Maroon Bells - Autumn in Colorado
While I’ve lived in Colorado for almost twenty years, I have not made the drive to the Maroon Bells. The Bells are in Pitkin and Gunnison County, about twelve miles outside of Aspen. They consist of two peaks in the Elk Mountains and are more than fourteen thousand feet high, fourteneers as they call them.
We decided to make a weekend of it and drove directly to Glenwood Springs and explored all the town had to offer. We did not visit the hot springs but we walked around the town, had lunch, did some shopping and ended with a coffee. After our visit to Glenwood for the afternoon, we went to Gypsum to settle into our Airbnb for the night.
The following morning we got up early and ventured off to the Maroon Bells. We easily found the shuttle since you can’t drive up and took the bus to the Bells. Our driver gave us some history and even sang us a song, it felt like we were on our way to summer camp. At least that was what it felt like, I have never been to summer camp myself.
I didn’t know what to expect as we started walking along the path, we turned a bend and there they were and it was a stunning sight. It looked like a painting or a backdrop, they did not look real and other than the ocean may be the most beautiful sight I’ve ever seen in nature. The Aspen trees were all turning the beautiful color of gold for fall and the sun was shining over the Bells and Maroon Lake. I kept taking pictures as if it could disappear or change at any moment. They are something that I hope to remember forever.
After taking a ton of pictures, taking a walk and having a picnic lunch on a bench, we called it a day and ventured back to Denver. It is always nice to go to the mountains in Colorado when the Aspens are changing color. It is quite beautiful to see all of the gold speckled in the mountainsides.
On the way home we stopped in Leadville for a coffee. I haven't been to Leadville in years and it was too cute! I liked this little mountain town and would love to revisit all the little shops.
Have you been to the Maroon Bells? Leave your comments below.
