Our family is visiting Aspen this summer. I am looking for suggested hiking trails for families (our children are 11-15 years old).

If you do nothing else, you should hike at the Maroon Bells, situated between Aspen and Snowmass. There is a lake, Maroon Bells Lake, of course, with the mountains in the background reflecting in the water, breathtaking! There is a great hiking trail around the lake and then on up into the mountains. You can hike to the next lake, Crater Lake in about roughly 1 1/2 hrs. (or less) - I'm sorry, I just can't remember exactly because we've had small children with us the 4 times we've been there, and as you can imagine stopped frequently for them to rest or drink. You can keep hiking on into Snowmass from there if you were so inclined!

You can either drive up Maroon Creek road (ask at your hotel how to get there or look at an Aspen city map available in many hotels and restaurants) before 8:30am or take a bus from Aspen into the Maroon Bells. Travel by car is restricted after 8:30am until 5:00pm. The buses run frequently and evidently (have never riden on one) the driver gives history and interesting tidbits of info. along the way. It's probably a 20 min. ride.

You can stop in at the Ute Mountaneer store at the "mall" area in downtown Aspen and get hiking maps, and 5 yrs. ago I bought a cheap little guide called "10 short hikes in Aspen" that has come in real handy. They might still have this or an updated version of it. The hikes listed can also be long hikes if you choose to keep going from the turn-around point mentioned in the guide.

We LOVE hiking in Aspen. Hope you enjoy it.

Also, if you're going thru the area or don't mind driving an hour from Aspen, there's a spectacular hike in Glenwood Springs starting from the Glenwood Canyon paved trail. It's called the Hanging Lake trail. You end up at a beautiful emerald green lake fed by water streaming over the side of a mountain. It's incredibly beautiful, and the last parts of it are a little treacherous, but it's worth it.

Hope this helps!

Hiked to Hanging Lake about 10 years ago. I am still telling people about it. Have found pictures of it on-line, but they do not begin to do it justice. It's magical! Hike to the waterfall emptying into it and take a short hike upstream to another wonderful surprise!

Thanks Steph and Scott

How long is Hanging Trail?

Best to end the Maroon Bells hike by using the trail that parallels the route the bus exits by. Then you or any of your party can bailout whenever tired at any of a number of bus stops. It's a high tech envirofriendly bus that may even be free - they don't want private vehicles thronging the place.

P.S. Aspen Mt Rescue strongly wishes you to buy the dollar or two "free rescue ticket" sold in local outdoor stores. Then they will spare no expense or effort to retrieve you after a broken ankle or something; otherwise they may be grumpy and charge you. This may be a Colorado wide program.