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Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness

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Overview

Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness was one of five areas in Colorado designated as wilderness in the original Wilderness Act of 1964 which now comprises of 183,847 acres.

You'll have plenty of human company in Colorado's fourth largest Wilderness. This area exemplifies Rocky Mountain splendor with over 175 miles of trail that take users over nine passes above 12,000 feet, vast regions lie above the treeline, and long glacial valleys pointing to glistening alpine lakes.

With six peaks rising above 14,000 feet, this area draws mountaineers and runners by the thousands annually. The awesome, jagged symmetry of the twin 14,000 ft. the Maroon Bells, reflected in Maroon Lake, is the most photographed peaks in all of North America.

Camping & Lodging

Use Permits: Advance reservation overnight permits are required for the busiest areas of the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness including Conundrum Hot Springs, Capitol Lake, Crater Lake, and the Four Pass Loop (including Snowmass Lake and Geneva Lake). Permits must be purchased in advance at recreation.gov. For all other trips to the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, free self-registration is required. Self-registration permits are available at trailheads, parking lots, and wilderness boundaries. For more information, check out the US Forest Service's website.

Food Storage: First is bear-proof storage. The Bells is in bear country and due to an increase in use, increase in bear activity and a focus on safety we have in place an order that requires overnight runners to use IGBC approved bear-proof food storage containers. As a reminder of proper use of the containers; all food (including alcohol), trash, and toiletries must fit in the container.

Gems in Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness - 3

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gem Favorite One hell of an evening at the Maroon Bells

Maroon Bells

(30) Snowmas…, CO
gem Favorite Snowmass Lake sunrise.

Snowmass Lake

(6) Snowmas…, CO
gem Favorite The valley as viewed from Conundrum Hot Springs.

Conundrum Hot Springs

(9) Crested…, CO

Recommended Routes in Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness - 12

Trail Run Project is built by runners like you. Add Your Recommended Routes

Favorite One hell of an evening at the Maroon Bells
Difficult Difficult

Four Pass Loop

27.1 mi 43.6 km 7,265' Up 2214.42 m Up 7,266' Down 2214.53 m Down

Snowmas…, CO
Explore in 3D
Favorite Capitol Peak from just above Capitol Lake
Very Difficult Very Difficult

Capitol Peak

16.0 mi 25.8 km 5,337' Up 1626.58 m Up 5,339' Down 1627.3 m Down

Snowmas…, CO
Explore in 3D
Favorite Camping off buckskin and enjoying the view.
Difficult Difficult

Snowmass - Willow Lake Loop

22.3 mi 35.9 km 5,436' Up 1657.01 m Up 5,456' Down 1662.91 m Down

Snowmas…, CO
Explore in 3D
Favorite Carbondale runner, Elinor Fish, out for a sunrise cruise on the flanks of Mt Sopris.
Difficult Difficult

Mount Sopris

13.4 mi 21.5 km 4,228' Up 1288.82 m Up 4,228' Down 1288.66 m Down

El Jebel, CO
Explore in 3D
Favorite A view of Pine Creek and Malamute Peak.
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult

Cathedral Lake Trail

5.5 mi 8.8 km 2,098' Up 639.41 m Up 2,098' Down 639.32 m Down

Aspen, CO
Explore in 3D
Favorite Fall leaves in the Conundrum Valley.
Difficult Difficult

Conundrum Hot Springs Out-and-Back

17.4 mi 28.0 km 2,536' Up 772.93 m Up 2,535' Down 772.82 m Down

Aspen, CO
Explore in 3D
Favorite One hell of an evening at the Maroon Bells
Difficult Difficult

Pyramid Peak

7.9 mi 12.6 km 4,393' Up 1339.06 m Up 4,393' Down 1338.99 m Down

Snowmas…, CO
Explore in 3D
Favorite Looking back at Castle peak from the ridge to Conundrum.
Difficult Difficult

Castle and Conundrum

12.0 mi 19.3 km 4,299' Up 1310.31 m Up 4,298' Down 1309.91 m Down

Aspen, CO
Explore in 3D
Favorite One hell of an evening at the Maroon Bells
Difficult Difficult

Aspen to Crested Butte via West Maroon Pass

10.8 mi 17.4 km 2,878' Up 877.12 m Up 2,034' Down 619.91 m Down

Snowmas…, CO
Explore in 3D
Favorite Be prepared for eye-popping displays of turning aspens in September
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult

American Lake

6.5 mi 10.4 km 1,972' Up 601.06 m Up 1,972' Down 600.99 m Down

Aspen, CO
Explore in 3D
Favorite Looking south up Capitol Creek valley towards Capitol Peak.
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult

Capitol Creek

12.5 mi 20.2 km 2,295' Up 699.44 m Up 2,293' Down 698.86 m Down

Snowmas…, CO
Explore in 3D
Favorite Looking south up Capitol Creek valley towards Capitol Peak.
Difficult Difficult

Capitol Lake, Avalanche Creek, Hell's Roaring Pass Loop

24.6 mi 39.6 km 6,491' Up 1978.41 m Up 6,420' Down 1956.74 m Down

Snowmas…, CO
Explore in 3D

Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness Running

  • 139 Miles 224 Kilometers of Trail
  • 12 Recommended Routes
  • 3 Gems Gems
  • 1 Easy Trail Easy Trails
  • 12 Intermediate Trails Intermediate Trails
  • 29 Difficult Trails Difficult Trails
Trail Run Project is built by runners like you. Share what you know about this area!

Weather Averages


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Trails in Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness - 30

Trail Run Project is built by runners like you. Add Your Trails

8.2 mi 13.1 km #1Maroon Snowmass Trail
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
Snowmass Village, CO
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
Snowmass Village, CO
6.7 mi 10.9 km #2Maroon Snowmass Trail #1975
Difficult Difficult
Snowmass Village, CO
Difficult Difficult
Snowmass Village, CO
1.8 mi 2.9 km #3Maroon Snowmass Trail
Intermediate Intermediate
Snowmass Village, CO
Intermediate Intermediate
Snowmass Village, CO 14 
2.1 mi 3.3 km #4Capitol Peak
Very Difficult Very Difficult
Snowmass Village, CO
Very Difficult Very Difficult
Snowmass Village, CO
7.6 mi 12.3 km #5East Snowmass Trail
Difficult Difficult
Snowmass Village, CO
Difficult Difficult
Snowmass Village, CO
2.9 mi 4.7 km #6Mount Sopris Trail
Difficult Difficult
El Jebel, CO
Difficult Difficult
El Jebel, CO
11.2 mi 18.1 km #7Conundrum Creek Trail #1981
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
Aspen, CO
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
Aspen, CO
8.5 mi 13.7 km #8Capitol Creek Trail (#1961)
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
Snowmass Village, CO
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
Snowmass Village, CO
2.5 mi 4.0 km #9Pyramid Peak Trail
Very Difficult Very Difficult
Snowmass Village, CO
Very Difficult Very Difficult
Snowmass Village, CO
3.3 mi 5.2 km #10Capitol Ditch Trail (#1963)
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
Snowmass Village, CO
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
Snowmass Village, CO

Photos of Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness - 194

Trail Run Project is built by runners like you. Add Your Photos

Moose
Feb 9, 2015 near Snowmas…, CO
Maroon Bells
Apr 1, 2015 near Snowmas…, CO
Running up heavenly Fravert Basin. Photo: Michelle Smith
Aug 31, 2015 near Snowmas…, CO
One hell of an evening at the Maroon Bells
Sep 27, 2015 near Snowmas…, CO
Capitol Peak from just above Capitol Lake
Oct 1, 2017 near Snowmas…, CO
One of the many amazing high country lake views found on the Four Pass Loop.
Feb 1, 2018 near Snowmas…, CO
Maroon Bells on a beautiful fall day
Feb 8, 2018 near Snowmas…, CO
Camping off buckskin and enjoying the view.
Nov 9, 2019 near Snowmas…, CO

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