Bowl and a famous view of the Maroon Bells from the Cloud Nine area. In summer, a gondola-free hike to the same ridge.
Snowmass Village and Snowmass Mountain
A family-friendly ski-in, ski-out resort village with the largest of the four Aspen mountains, a pedestrian Base Village, summer festivals and plenty of kid-friendly activities.
FreeAspen Art Museum
A striking woven-screen building in the center of Aspen with contemporary exhibitions, a rooftop sculpture garden and cafe, and a long record of free admission. A good rainy-day stop.
1 to 2 hoursDetails →
Ashcroft Ghost Town
A preserved silver-mining ghost town in a spectacular alpine valley about eleven miles from Aspen, with weathered buildings you can walk through and a free-roaming sense of the past.
Aspen Music Festival and School
Eight summer weeks of orchestral, chamber and opera performances by top musicians and students under the Benedict Music Tent and in smaller halls, with free rehearsals and lawn seats.
ACES at Hallam Lake Nature Preserve
A small riverside nature preserve minutes from downtown Aspen, with trails, a lake, a raptor and animal center, and naturalist-led programs for families and curious adults.
1 to 2 hoursDetails →
Highlights of Aspen Walking Tour
A guided walk through downtown Aspen that ties together the silver rush, the Hotel Jerome, the Wheeler Opera House and the rise of the ski town. The best first-day orientation.
Aspen DarkSide Ghost Tour
An evening walk through downtown Aspen’s darker history: mining accidents, outlaws, hauntings and strange tales from the old hotels and saloons. Atmospheric, funny and a little spooky.
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
Hotel Jerome, Auberge Collection
Downtown Aspen
Aspen’s grand 1889 landmark hotel, a few steps from the pedestrian malls and the gondola, with Victorian character, a famous bar and polished modern comforts.
Check rates →The Little Nell
Base of Aspen Mountain
A luxury ski-in, ski-out hotel at the base of Aspen Mountain, steps from the Silver Queen Gondola and downtown, with a renowned restaurant and wine program.
Check rates →
$$$$The St. Regis Aspen Resort
Base of Aspen Mountain
A large luxury resort at the foot of Aspen Mountain, with a full spa, heated pool, ski concierge and a short walk to the gondola and the center of town.
Check rates →W Aspen
Base of Aspen Mountain
A stylish modern design hotel near the base of Aspen Mountain, with a lively social scene, a pool deck, a spa and an easy walk to the gondola and downtown.
Check rates →Limelight Hotel Aspen
Downtown Aspen
A relaxed, social downtown hotel near the gondola, with a heated pool, a lively lobby and a good-value mix of rooms and family-friendly options.
Check rates →Hotel Durant
Near the Gondola, Downtown Aspen
A compact, comfortable hotel on Durant Avenue, a very short walk from the gondola and downtown, with a hot tub, a simple breakfast and a strong location for the price.
Check rates →
$$$Aspen Meadows Resort
Aspen Meadows Campus
A quiet resort on the Aspen Institute campus, designed with Bauhaus influences, next to the Music Tent and a short ride from downtown, with a pool and a calm, green setting.
Check rates →Annabelle Inn
Near the Gondola, Downtown Aspen
A small, friendly inn a short walk from the gondola and the downtown malls, offering a lower-priced way to stay in the center of Aspen with simple, comfortable rooms.
Check rates →Viceroy Snowmass
Base Village, Snowmass Village
A modern luxury ski-in, ski-out hotel in Snowmass Base Village, with a pool, spa, restaurants and family-friendly facilities steps from the lifts and village.
Check rates →Limelight Hotel Snowmass
Base Village, Snowmass Village
A lively, family-friendly hotel in Snowmass Base Village with a heated pool, a social lobby and quick access to the lifts and village activities.
Check rates →
$$Hotel Colorado
Glenwood Springs, near the Hot Springs Pool
A grand 1893 hotel across from the Glenwood Hot Springs Pool, with Italian Renaissance architecture, a long guest list and a handy base for canyon adventures.
Check rates →Element by Marriott Basalt - Aspen
Basalt, Roaring Fork Valley
A modern, practical hotel in Basalt, about twenty miles down the valley from Aspen, offering lower rates, spacious rooms and an easy base for the whole Roaring Fork Valley.
Check rates →Tour + stay
Ready-made pairings: a top sight and a hotel that suits it. Add both to your trip and book each when you are ready.
Do
Maroon Bells and Maroon LakeStay
Hotel Jerome, Auberge CollectionDowntown Aspen
Do
Silver Queen Gondola and Aspen MountainStay
The Little NellBase of Aspen Mountain
Do
Aspen Highlands and Highlands BowlStay
The St. Regis Aspen ResortBase of Aspen Mountain
While you are there
What’s on in Aspen & Glenwood Springs
30+ concerts, shows and games are on sale in the coming months, from stadium nights to small rooms. Our sister site Purveyor lists them with dates, venues and seats.
Aspen & Glenwood Springs guides
Aspen in Three Days: A Mountain Itinerary for All Seasons
A three-day plan that mixes the Maroon Bells, the gondola, downtown history and a high mountain drive, with swaps for winter and summer.
Where to Stay in Aspen and Snowmass: Downtown, Slopeside or Down the Valley
How to choose between historic downtown hotels, ski-in resorts, Snowmass Village and cheaper bases in Basalt and Glenwood Springs, with all twelve hotels placed by trip type.
The Maroon Bells: A Visitor Guide to Aspen’s Most Famous View
How to plan a visit to Maroon Lake and the Bells, with advice on reservations, shuttles, light, hikes, autumn color and safety.
Aspen on a Budget: How to Enjoy a Luxury Town Without a Luxury Bill
Smart ways to cut the cost of an Aspen trip, from where to stay and eat to free sights, cheap tours and seasonal timing.
The Best Time to Visit Aspen: Seasons, Crowds and What Is Open
A season-by-season guide to Aspen, covering ski season, summer festivals, golden autumn aspens, the quiet shoulder seasons and what to expect from weather and prices.
Glenwood Springs from Aspen: A Day Trip to the Hot Springs and the Canyon
How to plan a day trip from Aspen to Glenwood Springs, with the hot springs pool, rafting, Hanging Lake, Glenwood Caverns and tips for driving the valley.
