Aspen & the Maroon Bells

Located at the south end of the Roaring Fork Valley, Aspen is Colorado at its most sublime (the scenery) and glamorous (the people). Although you can get here over Independence Pass in summer, for most of the year the town is hemmed in by the towering Sawatch Range and the rugged Elk Mountains, with the only access via Hwy 82, south of I-70. Glenwood Springs, at the north end of the highway, is commonly referred to as 'down valley,' while Aspen is considered to be 'up valley.'

Explore Aspen & the Maroon Bells

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Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Aspen & the Maroon Bells.

  • Museum

    Ice Age Discovery Center

    In October 2010, a bulldozer working near Snowmass unearthed the tusk of a female mammoth. Spurred by this unusual discovery, the Denver Museum of Nature …

  • Amusement Park

    Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park

    This family-oriented destination lumps together several attractions at once: the Fairy Caves (once billed as the eighth wonder of the world), a full-on…

  • Ghost Town

    Independence

    Just 16 miles east of Aspen, at the foot of Independence Pass, this gold-mining boom town turned ghost town started as a tented camp in the summer of 1879…

  • Ghost Town

    Ashcroft

    The access point to the breathtaking Castle Creek Valley is the ghost town of Ashcroft, a silver-mining town founded in 1880. What remains are mostly…

  • Cemetery

    Linwood Cemetery

    Established in 1886, this is where John Henry ‘Doc’ Holliday was allegedly laid to rest in November 1887 (debate about this persists, since some scholars…

  • Museum

    Aspen Art Museum

    This art museum's striking building features a warm, lattice-like exterior designed by Pritzker Prize–winner Shigeru Ban and contains three floors of…

  • Historic Building

    Redstone Castle

    Several of Redstone's original buildings are still standing, including the original chalet-style workers' cottages and John Osgood's personal residence,…

  • Museum

    Frontier Historical Museum

    Tucked into a quiet, leafy neighborhood, this community museum has an excellent collection of historic photos and old maps. The staff are history buffs:…

  • Gallery

    Christopher Martin Gallery

    Local artist Christopher Martin specializes in reverse glass painting, a technique that dates back to the Middle Ages. Stop by for a peek at his dynamic…

  • Gallery

    Peter Lik

    Displays the work of the self-taught Australian photographer. Lik focuses on vibrant panoramic landscapes, with a fine selection of local Aspen shots that…

  • Gallery

    Boesky West

    Opened in 2017, this is the Western outpost of Marianne Boesky's Manhattan gallery, displaying the works of emerging artists over two floors.

  • Gallery

    Baldwin Gallery

    A two-floor gallery, the Baldwin opened in 1994 and specializes in contemporary American art. It's among the best in the Rocky Mountains.

  • Gallery

    Galerie Maximillian

    Come here for famous 20th-century names from Chagall to Lichtenstein, mixed in with works from contemporary American and British artists.

  • Park

    Rio Grande Park

    Aspen’s biggest public park runs along the river and is bisected by the Rio Grande Trail for 2.1 miles. The park is home to an enticing skate park,…

  • Park

    Wagner Park

    A patch of green just off the Mill St mall, edged with cedars and a couple of shimmering aspens, and views of the Red and Aspen mountains. American…

Top experiences

Whether it’s a guided tour of a historic landmark, private tasting of local delicacies, or an off-road adventure — explore the best experiences in Aspen & the Maroon Bells.