Hiking Maroon Bells – Colorado’s Most Beautiful Trail?

Does Colorado’s Most Photographed Mountain Deserve the Hype?

Maroon Bells might be the most photographed mountain in America — but does it actually earn all that hype?

Today, I’m hiking the Maroon Bells Scenic Trail to find out whether Colorado’s so-called crown jewel lives up to the postcard shots, the Instagram fame, and the endless buzz. Spoiler: this trail surprised me in the best way.

Let’s get to it.

Getting to the Trailhead: Shuttle Required

The first thing you need to know about Maroon Bells?
You can’t just drive up to the trailhead anytime you want.

Parking at the official trailhead requires reservations made months in advance. I didn’t have those, so I went with the next best option: the shuttle system.

I parked at the designated Maroon Bells parking garage (around $35) and caught the 7:00 a.m. shuttle. Highly recommend choosing one of the earliest departures — trust me, this place gets packed later in the morning.

Before boarding, I found out that the restrooms at the trailhead are limited, so the attendants recommend using the locker-room facilities in Aspen Village before leaving.

The shuttle ride itself? Smooth, scenic, quiet. Only a handful of people on board. Even in summer, the early morning chill hits hard — low 50s, but warming steadily toward the 70s by mid-day.

Maroon Bells Shuttle Parking

Arriving at Maroon Bells Trailhead

After about 25–35 minutes, the shuttle dropped us directly at the trailhead.

And immediately — wow.

Even the starting area is jaw-dropping. Peaks in every direction, clean mountain air, and perfect morning light washing over the valley. And yes, despite what I heard earlier, there are plenty of restrooms here.

Almost instantly, the trail leads you to the first gem of the hike: Maroon Lake. Beautiful, silent, glassy, framed by the iconic Bells.

But this isn’t the Instagram-famous reflection spot — that’s further ahead.

The Hike to Crater Lake: Peaceful, Rocky, and Surprisingly Empty

About 30 minutes into the hike, I realized something:
I hadn’t seen a single other hiker.

This is the reward for taking the first shuttle.

The trail gradually climbs — maybe 600 to 800 feet of elevation gain total — and yes, it’s rocky. Not dangerously rocky, but rocky enough that hiking boots would’ve been nice. I made it work with regular tennis shoes, but I wouldn’t necessarily recommend that.

The scenery? Next-level.

Aspen groves. Creek crossings. Open fields. Quiet forest stretches. And always the mountains looming above you.

The trail splits eventually — follow the signs for Crater Lake.

Crater Lake: The Postcard Moment

After about 55 minutes, I arrived at Crater Lake — the real centerpiece of the Maroon Bells hike.

And it is stunning.

Even without the classic sunrise reflection (the sun was already a bit too high when I arrived), the scene felt like a painting:
Jagged peaks rising above a wide basin, soft light sweeping across the valley, and an unbelievably peaceful lake ringed by forest and stone.

The water was freezing. Naturally, I had to touch it.

The crowds at this hour? Minimal. Maybe half a dozen people scattered around the lake.

I took my time walking the shoreline, soaking it all in, and filming every angle possible.

The Hike Back: Crowds Incoming

The return hike took about 45 minutes, and this is where things changed dramatically.

Dozens and dozens of people were already streaming toward the lake — families, tour groups, photographers, hikers of all ages. What was peaceful an hour earlier was now feeling more like Disneyland on a mountain.

Again: get the earliest shuttle possible. It makes all the difference.

By the time I reached the shuttle stop in the parking lot, a huge bus unloaded what looked like 50 people at once. And more were arriving every 15 minutes.

So… Is Maroon Bells Colorado’s Most Beautiful Trail?

Honestly?
Yeah. It really might be.

The views are unreal.
The trail is accessible.
The morning stillness is unbeatable.
And Crater Lake is the type of place that makes you stop and rethink your definition of “beautiful.”

If you're into nature, hiking, calm mountain lakes, or drop-dead gorgeous views, you need to put Maroon Bells at the top of your Colorado list.

And if you like this kind of travel… you know what to do:

Subscribe — and Travel Far.

Google Maps Links

📍 Maroon Bells Shuttle Parking
📍 Trailhead
📍 Maroon Lake

🎥 Watch the Full Video

Want to see the full hike, shuttle experience, the Crater Lake reveal, and all the views?
Watch the full Hiking Maroon Bells – Colorado’s Most Beautiful Trail? vlog on YouTube.

Thanks for reading — and as always…
Travel Far.