Hiking from Aspen to Crested Butte in Colorado sounds like a significant achievement, given that the two towns are 100 miles apart by car. But the Aspen to Crested Butte hike is just 10.2 miles over the incomparable 12,490-foot West Maroon Pass—and so popular that you might consider doing it on a weekday to avoid crowds.

But if you can only get there on a weekend, do it. We’ve done it twice now, both times starting from the Aspen side, and can attest that it’s stunningly beautiful, offering blazing displays of aspen in fall and showstopper wildflowers in summer.

What to expect on the Aspen to Crested Butte hike

On a clear summer or early fall day, this hike in the White River National Forest is just one stunning vista after another. The trail is well-established and for the most part has fairly easy footing (with some short stretches of rough scree). The one potential troublemaker is the altitude: The trailhead (on the Aspen side) is at about 9,500 feet and the pass is at 12,000-plus feet, so anyone who has trouble with breathing at high altitudes (or hasn’t acclimated yet) should take care and go slow.

The section from the Aspen-side trailhead to the summit has the most spectacular aspen views in the fall, and the section from the summit to the Crested Butte trailhead has the most mind-boggling wildflower displays in the summer. Which is best? We encourage you to try it both ways and decide for yourself.

Regardless of whether you’re doing this hike on a weekday or weekend, it’s smart to start early—leaving the trailhead by 7 am is a good goal as it helps you get a jump on the crowds and avoid the common late-afternoon thunderstorms. Both times we’ve done this hike, it’s taken us about 6 hours.

Near the start, you’ll pass Crater Lake, then wind up through trees to more open terrain on the way to the summit.

Here’s an example of some of the rougher trail sections.

At the summit, you can see for miles. You’ll have lots of company here at the top, as everyone stops to take some snaps. Both times we’ve done this hike, we’ve discovered that if we don’t pause long at the top, the section from the summit down to the Crested Butte trailhead is much less crowded (probably because many people don’t bother arranging transportation from the Crested Butte side, so they just descend back from the summit to the Aspen trailhead). On the descent to the trailhead, you’ll pass the East Fork of the Crystal River.

Downsides of the Aspen to Crested Butte hike

This hike is tops on our list, but here are a few factors to watch out for.

1. You need to get an early start. Unless you’re spending the night in the Aspen area the night before, you’ll have to factor in drive time in the morning.
2. Lightning. You don’t want to get caught at the summit during a thunderstorm. Again, get an early start to avoid afternoon thunderstorms and lightning.
3. You need to make a reservation to use the shuttle service to the trailhead (recommended) or to park a private vehicle, and space is limited. Unless you have a kind friend who will drop you off at the trailhead, you should plan on using the shuttle. Because of additional COVID-19 restrictions, the shuttle situation is in constant flux as of summer 2020, so check the latest rules at the Stay Aspen Snowmass web site.
4. You definitely won’t have the trail to yourself. Many people are rightfully drawn to the legendary Maroon Bells area, so be prepared to share the space with fellow adventurers. If crowds bum you out, avoid the peak fall foliage times or pick a mid-week day to do this one.

Upsides to the Aspen to Crested Butte hike

1. Quintessential Colorado scenery. If the views don’t make you feel like throwing out your arms and singing the theme from “The Sound of Music,” then you might not be alive.
2. Well-maintained trail. For the most part, this is a moderately strenuous hike if you’re accustomed to high-altitude climbs. The total elevation gain is 3,265 feet, but it’s a fairly gradual ascent.
3. Well-behaved, leashed dogs are welcome. Tully appreciated that!
4. Distinct seized-the-day feeling that stems from hiking from one mountain town to another.

What to bring on the Aspen to Crested Butte hike

1. Rain gear, especially if you get a late start and encounter the common late-afternoon thunderstorms.
2. Dog poop bags. Also consider bringing a wag bag for people, just in case. It never hurts to tuck one of these in your day pack. If you have an emergency, the Forest Service instructs hikers to bury human waste at least 100 feet from any water source and 6 inches in the soil.
3. Sturdy trail shoes or light hiking boots. Unless you’re carrying a big pack, light hiking boots will be fine. The second time I did this hike, I wore my regular running shoes and had no problems.
4. Sunscreen and sunshield clothes. The sun is intense at that altitude, so don’t forget your hat, shades, sunscreen, sunshield shirts, etc.
5. Camera. This is a good place for some panoramic shots. But bring a macro lens, too, if you have one. We were mesmerized by a flurry of hummingbirds in a wildflower meadow, but I didn’t have a sufficient lens to really capture the action.

Hike planning resources

1. Reserve bus shuttle or parking permit. As of summer 2020, the procedures for reserving parking or the shuttle from Aspen have changed frequently, so be sure to check the Stay Aspen Snowmass site to start your planning.
2. Scout your route. You’ll start at the West Maroon Trail at the base of the Maroon Bells near Aspen, Colorado. The AllTrails map entry has many notes and photos, but features only the Crested Butte to Aspen trek (not Aspen to CB), so just know that when you start on the Aspen side you’ll experience more total elevation gain and the hike will take longer and is more strenuous, according to the description on the Travel Crested Butte site.
3. Arrange a ride on the Crested Butte side. You’ll end the hike at the trailhead just north of Schofield Pass, about 14 miles from Crested Butte, Colorado. Running your own shuttle will take some time as Aspen and Crested Butte are 3+ hours apart by car. But maybe you have a friend who will drop you off in Aspen, do a little fishing, then pick you up on the Crested Butte side. (At least, that’s how it worked out for us.) You can also arrange a shuttle in to Crested Butte with Dolly’s Mountain Shuttle.
4. Check out this Forest Service one-sheet for some additional details about the terrain, road access in the area, and other info.

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