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Photo: Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
A short drive outside of Aspen, the Maroon Bells are one of the most photographed mountain scenes in Colorado. The lake and views of the 14,000 foot peaks are spectacular. In the summer months between 8AM and 5PM, visitors must take a shuttle bus to the Maroon Bells to control traffic. Tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for children. There are some short, non-strenuous hikes around the Maroon Bells that vary from 1 mile to 10. People also like to climb the Maroon Bells; however, it is very dangerous and a guide is highly recommended.
The Maroon Bells are two peaks in the Elk Mountains, Maroon Peak and North Maroon Peak, separated by about 0.3 miles (0.5 km). The mountains are on the border between Pitkin County and Gunnison County, Colorado, United States, about 19 kilometers (12 mi) southwest of Aspen. Both peaks are fourteeners. Maroon Peak, at 14,163 feet (4,317 m), is the 27th highest peak in Colorado. North Maroon Peak, at 14,019 feet (4,273 m), is the 50th highest. The view of the Maroon Bells to the southwest from the Maroon Creek valley is very heavily photographed. The peaks are located in the Maroon Bells–Snowmass Wilderness of White River National Forest. Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness was one of five areas in Colorado designated as wilderness in the original Wilderness Act of 1964. The Wilderness area surrounds the extremely popular Maroon Bells Scenic Area, which is a major access point for Wilderness travel.
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It opened with 9 holes in the early 1960s and expanded to 18 holes in the 1980s. The Aspen Golf Club facility features 7,114 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 71. The course has a rating of 73.8 and it has a slope rating of 139 from the tips. The course is primarily Blue grass and Poana.