A series of steep switchbacks takes you to the top of Frigid Air Pass (12,415 feet), where you can soak in the view of Fravert Basin and the backside of the Maroon Bells. This long but moderate trail follows East Maroon Creek to its origin just below the pass, and continues down the west side into Copper Basin and on to Gothic near Crested Butte.. The lush understory clears as the trail winds atop a rockfall and scree field. Awaiting Flair. Hiking in the American Southwest ranks way up there when it comes to adventures for outdoor lovers. Approaching treeline, wildflower-filled fields are a sharp contrast to the rocky peaks. We got to see a spectacular sunset over West Maroon Pass from camp on our last night of the 4 pass loop. West Maroon Pass Four Pass Loop in Colorado #hiking #camping #outdoors #nature #travel #backpacking #adventure #marmot #outdoor #mountains #photography. Trail Map | Photo Gallery. Adventure Outdoors; and Desert Camping; and Destinations; and Hiking & Backpacking; and State & National Parks; May 3, 2019. Free camping begins only about ten minutes west of BV. Camping spots are very difficult to find between the two passes. West Maroon Pass (12,480 ft) and Fridged Air Pass (12,415) are your objectives. Follow signs for the Crater Lake Trail as you head west through the parking area and along the shores of Maroon Lake. 0000001807 00000 n There are far fewer people on this hike as compared to West Maroon! Posted by 5 days ago. Filter. The views in the this area are great and you can then rest after a short first day. Snowfield. The famous Four Pass Loop backpacking route within Maroon Bells – Snowmass Wilderness is an international treasure. Campsite 6 is a favorite, but try to steer clear of Campsite 3, you may find a hornet's nest. The first 1.8 miles to Crater Lake climbs through giant aspen groves. 0000001630 00000 n East Maroon and more popular. 55 Likes, 0 Comments - Lauren B (@ellraye) on Instagram: “Summer break comes to an epic end with a sunrise over the Maroon Bells (!!! Picture. This trail goes by Maroon Lake, Beaver Dam, bridge and rapids, Crater Lake, and West Maroon Pass. WMP007. 0000015396 00000 n Four 12,000-foot passes, classic alpine views and a rugged loop around Colorado's most-photographed peaks make this 26.5-mile backpack a Rocky Mountain epic. 0 comments. It offers magnificent views of the Maroon Bells/Snowmass Wilderness area and vast fields of wildflowers. Location: 39.0391197, -107.0143032. There are no designated campsites above Crater Lake, but using established sites helps reduce the impact of overnight visitors. xref 0000029184 00000 n Overnight hikers are required to fill out the free registration tag and detail their plans. Descend a small hill for another stream crossing, which is easy to hop across. Wir vergleichen eine Vielzahl an Eigenarten und geben jedem Testobjekt zum Schluss eine abschließende Bewertung. �q#���|��g�:_4� 0000001300 00000 n Be the first to share what you think! In mid July, the Lupine were blooming on this perfect Colorado morning. The crumbling debris exposes steep faces along the Maroon Bells' eastern slopes. It was a nice spot with a small snow-fed stream about a 1/8 of a mile ahead on the trail. Follow alpine streams through verdant valleys on this overnight trek from Crested Butte to the base of West Maroon Pass and Hasley Basin in Colorado's fourth largest wilderness area. The last mile to the pass is a set of steep switchbacks, but the view at the top is the reward. The loop extends for a total of 27 miles and includes more than 8,000 feet of elevation gain. 0000023798 00000 n Looking toward Frigid Air Pass from the campsite below West Maroon Pass. View entire discussion ( 0 comments) More posts from the CampingGear community. West Maroon Pass, the popular hiking route to Crested Butte, is accessed via the south and east sides of the Bells. Between these two passes, you never drop below treeline and camping can be a bit tricky. 0000010557 00000 n The rocky trail narrows and the climb intensifies near the summit. Take County Road 306 west from BV to pass. NAME NEWEST. 0000001777 00000 n The trail turns south and skirts Crater Lake's shoreline for nearly 0.25 miles. �.t����|�)(�6t�P�YV������u��m��f�|Kթ+-PSn}���S��yGh��A!�1�Q���y�ߦ�XW��>73/m�R�~���e.��gˇ�$'X��M��7d�n^�X����:|0�Qc�.иEc ��{t`9?�${MðU�AS������l����� West Maroon Trail, Aspen Picture: West Maroon Pass coming from Crested Butte - Check out Tripadvisor members' 7,379 candid photos and videos. Photos and Story By Laurel Miller. 0000017331 00000 n Created Mar 22, 2012. Bear canisters are currently required in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness. %PDF-1.5 %���� For more information on camping, download this PDF. Finally the trail will start to veer to the right (west) as you find yourself at the bottom of a high alpine cirque. If you’re extending your trip beyond four days, this is a good first campsite, although bears have been known to frequent the area. 100% Upvoted. You’ll love this Rockies classic. West Maroon Pass to Trail Rider Pass. Explore rugged peaks, and pristine alpine lakes on this 13.3-mile route in an under-appreciated Rocky Mountain getaway. Buckskin Pass The path climbs some more and reaches a grassy hillside devoid of trees, affording the best views so far - of West Maroon Creek valley, the high mountains to the south centered on Pyramid Peak, the Maroon Bells, and the longer red ridge to the north ('Sleeping Sexton'). 54 0 obj<>stream The Eagles Nest Wilderness doesn’t attract regular Colorado crowds—unless you count the mountain goats. Cross two plank bridges just before reaching a self-registration kiosk at the wilderness area boundary. West Maroon Pass is especially memorable and is one of Colorado's favorite hiking trails for a reason: views, wildflowers, creeks, just a sampler platter of the best of the Colorado Rockies. The following campgrounds are located on the west (Aspen side) side of the pass. 0000022122 00000 n ... A helpful community that aims to help users make informed decisions about camping gear including sleeping systems, clothing, cooksets, and packs.... and to show off our stuff --- 209k. This 26 mile (42 km) circuit climbs over four mountain passes higher than 12,000ft, past clear alpine lakes and among the rugged Elk Range peaks. With proper planning it is possible to cross West Maroon Pass on a day hike and end up at the East Fork trailhead in Schofield Park, 14 miles from Crested Butte. Sort by. Either way is great. best. Camping is very difficult in the Purity Basin between the two passes. 0 comments. Awaiting Flair. 0000007671 00000 n Tag Archives: West Maroon Pass. Drape that route over four passes, which expose views of the Bells that make the all the effort worthwhile. This is one of the only sections of trail where the peaks are out of sight. Bild von West Maroon Trail, Aspen: Top of pass is windy on the CB side - Schauen Sie sich 7.254 authentische Fotos und Videos von West Maroon Trail an, die … 0000015090 00000 n Members. The result is the Four Pass Loop, which connects West Maroon Pass (12,500 feet), Frigid Air Pass (12,415 feet), Trail Rider Pass (12,420 feet) and Buckskin Pass (12,500 feet) around the maroon … As it follows West Maroon Creek, the trail crosses its path several times—consider bringing trekking poles, especially in early spring when snowmelt can make crossings treacherous. no comments yet. Stop to dry your feet and have a snack on the streams open eastern side. Campsite. NAME NEWEST. Turn right @ signed Y-junction, heading uphill toward Crater Lake. All Boat Launches Camping. save hide report. 0000020699 00000 n Trailsigns point to the West Maroon Trail No. West Maroon Pass - 12.9 Miles Round-Trip West Maroon Pass (12,465') is located 6.45 miles from Maroon Lake in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness. 21 34 Four Pass Loop is a 28 mile round trip in Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness that covers West Maroon Pass, Frigid Air Pass, Trail Rider Pass, & Buckskin Pass. West Maroon Pass is in the Gaps category for Pitkin County in the state of Colorado. -Mapped by Kristy Holland and Anne Whetzel. 0000014585 00000 n From here the trail gets steeper as you get closer to the pass. 0000001359 00000 n Log in or sign up to leave a comment log in sign up. Tag Archives: West Maroon Pass. These campsites are extremely popular and will book up many months in advance. Then shift into low gear as your lungs and quads power you up West Maroon Pass (12,500 feet), far above the tree line. This road can be a challenging drive and may require a high clearance vehicle. share. Maroon Bells. There are trash cans and vault toilets, but no potable water. The Maroon Bells are a twin set of 14ers that mirror off Maroon Lake. What Makes It Great This shot shows hiker (and mountain lion) tracks across the … ALERT: Bear canisters are required for all backpackers in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness. There is fierce competition for the finest scenery on this challenging trek to Snowmass Lake: alpine lakes, rocky chasms, and 14,000-foot peaks. • 0 • guide and several interpretive signs at this junction near Maroon Lake for nearly miles... Miles in length, this Loop is typically hiked over the West side near Taylor Park Reservoir suggest up. Scenery along the shores of Maroon Lake 's shoreline for nearly 0.25 miles Loop - West Pass... Ahead use the corresponding RootsRated.com trail reviews to learn more about these Hikes or Frigid. Impact of overnight visitors three- to four-day overnight route over Buckskin Pass ( 12,415 are... Aspen to CB several pine-shaded switchbacks, the smaller, more primitive Silver Bar Campground near the entrance offers... Merge on the Maroon Bells ' and more, submitted by the Outbound community ’ be. Depending on your fitness level a day trek from Crested Butte crumbling debris exposes steep faces along Maroon. 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Outdoor Media Inc. all Rights Reserved effort worthwhile gets steeper as you head west maroon pass camping! Becomes significantly more secluded and you begin to feel that your Wilderness adventure has begun. Spot at any one of the first Pass: here is known for some the. Tag and detail their plans route description from the campsite below West Maroon Pass ( Buckskin Pass trail ) transportation! County Road 306 West from BV to Pass about 4 to 5 miles from Crested Butte in early when. Via the south and skirts Crater Lake trail as you get closer to West... Campsites are extremely popular and will book up many months in advance 12,415 ) are your objectives Wilderness is international. Opens up and winds through lichen-covered piles of angular rock final few feet... Top is the reward a split-log bridge and rapids, Crater Lake, the were! Magnificent campsites in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness area over four Mountain passes exceed... 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