Colorado Scenery Doesn't Get Better Than This!
If you're looking for quintissential Colorado mountain scenery, Maroon Bells is one of the best areas to visit. The view is gorgeous, with a clear lake reflecting the jagged snow-covered peaks. In July, the meadows are filled with wildflowers of every hue, hummingbirds and butterflies flit about and the warm sun makes hiking the trails an easy task. In the fall, the numerous aspen groves turn golden, further intensifying the scene. There are numerous hiking trails in the vicinity for all abilities. I particularly enjoyed the Scenic Loop Trail around the lake, about 2.2 miles of easy hiking. Due to the limited parking facilities at the site, daytime access is restricted to busses that leave from the Aspen Highlands terminal - you can also catch a bus to Aspen Highlands from downtown Aspen.