The Best Hikes for Fall Leaf Peepers!

Cool temps, changing leaves, and empty trails make Snowmass ideal for fall hikes, even if you only have…

About an hour, views from above:

Starting at the Divide Road trailhead, take Rim Trail South 1.3 miles up to Spiral Point (also called the Yin Yang) with views of Snowmass, Mt. Daly, Capital Peak, and Ziegler Reservoir (our local mammoth depository). This Snowmass staple hike offers a viewing platform with some of the best bird’s eye views of the Village drenched in gold. Looking to opt in for a longer hike? Follow the trail north all the way to Town Park Station along Rim Trail North! 

A couple of hours:

The Vista Trail starts in Base Village and meanders beside downhill bike trails amongst golden aspen groves. This trail travels upward through aspen groves and wide open meadows until you reach the top of the Elk Camp Gondola. Here, you can stop in for a quick bite or a drink and take a scenic ride back down. Additional popular trails like Tom Blake and Cozy Line offer hikers AND bikers trails through bright orange-red brush and golden aspen groves.

A full day:

Hit the high country on a hike to Cathedral Lake in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness. It’s a three-hour hike for fast hikers and up to five for amblers, but there’s no reason to hike fast when the scenery is so amazing with flakes of gold falling all around you. You’ll start among the towering aspens, and top out at a blue-green mountain lake surrounded by incredible peaks. Go early, bring plenty of water and snacks, and a camera. Start in good shape, and you’ll finish in good spirits.

A weekend for an overnight trip:

Snowmass Lake isn’t an easy hike but is a worthy overnighter for those who come prepared (dress warm!). The lake is one of the largest in the Maroon-Bells Snowmass wilderness, and there are several great camping spots right beside the lake. At 17 miles round-trip — especially under the overnight gear you’ll be toting — it’s a serious hiking achievement, and one worthy of a polar plunge in the lake when you arrive. 

A reminder to all of our Snowmass Bike Park riders, the park and Elk Camp Gondola are accessible Friday-Sunday from 10am-5pm through October 1st. Get your last laps in before the mountain is covered in snow!