Trailhead. )In Snowmass, most trailheads can be reached on foot, by gondola, or by local public transit. Coolmax material keeps your dogs from overheating, and the socks have an unconditional lifetime warranty. Looking down from this high perch on thousands upon thousands of golden yellow alpine avens, you will feel rewarded. All kids should wear sun hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen when they hike. —MM  The gradual eight-mile ascent of the beautiful Snowmass Creek Valley affords plenty of time to contemplate the glacial forces that carved it out. La Sportiva’s Ultra Raptor ($130, in red below) shows why: sticky outsoles provide all-weather traction; torsional rigidity gives it stability (sole stiffness has a bigger effect than cuff height on whether you roll your ankle); and toe bumpers let you amble into trail detritus with abandon. At the far shore, a rough trail leads to another large lake that may be even prettier.See?

Independence Pass (#227) Gifford Pinchot National Forest and Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. In clear weather, hike up the ridges on either side of the parking lot and earn even more glimpses into pristine alpine wilderness. Hiking trip report, map, and photos for Twining Peak from Independence Pass, located in White River National Forest, Colorado. Silently resting under rocky, 13,943-foot Cathedral Peak, the lake changes in color and mood with the light: crystal clear, emerald green, or slate gray. From the Maroon Bells scenic area, the mostly gradual, 3,000-foot climb to 12,500-foot West Maroon Pass includes ever-present views of North America’s most photographed peaks. An in-town classic is the Rim Trail, which ascends and traverses a ridge contouring the Brush Creek Valley and offers expansive views in all directions. —CLAn advantage of being almost entirely surrounded by public lands is that Aspen and Snowmass offer several hikes you don’t need a private vehicle to access. Independence Pass: Beautiful Drive with numerous hikes and trails along the way - See 1,651 traveler reviews, 869 candid photos, and great deals for Aspen, CO, at Tripadvisor. Located behind the Aspen Post Office on Puppy Smith Street, ACES is easily reached on foot. The path climbs about 70-feet up a hillside to meet the Midway Pass trail, which switchbacks steeply up the hillside to the right (northwest). But while the product is unpredictable, the timing is generally consistent. There’s a waterfall and a spectacular lake up there, we promise. Reach the lake, nestled amid wildflower-filled meadows at the base of 13,000-ft peaks at 1.75 miles. There you’ll discover interactive displays, an indoor trout stream, and some new animal friends, including the resident golden eagle and great horned owl, possibly heretofore-unknown critters for your little ones.

From the upper Linkins Lake trailhead (18.5 miles east of Aspen on Highway 82), the trail soon veers left, ascending steeply at times through tundra painted by a variety of wildflowers that bloom in July and August. Once on the bench the trail again heads north, crossing rivulets fed by snowfields from the slopes to the east.Just before arriving at the southwest end of Independence Lake the trail crosses the lake’s outlet stream.

Stay right. So get there early in the day, before any thunderstorms roll in. And unlike most hikes, the return trip can be made by vehicle shuttle (3.5 hours) or a 15-minute flight. It’s also short enough and easy enough for young kids and grandparents alike, although it does have a couple of brief steep parts.Take the bus from Aspen Highlands to the Maroon Bells visitor center. In terms of something-for-everyone appeal, no outdoor activity can match hiking.

—CLLooking for great foliage and a little mystery? The Lost Man trail provides instant gratification to anyone who loves traversing high alpine terrain with see forever views. (The gondola ride down is free. Red rock predominates, and at times, as you follow a tortuous creek bed into the hills, the encroaching cliffs loom so close you’ll be forced to turn sideways as you pass.A short hike will bring you to the base of a waterfall in a forested grotto. Starting at 11,500-ft. off Highway 82 just below Independence Pass (12,095-ft.), the trail features some of the easiest access to an alpine wonderland of meadows and lakes anywhere in the area.The trail begins with a moderate ascent along the nascent Roaring Fork River and then passes pretty Independence Lake before topping out at panoramic Lost Man Pass (12,815-ft.). Lost Man is a good example of why hiking to pass is so enjoyable. For that reason, many Aspen-area hikers opt for a robust trail runner as their everyday shoe. Available at Aspen’s Marmot store and smartwool.com. Along the way the path travels through meadows and then scrub growth, skirting the edge of spruce-fir forest growing on the slopes above trail. To get there, drive ten miles east of Aspen on Highway 82. If you’re one of those folks, this combo allows you to camp and hike without having to carry all your gear on your back.Take Frying Pan Road roughly twenty-seven miles east from downtown Basalt and make a left on North Fork Road. Have a nice long soak, enjoy the views, and don’t bogart the joint or the bottle when they’re passed your way. Of course, as much as most people love camping, not everyone likes backpacking, especially if they have kids. Descending toward Technicolor-blue Lost Man Lake feels like entering a fairytale kingdom, especially when the wildflowers are in bloom. Fortunately, Aspen has a plethora of hikes and walks that don’t require thousands of feet of elevation gain. —THWhat could be more convenient than a drive-to pass? When asked to pick the most do-everything shoe he’s ever tried, Ute Mountaineer’s Damon Giordano pointed straight to the Drifter. From the lake enjoy magnificent views of the high alpine meadows and summits surrounding the Continental Divide.This opinionated guide includes all the hikes in the Aspen, Buena Vista, Crested Butte, Marble and Leadville sections of the website plus info on local services and nearby attractions.