Hello. DH and I will be in Colorado in late Sept. We are considering a couple of different options one of which is the Maroon Bells area. Can anyone suggest lodging in the $150-200 range? Will the area be crowded during the week? Do you have a favorite hike?

Thank you.

anyone?

I like the Crater Lake Hike at Maroon Bells. If you are near Glenwood Springs during your stay, Hanging Lake Rock is another great hike. The following links should provide more info.

http://www.naturalbornhikers.com/Mar...aroonBells.htm

www.hikingincolorado.org/hang.html

Late September is a great time to be in Colorado!

wtm003, those are great hiking sites. Thank you.

I am finding that a lot of people know about it being a good time to be in Colorado. Seems many of the hotels I have checked are completely sold out. I am looking for a comfortable accomodation around $150-200 a night and would consider Basalt, Cannondale or any of the other smaller areas outside of Aspen. Any recommendations?

Have you just googled? There should be almost limitless places to stay in that area with the ski areas. Here is a google page for Glenwood Springs. But it is a great time to be in the mountains. The leaves should be changing also.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...lenwood&aqi=g2

I usually stay at the Silvertree Hotel in Snowmass. It hesitate to recommend the hotel because it is not what most people want for an Aspen vacation. It doesn't have the shine and glitz of most Aspen properties, but the price is reasonable and I've always received a clean room. Unfortunately, the restaurant situation is limited, so a short trip into Aspen will probably be necessary for dinner. I'm not the type to relax in my room while on vacation (especially since I have my kids in tow) so this property works for me.

www.silvertreehotel.com

Snowmass has loads of condos you can rent. I would check the resort website as well as VRBO. In September you should be able to drive into the park during the week but you'll have to take a shuttle on the weekend.

If you have time, be sure to drive up Independent Pass. It's my favorite Colorado drive and in late September is just beautiful!

Have stayed twice (a full week each time) at the Mountain Chalet in Aspen and highly recommend it based on my experience. The shuttle to the Maroon Bells is just across the street and it appears to be within your price range....

http://www.mountainchaletaspen.com/rates.htm

If you're interested, a friend of mine was recently in the area and said she had the Mexican meal she's ever had in her life near Basalt. I don't know the name, but can find out.

That should have read "the BEST Mexican meal she's ever had".

AnnMarieC and wtm, thanks for the suggestions. I will follow up on them. sf7307, I would be interested in the restaurant name, DH is a big fan of good Mexican. Thank you, Grasshopper, for the suggestions.
Gretchen, I did use google to get a listing of available properties. I posted on the forum to get some personal recommendations.

I know that is a good idea, but for a couple of nights--a little off season--it could be spotty. I can HIGHLY recommend the Little Nell in Aspen!! LOL
It is such a wonderful place to go, winter or not.

Little Nell was my first choice and it is showing no availability for our dates. I wish...........