Magnificent Maroon Bells, Colorado

The Trip

"I think the best inspired painter that ever drew would fail in attempting to describe these mighty mountains. He may convey correctly enough an impression of their shape, their vast extent and sublime beauty. But there is something always left out which escapes all his colours and all his skill. Their aspects shift and vary continually. Their very shapes seem to undergo a perpetual transformation like the clouds above them. There is a mystery like the mystery of the sea — a silence not of death but of eternity."  — James Chisholm

Because of its beauty and spectacular scenery, the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness was included in the original 1964 Wilderness Act; additional area was added in the 1980 Colorado wilderness legislation. In these Elk Mountains, glaciers carved out U-shaped valleys and cirques, and sculpted the iconic shape of the Maroon Bells. Sparkling mountain lakes, deep red sandstone colored peaks, rock glaciers, mountain meadows filled with flowers, magnificent waterfalls, aspen forested valleys, krummholz above timberline, and other natural features were created by geologic forces, time, and weather. These high mountains include six that are over 14,000 feet and are the most photographed in Colorado. 

Our trip through this 184,000-acre wilderness will be a loop of about 43 miles, often above 11,000 feet.  We will cross five high passes — each over 12,400 feet — camp at several lakes, and enjoy the wilderness.  We may see elk, deer, and mountain goats, which are plentiful in this area though under pressure from the developments at Aspen and Snowmass.  Despite being a popular area for backpackers and climbers (the peaks are among the most difficult to scale in the state), we will have an outstanding wilderness experience.  This challenging adventure will allow you to shed the cares and pressures of modern life and will help you to refresh your spirit.  

“Climb the Mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.” — John Muir

Pre-Trip: Campsites will be provided the night before our trip starts. We will meet so that everyone can introduce themselves, talk about our trip, check weights of packs, and distribute some commissary gear. This will ensure a smoother start the next day at the trailhead. It is highly recommended that you arrive two or three days before the trip to acclimatize.

Day 1: Our trip officially begins at 7 a.m., when we will eat a group breakfast at our campsite. After a last-minute check of equipment, we will carpool to the Maroon Snowmass trailhead.  Following the Snowmass Creek Trail, we will hike about six miles with an elevation gain of about 1,700 feet into the heart of the wilderness area to a small lake for our first camp at about 10,100 feet. 

Day 2: Our second day we will hike a mile or so past Snowmass Lake to a campsite, at 10,800 feet, along Snowmass Creek. This short hike will allow more time for acclimatization and exploration in the afternoon. Today’s hike is about four miles with an elevation gain of about 1,000 feet.

Days 3-4: Following the Geneva Lake Trail and traversing Trail Rider Pass, we will travel about six miles to Geneva Lake, with an elevation gain and loss of about 2,100 feet. On the layover day you can explore without a pack or relax in camp.

Day 5: Leaving Geneva Lake, we will follow the North Fork Fravert Basin Trail (North Fork of Crystal River) about six miles into Fravert Basin and find a campsite near the North Fork Crystal River.  We will have an elevation climb of about 1,400 feet and a loss of about 1,000 feet, and the campsite elevation is located about 11,300 feet. 

Day 6: We will continue on the North Fork Trail over Frigid Air Pass to the West Maroon Pass Trail. Going over West Maroon Pass, we will hike along West Maroon Creek Trail until we find a good campsite. Today’s hike is about six miles with an elevation climb of about 2,000 feet and a loss of 2,700 feet. 

Day 7: Today’s hike will lead us past Crater Lake onto the Maroon Snowmass Trail, then onto the Willow Lake Trail.  We will go over Willow Pass and camp at Willow Lake.  Mileage today is about six miles, with an elevation climb of about 2,600 feet and a loss of 1,600 feet. Elevation of Willow Lake is 11,800 feet. 

Day 8: On our longest day for hiking (nine miles), we will follow East Snowmass Trail back to the Maroon Snowmass Trailhead.  Elevation gain is about 1,200 feet and loss is about 4,400 feet. We will arrive back at the trailhead in the afternoon.

Wilderness travel can go as planned, or unforeseen conditions or circumstances can necessitate a change in plans, so please bring a flexible attitude with you on the trip.  Likewise, since we are not sure when we will arrive back at our cars on our last day, please make your return flight reservations for the following day or later.

Getting There

For flying in, Denver is about 220 miles and four hours from the trailhead, which is near Snowmass Village.  Ride-sharing is strongly encouraged on Sierra Club outings, and a roster of trip members will be provided ahead of time to facilitate this. Our first night’s camp is at an elevation of 10,100 feet; much of the trip and camping sites will be above 11,000 feet. It is highly recommended that you arrive two or three days before the trip to acclimatize. 

Accommodations and Food

The trip price includes meals from breakfast on day one through lunch on the last day, as well as use of cooking gear, stoves, fuel, first-aid kit, and scale. All group gear and food will be weighed and distributed each morning.

A nutritious, high-energy diet is planned. Any food allergies or limitations should be indicated on your trip application. There will be chicken and fish on the menu, and summer sausage/beef jerky may be included in a couple of lunches. Vegetarians can be accommodated, but anyone not eating dairy products should consider another trip. Trip members will be divided into cook crews to help prepare meals and clean up during the trip. 

Trip Difficulty

This trip is rated a 4. There will be seven moving days of 4 to 9 miles each and one layover day (the short hiking day would be a half layover day). The elevation is generally high (often above 11,000 feet), and a couple of days have significant elevation gain and loss.  It will be a strenuous trip on some days. Backpacking at elevation will also seem more tiring until you are acclimatized, so arriving a couple of days early to get in some hikes before our trip begins will be especially helpful. You will need to be in good physical condition to carry 25 pounds of your own gear plus up to 15-17 pounds of group food and commissary. Proper preparation will enhance your wilderness experience, as well as show consideration toward your fellow hikers.

Daytime temperatures will likely be in the 40s to 50s. Nighttime and early morning temperatures could dip into the low 20s. Afternoon thunderstorms, lightning, hail, snow, and high winds can occur this time of the year. Snow fields may be present on the mountain passes. It is essential that participants be prepared for extremes in weather conditions, and also be flexible so that we can adapt our route to accommodate unexpected conditions or events.

Equipment and Clothing

A detailed equipment list will be sent to all registered trip members. Participants are expected to furnish their own backpack and camping gear, as well as good raingear (including backpack cover), layers of clothing to keep you comfortable between 20-60 degrees, broken-in medium-weight waterproof boots, and other personal gear, eating utensils, toiletries, etc. Your personal backpack gear should weigh no more than 25 pounds as we will give you up to 15-17 pounds of commissary gear (including a bear canister). You may also find hiking poles helpful for stream crossings, steep downhills, and difficult terrain.

References

Books:

• Molvar, Erik, Hiking Colorado’s Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness (A Falcon Guide). 
• Kershaw, Linda J., Andy MacKinnon, and Jim Pojar, Plants of the Rocky Mountains. 
• Dahms, David, Rocky Mountain Wildflowers (A Pocket Guide).
• Tekiela, Stan, Birds of Colorado.

Maps:

The complete route of our trip can be found on Trails Illustrated Map #128 Maroon Bells Redstone, Marble.  We will be using the following 7.5 minute USGS topographic maps: Snowmass Mountain and Maroon Bells; first and last days are primarily on Capitol Reef and Highland Peak. These are available by download or purchase at http://store.usgs.gov.  Both leaders will be carrying these maps (or parts of them), so it would not be necessary to bring these except for your own interest and curiosity. 

Conservation

The Sierra Club is an environmentally focused entity. We are concerned about conservation and the sustainability of resources, both locally and globally. Our work is accomplished by volunteers and aided by a salaried staff, encouraging grassroots involvement. Our outings seek to empower participants toward greater understanding, advocacy, and participation in the goals of the Club.

The Maroon Bells Snowmass Wilderness is part of America’s 110 million-acre National Wilderness Preservation System, which provides protected habitat for rare and endangered plants and animals. These habitats include riparian zones near rivers and streams, mountain meadows, alpine tundra, conifer forests, and aspen groves. Warming climate, decreased annual snowpack, and reduction of surface water has significantly impacted these habitats. Mountain pine beetle infestation, decimation of lodgepole and ponderosa forests, dying aspen groves, habitat encroachment from development, and environmental concerns related to extraction of natural resources will be discussed. Participants are urged to share their experiences from their local activities, so we can all learn about new areas. 

We will travel lightly upon the land by learning and practicing Leave No Trace principles throughout the trip. Reducing our camp footprint by sharing tents, camping in designated campsites to limit impact, and packing out all that we pack in (including food scraps) will help keep the wilderness as pristine as before so that those who come after us will have the same sense of discovery that we will have. 

Sierra Club National Outings is an equal-opportunity provider and when applicable will operate under permits obtained from U.S. federal land agencies.