Are you visiting Aspen this summer? Do you want to maximize your enjoyment of the fresh mountain air and expansive vistas? While Aspen is best known for its world-class skiing, five-star dining, and upscale downtown boutiques, Aspen’s true summer magnificence is best on display in nature.

Aspen is located in the heart of the Rockies, surrounded by majestic mountains. There are many trails around town that offer great views of the surrounding area. Not only is Aspen spectacular in the summer (think explosions of wildflowers, vibrant red rocks, expansive blue skies, and lush greenery), its numerous local hiking trails will maximize your views of the valley and beyond. 

Start your mountain summer off right by exploring the scenery in and around the Aspen valley. Here’s our guide to the best trails to try.

Hike the Ute Trail to the Ajax Trail

If you’re ready for a challenge, the Ute Trail rewards you with stunning views after an extremely intense workout. This uphill excursion can take you from the trailhead on Ute Avenue to over 11,000 feet at the top of Aspen Mountain, where you can take a free gondola ride back down when your legs get tired. (While the trailhead is walkable from downtown, there’s also parking across the street for those who drive.) 

The Ute Trail climbs over 1,000 feet in less than a mile, and over 3,000 feet over the full 3-mile length to the top of Aspen Mountain. You gain height quickly as you scramble up tight, often slick dirt switchbacks with dense foliage.

The trail opens out at Ute Rock, just under a mile up the trail. You’ll see a decent sized outcropping of rocks and a wooden swing. Soak up stunning views of Aspen and the surrounding mountains and valleys. Stop and take a break while you enjoy a snack or simply find awe in the beauty of nature. Ute Rock is the most popular turnaround point for this hike.

If you’re continuing to the top of Ajax, head on up through shaded forest, finally reaching the top of the mountain to reveal some of the finest local views. Plan on taking 4 to 6 hours and at least 2 liters of water to complete the full hike.

Hiking Aspen’s Hunter Creek Trail 

The 5-mile Hunter Creek loop is easy to moderate and suitable for most hikers. It’s easy to access, but can be challenging depending on your pace. The trail begins just a short walk or drive from downtown Aspen, taking a gentle climb up and away from town across stunning bridges and amazing natural surroundings. Head out of Aspen on Red Mountain Road and turn right after a mile onto Hunter Creek. You’ll find the parking lot and trailhead by turning left after another quarter mile.

As soon as you start your hike, you will be immersed in Aspen’s summertime sights, sounds, and smells. The wide path and gentle grade on the lower part of the trail make the beginning of the hike suitable for anyone; you can always turn back before the trail increases in difficulty.

You’ll find yourself surrounded by wildflowers and wildlife, amidst a variety of sounds and colors. The trail follows the creek, and many bridges provide great views of the mountains while you listen to water babbling. A waterfall provides a stunning backdrop for your journey about a third of the way along the trail. You’ll also find several observation points along the way, allowing you to take a break and admire the views.

Hike Aspen’s Smuggler Mountain Trail

While it is a busy trail, people love Smuggler Mountain for its brevity and proximity to downtown. It’s a perfect lunch break or post-workday hike. Located on Aspen’s northeast side, you can access Smuggler’s dirt road by taking either Mill Street or Cooper Avenue to Park Circle and parking in one of two lots. 

Most hikers climb the 1.5 miles to an overlook platform for a panoramic view of the town, then head back down the same way they came. There’s very little shade, so sunscreen and water are highly recommended. Plan on taking 1 to 2 hours for this out-and-back hike. 

The Smuggler Mountain Trail is a dirt road that climbs Smuggler Mountain over a series of switchbacks. As you climb, the path widens and becomes unpaved. After traveling past several old mining claims, you will arrive at a lookout point with an incredible view of the Roaring Fork Valley. Look out for wildflowers in the summer and golden-yellow aspen leaves in the fall, as well as numerous shrubs and evergreens.

You can extend your hike by connecting smuggler with other trails such as Hunter Creek, or heading on to Warren Lakes (about 12 miles out-and-back).

Hiking Aspen’s Sunnyside Trail

Sunnyside is another trail close to downtown Aspen. It’s a 6-mile, moderately difficult out-and-back trail that’s open and dry most of the year. This means you’ll be in the sun the entire way (hence the trail’s name), and you’ll be treated to unobstructed views of the Aspen mountains the entire way. 

Sunnyside Ridge is well-known for having some of the best views of any trail in the valley. The Sunnyside Trail is a great place to start your Aspen summer adventures because of its easy hiking, gentle terrain, and breathtaking views.

Head out of Aspen on Highway 82 for about a quarter of a mile, then turn right onto Cemetery Lane at the stoplight. Turn left onto McLain Flats Road after the bridge, and park in the small area on your left. The trailhead is across the road on the right. 

Hike the Maroon Bells Scenic Trail

The Maroon Bells area is one of the most beautiful locations in Aspen, and the trails beginning at that location allow everyone to fully experience its majesty for themselves.

The Maroon Bells Scenic Trail is a short, easy hike that offers some of the most beautiful views in Aspen. The 1.5-mile hike begins near the Maroon Bells parking lot and winds around Maroon Lake before heading out into the wilderness across some rocky terrain. You can extend the hike by a couple of miles on the Upper Scenic Trail, which follows the path of the creek itself and provides spectacular views of Maroon Bells and Pyramid Peak.

To get to the Maroon Bells, turn left on Maroon Creek Road from the roundabout. Stop at Aspen Highlands Ski Area Base Village to take the shuttle to the trailhead. Note that advance reservations and a small shuttle fee are required.

Hiking to Crater Lake from Maroon Lake

To get to Crater Lake from the Maroon Bells, take the Scenic Trail to the Maroon Snowmass Trail (also known as the Crater Lake Trail). Hiking from Maroon Lake, you’ll pass through trembling aspen groves with views of the glistening water below and the towering 14,018-foot Pyramid Peak across the valley. A few steep spurts lead to a boulder field dotted with white aspen trunks, delicate columbines, and a commanding view of North Maroon.

You’ll get a better view of the famous Bells once you arrive at Crater Lake. You’ll have to walk through a glacier-made valley filled with talus along the trail, so watch your step on the irregular, chunky rocks. Crater Lake is the ideal location for an unforgettable picnic before packing up and returning to your starting point.

Hike Aspen’s Difficult Creek Trail

The Difficult Creek Trail, which begins off Independence Pass south of Aspen, is a peaceful, serene, and isolated summertime excursion. The trail climbs through fir and pine forests and crosses Difficult Creek several times, gaining just over 1,300 feet in elevation. The trail is steep and rocky for a half-mile, but then it flattens out and eventually passes the ruins of several historic cabins.

Because the final vista is known to be anti-climactic, many local hikers choose to turn around after the first three miles. Depending on how far you go, this hike can take anywhere from 1 to 5 hours.

Difficult Creek can be reached by driving 5 miles out of Aspen towards Independence Pass, then turning right at the sign for Difficult Campground. Drive a half mile and park on the right in the picnic area. The trail begins in the parking lot’s far left corner.

Hiking the The Grottos

The Grottos is one of our favorite summer hikes in the Aspen area because it’s both easy and unique. In the middle of summer, you can walk along rocks, see cascading waterfalls, and visit ice caves (formed 8,000+ years ago by glacier activity). Picnic and fishing areas abound as well.

This trail is located in the White River National Forest, 9 miles east of Aspen along Independence Pass. You’ll notice offshoots to the various natural attractions as you hike along the main path. Continue on the Old Stage Road, or take the fork to the Grottos and cascades or the ice caves.

Hike the Grizzly Peak Trail

This gem of a hike, located in a high-alpine basin with the ragged 13,988-foot summit of Grizzly Peak towering above, should not be missed. The 7.2 mile round-trip hike begins at a high elevation of 10,560 feet and winds through subalpine spruce until it reaches high valley meadows dotted with wildflowers. 

As you continue climbing, you’ll be surrounded by the jagged summits and ridges of the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness, until you reach a broad shelf covered in scrubby, gnarled krummholz. One more long switchback brings you to the rocky lakeshore, where you can relax and enjoy the deep turquoise waters.

Hiking to Linkins Lake

Because of the amazing vistas, high alpine atmosphere, and short roundtrip distance (1.2 miles), Linkins Lake is another Aspen summer hiking favorite. Because there isn’t much shelter along the way, be wary of thunderstorm risk before beginning your hike. Climb up a high valley wall (500 feet in roughly half a mile) to arrive at the lake. This alpine cirque was created at the head of a glacier.

The beginning for this climb is further along Independence Pass than the Grottos; pull into the parking area at the last hairpin turn before the Continental Divide.

Hiking the American Lake Trail

If views of mountain lakes are your idea of heaven, the American Lake Trail is for you. This Aspen hike, which begins and ends at Castle Creek Road, is not for the faint of heart. You’ll face a 2,000-foot elevation gain over 6.5 miles, but you’ll be rewarded handsomely once you reach the breathtaking scenery of American Lake. The entire hike should take 3-4 hours.

From the trailhead, you’ll quickly gain elevation along a series of switchbacks through Aspen groves full of wildflowers. You’ll hike through a spruce forest to reach open, bright wildflower meadows, and head back into the forest to find the perfect waterfall backdrop. Finish the journey to American Lake, surrounded by rough granite cliffs.

This trail is easily accessible by car. Take Castle Creek Road from the Aspen roundabout and follow it for 10 miles. Once you reach Elk Mountain Lodge, turn right into the American Lake parking lot. 

Hiking to Cathedral Lake and Electric Pass

Castle Creek Road also leads to Aspen’s Cathedral Lake hiking trail. It’s steep, ascending around 2,000 feet over 2.8 miles each way, but you’ll be justly rewarded by the brilliantly colored green-blue lake at the summit.

You’ll go through dense aspen groves and spruce woods before ascending eight short but steep switchbacks to the lake. Once you’ve started paralleling Pine Creek, you may take a diversion to see the falls. Cathedral Lake is surrounded by a ring of jagged peaks, including the 13,943-foot Cathedral Peak.

If you continue to Electric Pass, you will reach Colorado’s highest trail pass at 13,500 feet. Be prepared for very little shade and plenty of tricky rock-picking along the route. You will be susceptible to lightning strikes, so tread carefully and be prepared.

Hiking the Lost Man Trail

Although this hike is technically a loop, it’s unlikely you’ll come full circle. Because there’s a four-mile gap between the two ends of the trail, hikers who complete the loop need to shuttle or hitchhike back to the car. Follow Independence Pass south of Aspen just past mile marker 55. The trailhead and parking lot will be on your left.

Whether you take the entire path and experience everything Lost Man offers, or you hike just a portion of the trail, this is a summer Aspen hike that provides all of the natural beauty and magic of mountain living at once.

The Lost Man Loop takes around 6 hours to complete and gives you a full tour of the Aspen area’s rugged terrain. It has a subtle but steady incline, beginning at 10,507 feet and climbing to 12,800 feet before dropping back to 11,506 feet.

You’ll encounter Lost Man Reservoir, Lost Man Lake, and Independence Lake along the journey, and you’ll cross Lost Man Creek and the Roaring Fork River in various places. Be prepared for continual exposure and possible thunderstorms while you’re enjoying the nonstop breathtaking scenery and views. Enjoy the sounds of water running nearby, as well as the fragrant aroma of alpine wildflowers.

Hike the Midway Trail

The Midway Trail is slightly shorter — and generally less crowded — than the popular Lost Man Loop, though it starts at the same trailhead. Expect to switchback continually through dense, spruce forest until you’re surrounded by wildflowers of all kinds. Keep hiking until you reach the tundra for stunning views of Independence Pass and the mountain peaks. Once you pass some small ponds and start descending towards the ridgeline’s low point at 11,840 feet, you’re ready to turn around.

Accommodating Summer Hiking in Aspen

Hiking may be our favorite summer activity in Aspen. Any local hiking path you select will be unforgettable. Please contact our concierge for extra adventure recommendations or particular guidance on gear or trail access. We are always delighted to assist our guests in experiencing the summertime charm that Aspen residents enjoy on a daily basis. If you test a path and find yourself wanting more, you may want to stay longer and make it more comfortable. Explore our Aspen luxury vacation rentals.