3 to 4 Days in Aspen & Snowmass: Maroon Bells, Silver Queen Gondola, E-Biking & Independence Pass

This itinerary lets your body adjust gently to Aspen's 2,408-metre (7,908-foot) altitude on Day 1 before tackling longer rides and high passes on Days 2 to 4, using Aspen's free RFTA buses on the first two days. Read our free transit guide before starting.

Day 1: Maroon Bells (Crater Lake Hike), Silver Queen Gondola & Downtown

• Morning: ride the free RFTA Castle/Maroon bus to Aspen Highlands and board your pre-booked Maroon Bells Shuttle (or rent a Class-1 E-Bike) to Maroon Lake (2,920m). Photograph the twin 4,300m peaks, stroll the Scenic Loop, and hike the 5.8-kilometre round-trip trail to Crater Lake.
• Afternoon: have lunch at 1883 White House Tavern or Ajax Tavern, then ride the Silver Queen Gondola to the 3,417-metre summit of Aspen Mountain ('Ajax') for Richmond Ridge views and free disc golf.
• Evening: stroll the Cooper & Hyman Pedestrian Malls, visit the free Rooftop Sculpture Garden at the Aspen Art Museum, and sip a bourbon 'Aspen Crud' milkshake inside the 1889 J-Bar at Hotel Jerome.

Day 2: John Denver Sanctuary, Rio Grande E-Bike Trail & Smuggler Sunset

• Early Morning: grab pastries at Paradise Bakery and walk to the free John Denver Sanctuary beside the Roaring Fork River to see the lyric-engraved boulders.
• Midday: rent a pedal-assist e-bike downtown and coast 8 miles downhill along the car-free Rio Grande Trail to Hunter S. Thompson's Woody Creek Tavern for patio nachos and fish tacos.
• Late Afternoon: walk through the Victorian West End (hearing free rehearsals outside the Benedict Music Tent in summer) and hike 45 minutes up Smuggler Mountain for sunset views before sushi at Matsuhisa Aspen.

Days 3 & 4: Independence Pass, Ashcroft Ghost Town, Snowmass & Glenwood Springs

• Day 3 Morning (Late May to Oct): drive east up Highway 82 over Independence Pass to walk The Grottos Ice Caves, 1879 Independence Ghost Town, and the 3,687-metre Continental Divide summit.
• Day 3 Afternoon: drive 20 minutes up Castle Creek Road to walk the 1880 Ashcroft Ghost Town and dine at Pine Creek Cookhouse (or hike Cathedral Lake).
• Day 4: ride the Elk Camp Gondola & Breathtaker Coaster in Snowmass, or travel 50 minutes down-valley to Glenwood Springs for Hanging Lake and Iron Mountain Hot Springs.