Colorado - Day 3: Maroon Bells
Sunrise at Maroon Bells
On Tuesday, August 13, 2024, I went to Maroon Bells to witness the iconic sunrise. From the middle of May through October 31st, reservations are required to access the Maroon Bells Scenic Area, but starting November 1st, trailhead parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis. I secured a midnight-to-midnight parking reservation on April 2nd. While it might not be necessary to book that far in advance, reservations do tend to sell out, so I wanted to be safe.
Sunrise was at 6:22am that morning. I knew photographing Maroon Bells at sunrise was a popular activity and wasn’t sure how crowded it would get, so I erred on the side of caution and arrived at 5:30am. I was the second car there.
No hiking is necessary to take in the stunning view of the Maroon Bells. The peaks, composed primarily of mudstone, have a striking maroon hue that becomes vibrant as the sun rises. Capturing that moment was simply breathtaking. Shortly after sunrise, a brief rain shower passed through, producing a beautiful rainbow!
Maroon Bells Scenic Loop Trail
Around 6:45am, I started hiking the Maroon Bells Scenic Loop Trail and Crater Lake Trail. The Maroon Bells Scenic Loop Trail is an easy 1.9-mile hike around Maroon Lake, offering stunning views of the iconic Maroon Bells peaks reflected in the water. Surrounded by aspen groves and alpine meadows, it's a family-friendly trail with vibrant fall colors and serene mountain scenery. It took me a little over an hour to hike Maroon Scenic Loop Trail.
Crater Lake Trail
After completing the Maroon Bells Scenic Loop Trail, I continued onto the Crater Lake Trail. The Crater Lake Trail is a moderately challenging 3.5-mile round-trip hike that starts at Maroon Lake and leads to Crater Lake, offering stunning views of the Maroon Bells and rugged alpine terrain. The rocky trail has an elevation gain of 689 feet and winds through aspen groves, with rewarding views of Crater Lake surrounded by dramatic mountain peaks at the end.
I’ve become accustomed to hiking with at least one hiking pole, but I opted to not use them for either hike. With the Maroon Bells Scenic Loop Trail being quite flat, I managed just fine without them. I should have used them for the Crater Lake Trail, though. Not only was there elevation gain on that hike, it also just became more crowded as the day went on, and started to rain, causing the trail to become a little muddy. When I arrived at the lake, the rain paused long enough for me to snap a few good photos before it returned, creating some wonderfully moody shots.
As I was descending from Crater Lake, I stepped down wrong at some point and developed “hiker’s knee,” a pain in the front of the knee or behind the kneecap, and started limping a bit. Fortunately, I had seen everything I wanted to that day and was ready to head back to the hotel.
Back at Carbondale
I left Maroon Bells at 1:30pm and drove the hour back to the Days Inn by Wyndham Carbondale, stopping at Ace Hardware to pick up a Copper Fit Freedom Black Compression Knee Sleeve to ease the pain. After a nap, I headed to The Goat Kitchen & Bar, a casual spot offering Greek/Mediterranean-infused dishes, beer, and cocktails. Luckily, it was just a 2-minute walk from the hotel! I had originally planned to explore downtown Carbondale and check out Sopris Park, but with the knee pain, I decided it was better to stay close and relax - especially since I planned to hike Mount Elbert in two days!
