Aspen is perhaps the most expensive ski resort in the United States and caters to the rich and famous. Expensive sport and boutique stores line the streets and upscale restaurants invite those who can afford them. This doesn’t mean, however, that you can’t enjoy Aspen on a smaller budget. Aspen offers a plethora of outdoor activities that are basically free. Here are 7 great things you can do outside in Aspen in the summer time and not break the bank.
7 things you can do outside in Aspen in the summer
1. Enjoy the town of Aspen
Aspen is a lovely town with a picture-perfect location. Sitting in a valley surrounded by multiple ski resorts, Aspen stays busy all year round. The downtown area is truly inviting, with several streets turned into pedestrian-only areas. It’s fun to stroll down the streets, pop into stores, or relax on a bench along the pedestrian mall.
2. Get to know the town by doing an urban hike
I think a great way to get to know a town is to walk its streets. Aspen offers over 20 miles of urban trails which you can either hike or bike. We did the Rio Grande trail along the Roaring Fork River and came back alone the Cemetery Lane Trail. It was a paved trail of about 4 miles, which we greatly enjoyed. While the views of the river were nice, the walk through the neighborhoods was even more interesting. You get to see some higher-end homes, which I’m sure cost many millions of dollars. Get a map of Trails, Parks, and Open Spaces for details.
3. Make sure to see the Maroon Bells
Honestly, you can’t come to Aspen and not see the Maroon Bells. The 14,000 foot peaks tower over a glacial valley and provide stunning photo opportunities. The best way to see them is to visit Maroon Lake. Even if you’re not into hiking, you can walk up a few steps from the parking lot to the lake and enjoy the spectacular view. I definitely recommend going on a hike, though, and the Scenic Loop Trail is an easy 1.5 mile hike with beautiful views of the lake, the mountains, a cascading stream, and some pretty meadows. Be aware of vehicle restrictions on Maroon Creek Road in the summer. Since we were camping in the Maroon Valley, we were able to drive up to the Maroon Bells without restrictions. However, if you’re not staying at one of the three campgrounds, you will most likely need to take a bus.
4. Hike to Crater Lake
Crater Lake sits at the base of the Maroon Bells at an elevation of over 10,000 feet. This is a steep trail but well worth it. The scenery is lovely and the views are picturesque. The trail takes you through an aspen forest for about 1.8 miles each way. Definitely wear hiking shoes as the trail is very rocky. I couldn’t believe that some people ventured on this hike in flip flops!
5. Check out the ice caves along the Grottos Trail
The Grottos trail is an excellent hike, short and truly picturesque. In a short period of time, you will be able to see 3 highlights of the trail: the grottos, aka ice caves, the cascades, and the erratics. All three were certainly interesting but the cascades were particularly impressive. I must say that the cascading waterfalls were some of the best I’ve ever seen.
6. Drive to Independence Pass
Driving to Independence Pass is a great thing to do. The pass is located at an elevation of 12,095 feet and the highway that takes you to it is the highest paved highway in the United States. The views are spectacular both along the highway and from the pass. We had driven to Independence Pass once before from Leadville but this time we approached it from Aspen. This side of the pass has more turns and is certainly much more narrow. The road comes into basically one lane in spots, so it is definitely an adventure to drive it.
7. Visit a local brewery. You deserve a beer!
Once you’re done spending a day outdoors, you will definitely want a drink. Aspen has a lot of upscale restaurants but if you just want to relax and have a beer, I recommend visiting a local brewery. We enjoyed a beer at the Aspen Brewing Company.The brewery is located downtown and has outdoor seating. The beers were delicious and like I said – well deserved.
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