CO Road Trip: Maroon Bells, Crater Lake, and Top of the Rockies
This epic road trip offers stunning views of Colorado’s towering peaks and breathtaking natural beauty, taking you to two of the most majestic - and most photographed - mountain summits in the United States.
You’ll also stop by the highest incorporated city in North America, pass by Colorado’s tallest and most impressive peaks (which are in addition to the previously mentioned most photographed ones!), climb to the summit of Independence Pass, and cross the Continental Divide three different times.
Plus, we’ll get you out of the car and into the backcountry to explore more of Colorful Colorado on foot with some of the most beautiful hikes in the state, including a unique opportunity to hike a section of the 500-mile Colorado Trail.
Pack your bags for the day or a long weekend adventure, and let’s road trip to Maroon Bells, Crater Lake, and the Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway in Colorado!
DAY TRIP: Visit Maroon Bells, Hike to Crater Lake, and Drive Independence Pass.
SCENIC BYWAY: Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway from Aspen over Independence Pass to Twin Lakes, to Leadville, & more. Image and route from codot.gov.
LONG-WEEKEND TRIP: Add stops at additional points of interest along the way. You can loop through Vail to the rest of the Top of the Rockies Byway along US-24 or create a bigger loop through Glenwood Springs and Carbondale. Note: Breckenridge is not on this route.
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The Best Time of Year to Visit
The best time of year to drive the Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway and visit the Maroon Bells is typically from late spring through early fall, from roughly May through October.
That’s primarily because portions of the Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway are closed during winter months, generally from the beginning of November to Memorial Day in May.
Maroon Creek Road to Maroon Bells also closes for the winter season, typically from November to mid-May.
Visit in the summer to take advantage of longer days so you can see and enjoy more of Colorado’s impressive landscape in one day. This is generally best if you’re hoping to visit Maroon Bells, hike Crater Lake, and drive the entire Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway in one day.
If you visit in July or August, you may also get to enjoy peak wildflower season!
Or you can visit in September or early October if you’d prefer cooler weather and beautiful fall foliage. The fall is generally the busiest time of year to visit Maroon Bells as changing leaves along aspen trees and the potential for contrasting snow-capped mountains draw a lot of visitors and photographers.
All in all, the Maroon Bells are stunning whenever you’re able to visit and secure a reservation, so there’s truly no bad time to plan your road trip. Our recommendation is to plan to see the Bells at sunrise and midday so you’re able to see the gorgeous mountain peaks in varying light, making it feel like you’ve been there two different times!
Where to Stay
If you plan to visit Maroon Bells and drive The Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway in one day, we recommend staying in Aspen, Snowmass, or even Carbondale, CO. These are all great home bases to start and end your day trip.
To turn this drive into a long weekend road trip, we recommend overnight stays in Carbondale/Aspen, Leadville, Vail, or Glenwood Springs, depending on your desired route.
Breakfast from Paradise Bakery in downtown Aspen. Always repping the Dallas Mavericks no matter where we are, ha!
There are lots of options for outdoor dog-friendly dining in downtown Carbondale.
Day Drive vs. Weekend Road Trip
Day Drive: To visit Maroon Bells, hike Crater Lake, and drive Independence Pass in one day, start early from Aspen, Snowmass, or Carbondale, CO.
Head counter-clockwise to the Maroon Bells parking area (note: make sure you have a reservation!) to enjoy the iconic view of the Maroon Bells, then start your hike to Crater Lake and back. Grab breakfast or lunch in Aspen, CO, then drive to the summit of Independence Pass.
Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway: Visit Maroon Bells for sunrise. (Note: You’ll need a reservation.) Skip the hike to Crater Lake (and possibly hike the shorter Maroon Bells Scenic Loop instead), then drive the entire Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway from Aspen over Independence Pass to Twin Lakes to Leadville.
(Optional): Make this a loop by staying right at the fork to drive toward Fremont Pass, then drive I-70 W to Vail. (Stop in Vail Village for lunch.) Get back on the Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway via US-24, heading toward Red Cliff. Continue on to Leadville, to Twin Lakes, and back to Aspen.
With this route, you’ll drive Independence Pass in both directions. This is a full-day adventure. To shorten this day, plan to visit Maroon Bells on a separate day.
2 or 3-Day Road Trip: To add additional stops and points of interest along the way, turn Maroon Bells and the Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway into a 2 or 3-day road trip!
Spend Day 1 in Aspen, Co. Visit Maroon Bells, hike to Crater Lake, and enjoy downtown Aspen and Snowmass. Check out the Grottos Trail near Aspen for a short afternoon hike.
On Day 2, drive the Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway from Aspen over Independence Pass to Twin Lakes to Leadville.
Make this a loop by staying right at the fork to drive toward Fremont Pass, then drive I-70 W to Vail. (Stop in Vail Village for lunch.) Get back on the Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway via US-24, heading toward Red Cliff. Continue on to Leadville, to Twin Lakes, and back to Aspen.
Enjoy dinner in downtown Aspen, or drive an additional 40 minutes for dinner in downtown Carbondale.
Note: If you’d like to stay overnight in Vail, you could skip the second half of the Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway and head to Glenwood Springs and the suggestions below for Day 3.
On Day 3, drive about an hour to hike Hanging Lake. (Note: Reservations required.) Enjoy Iron Mountain Hot Springs in Glenwood Springs afterward. (Book tickets in advance.) Or drive the West Elk Loop from Carbondale.
If you want to hike a segment of the Colorado Trail during your road trip, consider staying overnight in Leadville, splitting the Day 2 Itinerary up over two days.
1. Visit Maroon Bells
Begin your Colorado adventure in epic fashion with a visit to the Maroon Bells, two iconic mountain peaks located in the Elk Mountains near Aspen, Colorado.
With their striking colors and size, the Maroon Bells are generally best known as two of the most photographed mountains in North America, captivating photographers and visitors alike.
The Maroon Bells are worth the hype as they’re: (1) gorgeous year-round (and all day long), (2) easy to get to — both easy to walk to and easier than many other similarly stunning locations to secure a reservation for (looking at you, Wave!), and (3) enticing enough to make you think about return trips to view the Bells during wildflower season, while drenched in golden aspen trees, and when the peaks are highlighted with snow-capped shading.
Did you know? The main viewing area… also known as one of the most famous views in ALL of Colorado and possibly even the entirety of the contiguous 48 states… is so close to where you can park your car that you might question whether you’re actually in the right place.
When we arrived at the Maroon Bells parking area, I actually had to double-check with two locals — who were the only other people there at the time and had brought chairs to enjoy the sunrise… PRO local tip right there! — if this was “the spot”. You know… the most famous view in all of Colorado that I’d heard so much about.
Don’t get me wrong; the view was incredible. But typically, there’s a bit more distance involved in getting to these iconic locations. This has to be one of the most beautiful places - particularly outside a National Park - that you can get to and enjoy by walking just a few paces from your car. It’s incredible!
Maroon Bells, sunrise (scroll to the top of this page for Maroon Bells about 2.5 hours later)
Maroon Bells Reservations
The biggest thing to know about visiting Maroon Bells is that you need a reservation.
Reservations for parking and shuttle access to the Maroon Bells are required from May through October.
You can either (1) get a reservation to drive your car and park at the trailhead (generally available from May 15 through October 31) or (2) make a shuttle reservation to take a shuttle to the Maroon Bells trailhead.
Read everything you need to know about Maroon Bell reservations here.
Our recommendation is to try for “Day Visit Parking”, which requires you to arrive and park your vehicle by 8am. This is one of the easiest ways to be at the Maroon Bells for sunrise.
More options: Aside from a day parking reservation or round-trip shuttle reservation, you may also be dropped off by a private vehicle between 6am and 8am without a parking reservation. (You will need to purchase a one-way shuttle ticket for your return.)
You can also bike (reservations not required) or hike from Crested Butte. But be sure to double-check what’s required for your trip as things can change!
When to Visit Maroon Bells
If possible, we recommend planning to be at the Maroon Bells’ main viewing area for sunrise and mid to late-morning lighting.
Seeing the Bells at various times of the day can make you feel like you’re visiting on two different days, as the soft pink hues of sunrise reflect along the peaks in the morning, and then the direct mid-morning light helps bring out each ridge and tree on the mountains later in the day!
Crowds at sunrise: While I’ve read that photographers line up on the shore of Maroon Bells well before sunrise, we actually arrived 20 minutes past the official sunrise time on the day of our visit and had no issues whatsoever with crowds.
We were visiting on a Tuesday in the middle of August, which I’m sure is a big part of why we avoided the crowd. Fall, particularly on weekend days, will likely be much busier, so you may want to arrive as early as possible.
Are the Maroon Bells dog-friendly?
Yes! Dogs are allowed at Maroon Bells. (Dogs are even allowed on the shuttle bus!) While dogs are not allowed on the Scenic Loop Trail, they are allowed on the Crater Lake Hike.
2. Hike to Crater Lake
Two of the most popular hikes at the Maroon Bells Trailhead are the Scenic Loop Trail and Crater Lake Trail.
Scenic Loop: The Maroon Bells Scenic Loop Trail is an approximately 2-mile loop that is not dog-friendly but great for hikers of most levels. Plan for about 45 minutes (more if you’d like to take advantage of various spots to stop and soak up the scenery). This is a popular hike, so it's best to arrive early in the morning to avoid the crowds.
Crater Lake: The Crater Lake Trail is an approximately 3.5-mile out-and-back hike that is dog-friendly and moderately challenging due to its high elevation and rocky trail sections. Plan for about 2 hours. (More time if you’d like to enjoy Crater Lake for a while.) This is a gorgeous hike, so long as you don’t confuse it with Crater Lake National Park in Oregon, ha!
Since our dog, Lincoln, was traveling with us, we opted for the out-and-back hike to Crater Lake. It was a gorgeous mid-morning hike (one of those hikes that’s even prettier when you’re looking back at pictures, although we definitely felt like the high elevation requires you to work for it. Breaks are recommended on this one, especially if you’re coming from a state (hey, Texas 👋) with a lower elevation.
[[Our recommendation is to spend a day or two in Grand Junction, Glenwood Springs, or Denver before traveling to Aspen and the Maroon Bells so you can adjust to the elevation, especially before hiking.]]
After you return from the hike of your choice, make sure to turn around for one more stunning glimpse of Maroon Bells, this time in its midday glory!
Crater Lake Trail
Continuing along the Crater Lake Trail
Crater Lake
Finishing the trail back at the Maroon Bells parking area
3. Drive Independence Pass
Independence Pass is a beautiful 32-mile stretch of road (CO-82) through central Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, connecting the towns of Twin Lakes and Aspen.
This scenic drive is a popular destination for road trippers and outdoor enthusiasts, offering stunning views of surrounding peaks, valleys, and forests. The pass reaches an elevation of over 12,000 feet, making it one of the highest paved roads in the state, and, as it crosses the Continental Divide, its the highest paved crossing of the Continental Divide in North America.
Along the way, you can stop at various overlooks and trailheads to explore the natural beauty of the area, including waterfalls, alpine lakes, and wildflower meadows.
Note: Vehicles over 35 feet in length are not allowed on Independence Pass. See more restrictions for oversized vehicles here.
Similarly to when you’re driving the Million Dollar Highway, whoever’s driving while you’re on Independence Pass should feel comfortable with heights and being behind the wheel. One of the things that makes this an epic road trip is the views… and those come with some winding switchbacks, one-way lanes, steep drop-offs, and sections without guardrails.
But just like the Million Dollar Highway, if you’re up for it, this is one of the most beautiful highways in Colorado! Make sure to stop at the Independence Pass - Continental Divide overlook.
RTL Tip: Stop in downtown Aspen on your way from Maroon Bells to Independence Pass and grab breakfast or lunch at Paradise Bakery.
Dog-Friendly? Yes, but this is a drive with winding roads.
4. Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway
Keep driving along Independence Pass to the rest of the Top of The Rockies scenic byway, to Twin Lakes, Leadville, and more.
The Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway is a gorgeous drive winding through some of the highest peaks in Colorado. The byway offers unparalleled views of the Rocky Mountains, with beautiful vistas around every turn!
This scenic drive spans more than 70 miles and takes you through several mountain towns, including Leadville, which is the highest incorporated city in the United States.
Here are a few fun stops along the Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway to help you make this road trip your own!
Twin Lakes
Stop to view the lakes and walk the Twin Lakes Interlaken Trailhead. You could also choose to hike (or bike) a section of the Colorado Trail (Segment 9, 10, or 11). The Colorado Trail is a 500-mile path between Denver and Durango.
Leadville
Leadville is the highest incorporated city in North America, and two of Colorado’s tallest 14ers surround Leadville. (Mt. Elbert and Mt. Massive.)
If you’re turning this into a 2 or 3-day road trip… Consider a hike near Leadville, such as the North Mount Elbert Trail (hard), Mayflower Gulch Grand Traverse (moderate), or the Mineral Belt Trail.
If you love history, check out the National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum. Or, you could enjoy a drink at America’s “highest brewery” with a visit to Two Mile Brewing Company. You can also access those same sections of the Colorado Trail (Segments 9, 10, or 11) near Leadville.
Make the Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway a loop by staying right at the fork to drive toward Fremont Pass, then drive I-70 W to Vail.
Copper Mountain
Copper Mountain is a charming ski resort town nestled in the heart of the Rocky Mountains.
Although known for its world-class skiing and snowboarding, during the summer months, Copper Mountain transforms into a playground for outdoor enthusiasts, with hiking and biking trails, golf courses, fishing, and rafting opportunities.
You may also enjoy riding the Rocky Mountain Coaster, or you could hop on Segment 8 of the Colorado Trail from here!
Vail
In our opinion, Vail is worth the stop year-round. Although this famous mountain town is also best known for skiing and snowboarding during winter months, Vail is just as beautiful to visit during the summer, with miles of hiking and biking trails and scenic mountain views.
But Vail is not just a great stop for adventurers, as the town is also home to many high-end shops, restaurants, and art galleries, making it a top choice for visitors who prefer a luxurious mountain getaway, too.
If you choose to turn the Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway into a loop, we highly recommend stopping in Vail for a stroll through town and lunch or afternoon snack.
We just happened to be visiting Vail during its Oktoberfest kickoff in 2021. Although you wouldn’t know it by the quiet street the below picture was taken on, Vail Village was bustling with vendors, music, and lots of people having a really good time!
After your pit stop to enjoy Vail, you can get back on the Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway via US-24, heading toward Red Cliff. Continue on to Leadville, to Twin Lakes, and back to Aspen. Following this route, you’ll drive Independence Pass in both directions.
Red Cliff
Tucked away in the mountains of Colorado, the next small town you’ll find is Red Cliff. Surrounded by towering peaks and situated along the Eagle River, Red Cliff is a hidden gem offering a glimpse into Colorado’s rich mining history.
As you make your way back to Aspen, consider stopping at the overlook for the Red Cliff Bridge, a massive steel arch bridge. Check out the Half Moon Trail if you’re looking for a hike.
5. Aspen or Carbondale
About 40 minutes from Aspen, CO, you’ll find the smaller, more intimate mountain town of Carbondale, Colorado.
During our 2021 Travel Season (a 3.5-month road trip through Colorado and Utah), we spent 10 days in Carbondale.
We wanted to stay in Aspen or Snowmass, but a quick peek at rental prices had us looking slightly further away from these well-known ski areas, and we’re glad it did.
Carbondale has a vibrant restaurant scene (with downtown streets that close for in-street dining on some evenings and weekends) and is centrally located between Aspen (and the Maroon Bells) and Glenwood Springs (and Hanging Lake).
If you’ve already explored Aspen and want to check out Carbondale next, consider grabbing dinner at Brass Anvil, Allegria, Peppino’s Pizza, or Fatbelly Burgers in downtown Carbondale. Then grab a drink at Marble Distilling Co.
If you’re in town for brunch, consider Village Smithy Restaurant. Or try Bonfire Coffee if you’re looking for coffee or a quick breakfast.
Learn more about a visit to Carbondale, and get our itinerary for road-tripping the West Elk Loop Scenic Byway from Carbondale next!
View of Carbondale, CO from Mushroom Rock
Happy Road Tripping
From magical views of the Maroon Bells to charming mountain towns, this Top of the Rockies Scenic Road Trip has something for every hiker, nature lover, or small-town wanderer.
When you’re seeking an escape from the hustle and bustle of city life, pack your bags, hit the road, and immerse yourself in Colorado's Rocky Mountains with this gorgeous route. Happy roadtripping!
Keep planning your road trip to Colorado
See our suggestions for road-tripping the San Juan Skyway Byway in Colorado here. Or check out our West Elk Loop Itinerary here.
Planning more stops in Colorado? Check out our Ultimate Colorado Road Trip Itinerary!
Headed to Utah next? Click here for a Mighty 5 National Park Itinerary.
Or you can view all of our road trip itineraries here.
Please leave us a comment below!
We’d love to hear about your adventures, too! What do you love about the Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway, or which of these stops sounds the best to you? Please share with us in the comments below!
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