Hiking in Aspen and Snowmass

If you aren't used to it, high altitude can catch you off guard. Drink plenty of water to help stave off the effects of altitude sickness—dizziness, shortness of breath, headache, and nausea. Slather on the sunscreen—it's easy to get sunburned at altitude. And, in summer, an early morning start is best, as afternoon thunderstorms are frequent and can be dangerous above the tree line.

Aspen excels at high-altitude scenery (seven of the state's 54 Fourteeners are in the Elk Mountain range) and nowhere is the iconic image of the Colorado Rockies more breathtaking than in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness Area. In summer, shuttle buses take visitors up Maroon Creek Road to Maroon Lake at the base of the peaks from 8:30 AM until 5 PM. Private cars are allowed at all other times (there is a $10 recreational fee). More-ambitious sightseers can select from a number of trails. Sopris Ranger District, White River National Forest. Maroon Creek Rd. 10 mi west of Aspen. 970/963-2266. www.fs.fed.us/r2/whiteriver.

You'll get a taste of several ecozones as you tackle Cathedral Lake,a 5.6-mi round-trip trail. The trail starts gently in aspen and pine groves but earns sweat quickly in a long, steep climb into a high valley. Another series of steep, short switchbacks ascend a headwall. From there it's a short stroll to a shallow alpine lake cupped by a wall of granite cliffs. When the high-country snows melt off in mid-July, the meadows and willow thickets surrounding the lake are colored with blooming mountain lupine, columbine, and Indian paintbrush. Sopris Ranger District, White River National Forest. 970/963-2266. www.fs.fed.us/r2/whiteriver.

Getting High in Aspen

Surrounded by 14,000-foot peaks, Aspen almost demands to be appreciated from a bird's-eye view. Old-fashioned foot power can take you up any of the numerous peak trails while the lazy can simply enjoy the ski lifts, both summer and winter. If you're looking for a boost of adrenaline, try a morning balloon flight. Real thrill seekers will opt for paragliding.