Basecamp Colorado is Glenwood Springs Colorado

This route also makes a great loop for bicycles. For a bike loop, turn left at the end of the pavement and follow the road to the left towards Hagerman Pass. Before the pass you will turn right towards Ivanhoe Lake. Follow the road around Ivanhoe Lake and down to Lily Pad Lake. From here the trail becomes single track and leads back to the Fryingpan Lakes trailhead. From the trailhead follow the gravel road back to the pavement. The views from the trail are great with lots of open meadows.

Directions from Carbondale: From Carbondale travel east on Hwy. 82 to Basalt. Turn left into downtown Basalt and follow the Fryingpan River Road about 32 miles to the end of the pavement. Most people like to park here and ride their bikes to make a loop ride, or if you are hiking the trail, you can continue to drive to the beginning of the trail. For a two and a half mile hike, turn right at the end of the pavement and drive to the end of the gravel road. The trail starts from the Fryingpan Lakes trailhead.

Seasonal Information:
Normal Winter Season: November through March (NOTE: The Lily Pad Lake Trail provides Winter access to the Betty Bear Hut in the 10th Mountain Division Hut system.) .

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Posted by Brett at 09:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

13 miles round-trip
This trail to West Maroon Pass is another of the heavily used Maroon Bells trails, popular with day hikers, backpackers and those headed for a comfy bed in Crested Butte. Begin at the Maroon Lake parking area (you’ll need to catch a shuttle bus from Aspen Highlands to get there) and traverse the meadow to the lake’s far end. From there, follow the Maroon-Snowmass Trail as it climbs through aspens to Crater Lake. Take the left fork at Crater Lake to get onto the West Maroon Trail itself.

After the lake, the trail follows a stream for a short distance, then travels through forest and willow before reaching another stream crossing in an open area. From there, the hard-to-see trail angles to the right and climbs steadily into the tundra. You’ll be able to see the pass in the distance. Keep climbing the switchbacks and then follow the long traverse to the pass. On a clear day, the views are spectacular. From the top of the pass, the trail descends on the other side to East Fork Creek Trail and Schofield Park, near Crested Butte.

Posted by Brett at 03:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

17 miles one way
This lesser-known trek takes you through forests and meadows into the Hunter Fryingpan Wilderness; it’s also a superb one-night backpacking trip. The trailhead is located at the Lost Man Campground. Drive east on Hwy. 82 from Aspen toward Independence Pass; the campground is 14 miles up on the left.

The trail begins to the left of a bulletin board and immediately crosses a wooden bridge. At a half-mile, the trail forks. Take the left one and begin a steep climb up switchbacks. Soon you’ll be in the wilderness and above tree line. The trail then contours through alpine meadows on the right side of the Coleman Creek drainage. After crossing the creek, you’ll reach Midway Pass, at 11,840 feet, which could be a good turnaround point for a shorter hike (about five miles round trip). If you continue, you’ll follow Midway Creek and gradually descend into the Hunter Creek Valley.

Posted by Brett at 03:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

7.2 miles round-trip
This high-alpine lake is in the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness, east of Aspen, at the foot of the Continental Divide. The trail follows a moderate route that traverses forests, meadows and rocky crags before switchbacking more steeply up to the lake. The wildflowers are plentiful in high season. The only catch is that you’ll need a high-clearance vehicle, preferable four-wheel-drive, to reach the trailhead. From Aspen, follow Hwy. 82 east for 11 miles to Lincoln Creek Road. Turn right and follow the bumpy road six miles to Grizzly Creek Reservoir. The trailhead is on the left, before the Portal Campground.

The trail, which follows Grizzly Creek the entire way, climbs steeply for the first half-mile; the next 1.5 miles are easier, as you climb through pine and fir forests alternating with wildflower-strewn meadows. For its last third, the trail climbs a steep rocky shelf, then winds through alpine tundra toward a long hillside traverse. Once you crest the knoll on top, Grizzly Lake pops into view, however you will crest several knolls, thinking the lake will be there. It won’t be — yet. Fishing is fair for small trout.

Posted by Brett at 03:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Given its proximity to the most-visited tourist attraction in Aspen, the Maroon Bells, this steep trail is well tread. Many use it as a launching pad for backpack trips into the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness. The trail starts at Maroon Lake; at the far end of the lake, bear right to merge with the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Lake Trail. Hike this trail to Crater Lake. At the bulletin board near the lake, take the right fork, which climbs steadily through the trees up Minnehaha Gulch. In about a mile the trail exits the gulch into a vast alpine meadow. Buckskin Pass looms ahead. You’ll come to a sign for the Willow Lake trail junction in another half-mile. Take the left fork, pass through a meadow and climb the steep switchbacks to Buckskin Pass, where you’ll be rewarded with a breathtaking panorama of the Elk Mountains.

Posted by Brett at 02:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

A strenuous day hike, or a short backpack. The trail rises steeply, switchbacking for about 1-1/2 miles before reaching spruce trees where the trail levels a bit. Continue to a large meadow, stay along the lower side of the meadow, turning southward, and reenter the forest. The trail will rise gently, approximately 1/2 mile before the lake, the trail crosses a rock slide area.

Directions from Aspen: Drive 1/2 mile west of Aspen on Highway 82. At the roundabout, turn onto Castle Creek Road. Drive 10 miles to the Elk Mountain Lodge. There is parking on the right where the trailhead begins.

Seasonal Information:
Normally Accessible: Memorial Day Weekend through September (NOTE: Access to this trail may be prevented due to snow early in the season.)

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