Aspen in Summer: 6 Outdoor Activities for Your Colorado Summer Bucket List

By Alison Margo Even indoor types embrace the great outdoors in Aspen. From hiking the Maroon Bells to floating down the Roaring Fork River to driving to Independence Pass, here are half a dozen must-dos tempting enough to persuade you to buy a home in Aspen just to enjoy them all at your leisure. Snowmass Bike Park. 1) See the Maroon Bells. The best way to admire the jaw-dropping, bell-shaped 14,000-foot twin peaks is to board the shuttle bus at Aspen Highlands for the nine- mile ride up the scenic Maroon Creek Valley. (Open mid-May to mid-October. Reservations are required for the shuttle bus and for driving your own car. 970.930.6442; info@visitmaroonbells.com ) The shuttle drops you steps from the shores of Maroon Lake, which offers a magnificent view, no hiking required. From here, you can meander around the lake, enjoy a picnic lunch, or hike to Crater Lake. For a true western experience, explore the extensive wilderness surrounding Aspen on horseback with Maroon Bells Guides and Outfitters, located at T Lazy 7 Ranch, at the base of the Maroon Creek Valley ( 970.925.4677 ). Another option is an alpinist adventure on foot with an experienced local guide, available through Aspen Expeditions ( 970.925.7625 ). Yoga on Aspen Mountain. (Photo: JEREMY SWANSON) 2) Take the Aspen Mountain Gondola to the summit. You’ll ascend 3,267 vertical feet from the base in 15 minutes. At the top you’ll find everything from the world’s highest disc golf course to yoga to free bluegrass concerts on Sundays. Enjoy the awe-inspiring views from an Adirondack chair or have lunch at The Sundeck, operated by The Little Nell, Aspen’s only five-star hotel. 3) Bike the scenic Rio Grande Trail to Woody Creek Tavern. Enjoy a leisurely (mostly downhill) eight-mile ride along the Roaring Fork River to Woody Creek Tavern ( 2858 Upper River Road, 970.923.4585 ). Bask in the sun on the outdoor patio at the funky bar and restaurant made famous by local legends like Hunter S. Thompson and Sheriff Bob Braudis. Treat yourself to spicy margaritas or mimosas and delicious Mexican food or elevated bar fare such as bison meatballs and oysters on the half shell. Stand-up paddleboarding on the Roaring Fork. (Photo: JORDAN CURET) 4) Get your feet wet. Try white-water rafting or stand- up paddleboarding on the Colorado River, or kayaking on the Roaring Fork with Aspen outfitter Blazing Adventures ( 970.923.4544 ). Or catch the fabled rainbow trout in the Gold Medal waters of the Roaring Fork with Aspen Fly Fishing ( 970.920.6886 ). The John Denver Sanctuary. (Photo: CITY OF ASPEN PARKS AND OPEN SPACE DEPARTMENT) 5) Drive Colorado Highway 82 over Independence Pass. One of Colorado’s most breathtaking routes, this famous stretch of roadway makes you feel as if you’re in an airplane ascending the high alpine with the valley falling away thousands of feet below. 6) Meander through the John Denver Sanctuary. With the singer’s famous song lyrics carved into large boulders scattered among the grass-covered hills beside the Roaring Fork, this is the ideal place to absorb the meaning of “Rocky Mountain High.”